I have a 10k run tomorrow and my sole aim is to just do it; I am not worried about times at the moment. I had a bad Achilles tendon injury which has healed well through a combination of cross training at the gym - elliptical machine and treadmill.
Having healed my tendon, on Thursday I bent over to pick up my towel after having a shower and pulled an intercostal muscle. For all of Thursday I couldn't move at all and kept having spasms. On Friday, I saw my osteopath who did a lot of work on the muscle to relieve inflammation and pain. It's helped a lot and my movement is much freer.
I called the GP who prescribed some Valium as muscle relaxants. I've been taking them and my movement has improved considerably. I have no more muscle spasms but residual pain in the muscle, which is to be expected.
Now, the GP who talked to me is a running fanatic. He commiserated with me about the race but recommended that I try to run it or 'drag myself around the course' because he was certain that the Valium would have the desired effect. My osteopath was much more cautious - he said to err on the side of not running but doing so if I felt able.
I know the decision has to be mine but I am in a quandary here. The pain is much better, my movement is better, but occasionally I get strong twinges of pain in my left side. I can walk and today I bought a back strap/brace which helps to support my ribs. But I just don't know what to do. On the one hand, having trained so long I really want to give this a go - I am a SLOOOOW runner (have said a time of 1.5 hours for 10k) but I obviously don't want to do further damage.
Has anyone ever run with this kind of injury before? At the worst I could walk the course or however much of it I cannot run.
Thanks,
Sam
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Funnyrunner
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Not sure if it's wise to continue to run with any injuries for any event. I would ask you to see your doctor for professional advice, in this case your doctor has prescribed Valium so he sort of ways using you to see if you can run it on that, a little surprising for him not to ask you to run it, most advice here would say give the run a miss, go along to spectate and cheer the runners on.
I'm no expert, but I can't see why "SLOOOOW" running should make this type of injury worse, the issue is probably whether you can cope with the pain? I'd be tempted to start, having given myself clear instructions to drop out early on if the pain started moving up the scale ….
I have no expert advice to give, other than if I had so much as a twinge personally, I wouldn’t feel happy running 5k, let alone 10k. It seems unusual to advise running on Valium- surely you could do more damage without realising it? But like I said, I’m no expert. 🤔
Maybe someone will come along who is ...... good luck! 😀
Wow - well done! That's truly amazing. I did do it in the end as my muscle felt easier though I strapped a back brace on me. In the end, I did it in 78 minutes which I was surprised about as I never thought it possible. Though I did a lot of walk/run at the end as I was exhausted. And now I have a very ugly scar across my stomach from the back brace! Glad to have done it but am not keen to so another one soon!
Me neither! My family were sweet and bought me some champagne to celebrate as I've never run anything further than 7k before today! I can hardly move now!
Cool! Do you find it gets easier? I was so tired by the time I got to the 7.5km mark. I was pouring the water over my head (it was hot here today in the morning) and staggering along. How many have you done?
I’ve got to 17 miles now and starting marathon training 🤣 nothing gets easier as you just get faster or go further ha ha ha
It was very hot today I thought. I felt like I was going to explode at 8k. But that’s only because I was chasing a time. I hate going for PBS as it’s not pleasant. I prefer relaxing runs. Much more enjoyable.
Oh goodness - 17 miles?! I cannot even contemplate that. I think I've reached my maximum. I have a hole in my heart and I've discovered that if I push too much then it brings on exercise migraines, so I am happy just keeping to shorter distances at a slower speed. I love the cross trainer at the gym, and I never ever thought I would enjoy that!
You need to read a patient paper from Nhs Oxford University Achilles Tendinopathy.
Mentor IDT posted this some weeks ago in response to Jumpingfrogs.
If you cannot find it , I can email it to you.
I am not a medic, just off IC with overuse and poor training, self inflicted.
You have done well to repair it on a treadmill and cross trainer.I was not allowed on treadmill.The cross trainer more taxing than static bike and easiest of all the rower.Well done.
Of course you will repair again but do not go knocking yourself about.
Medically I was advised to get back to a situation of 4/10 pain without meds., for two weeks and go from there.🤔
Have a look at Pete Magill stuff posted by Roseabi for your interest.
So frustrating I know - but many of us have trained for events and had to pull out. Having had intercostal muscle strain/suspected cracked ribs before, I cannot begin to imagine running with it let alone doing a 10k, as every cough or deep breath hurt (😩) but only you know the pain you are in. There is always 'another' 10k to focus on and then you will be fully recovered and therefore able to enjoy the event properly. Good luck and I hope you heal soon, whatever your decision. 🙂
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