Room for a little one...

[Prune]

.....on the injury couch?

So I have an apology to make. I've not been 100% honest with you. In fact, I've been keeping a secret. Since about Week 6, my left hip has been making its presence felt.

At first it was a bit of mild discomfort after a run, which eased off after 10 minutes. Then it became a bit more painful and started affecting me for the rest of the running day, then walking became uncomfortable all the time, running started being actively painful and for the last few weeks I've been actually hobbling along both walking and running which not only looks ridiculous but is really quite excruciating.

I just couldn't bring myself to admit I needed a break, especially as I'm in week 9 and now only 4 runs from graduating. My breathing is great, legs doing really well and I've well and truly got the gremlins in their box. However, enough is enough. I'm going to hop on the couch with good grace......after an existential howl at a non-existent god.

Why????? *pulls agonised face, rents hair, garments etc* Why now, when I'm so close and I really need something positive to happen to show I'm not 100% rubbish at everything? Argh.

OK, temper tantrum over.

I'm trying not to be a control freak, and intend to accept with a calm state of mind that I'm going to be at least 2 weeks on the IC. My plan is to continue yoga-ing as normal, and then walk as opposed to running 5k three times a week.

I know no-one can diagnose the left hip issue, but does this, generally speaking, seem an OK way to proceed? Don't want to backtrack on my fitness, but equally would quite like to be the owner of two fully operational hips in ten years time, so know I have to dial it down a notch.

Thanks for listening, guys. I know you'll understand. No-one else really gets why this is such a big deal to me, but it's such a relief just to know I can let someone know what's going on.

Hope everyone had a great running weekend, even if it was just walking purposively, and planning for when you'll next be able to run. A special shout out to everyone who did the Race for Life in Preston on Saturday, you all looked fabulously muddy in your tutus, and I am so looking forward to joining you soon.

P x

Ps. Ooh, just look at those tags!

[Sparkyifhungry Graduate]

So frustrating, but I'd say we've all been there. Think I took about 5months to finish my c25k programme with injuries etc. Try to be patient, but wait till you're healed to do it right, otherwise you'll be sitting on the injury couch a lot longer! Here's to a speedy recovery! X

[Prune in reply to Sparkyifhungry]

Thanks SiH, I totally agree with taking it slowly, I'm in the 17th week of the plan in the sense that I was doing every week twice to be safe. Definitely the tortoise and not the hare!

Good to know it's not uncommon, am just going to chill out a bit I think.

[Pigivi]

Wish you a speedy recovery! Are you going to yoga classes or are you doing it on your own? If on your own be quite careful and stick to gentle/restorative postures, I would avoid "hip openers" until you know what the problem is... x

PS you may want to have a look at this site, it's aimed at teachers but it also has a lot of very good anatomy information : sequencewiz.org

[Prune in reply to Pigivi]

Thanks! I go to a class and will declare my injury to my teacher so she knows about it, a bit wary of doing anything strenuous at the moment so certainly not trying any new poses unsupervised and will leave the hip openers for now. Will take a look at the website too, thanks

[Northernspirit Graduate]

Aw I feel your pain!! My hip started playing up at week 9 and the bad news is it took about a month so all I can say is, get some rest and don't stretch and faff too much, it might prolong things? Mine was hip flexor so I did some basic stretches and did the ice / heat thing as much as I could. Am completely fine now so have hope - but do rest. PS. Are you close to Preston? I'm not far

[Prune in reply to Northernspirit]

Thanks, that's so good to know. I'll rest, stress and try not to faff. All good advice!

I'm in Appley Bridge (near Wigan) so a bit far from home yesterday. Looked a great event though.

[misswobble Graduate]

The ice packs thing is a good idea. I find nowt works quite like it. Good luck with it. Enjoy your lay off, if that's possible, and plan your next moves - looking ahead to graduation and your running after that. Time to lay plans and daydream

You'll soon be back. Take care

MissWobbles shuffles up to make room on the bench

[Prune in reply to misswobble]

Oh Miss W, if I had to be on the injury couch with anyone, I'm glad it's you.

Hope you too are making plans and daydreaming x

Ps. I think you're sitting on the remote.

[ActonHighStreet]

Hi Prune - I can't help with your injury but I would like to wish you well. Get well soon and I want my spare leg to be out running again sooner rather than later.

[Prune in reply to ActonHighStreet]

Read your post first thing this morning and it made Monday a little bit more bearable, a near impossible feat! Thanks AHS x

[Anaverageman Graduate]

Never even knew 'uncomfortableness' was a word least of all a tag!!!

Honesty is always the best policy (to restate what is a cliché) although I doubt it is ALWAYS that but I digress.

I actually think this forum is all the better for us sharing when we don't succeed than a continual round of 'i"m great, new pb, whoo hoo look at me' sort of posts!!

And it is surely much better to accept the limitations of an injury / our body than push on and risk MORE damage

Good for you

[Prune in reply to Anaverageman]

I think honesty is questionable most of the time, actually. However, it's not all hearts and flowers and best to admit that occasionally. So: no personal best, don't look at me, sometimes things are a bit rubbish, etc.

[Rignold]

Resting an injury is the wise course of action, but don't forget to also try and get to the bottom of what is causing it. There is very often a danger of thinking that if we rest enough until recovered, the probem wil have gone away. Which is fine if you have caused the injury thorugh falling over, but not if it is due to a weakness/fault in our movement or a muscle/joint etc. I see very often on here people exasperated at an injury recurring although they have done nothing to combat the root cause.

That old rhyme of 'the foot bone connected to....' mkes itself clear when running, and not just the bones but the 200-odd muscles we use just for walking and the supporting cast of ligaments, tendons etc. What often happens as we strengthen our muscles with runing is we create muscle imbalances in the antagonist muscles. We weaken th parts we are not using by creating doininace in the stronger muscles. Over developng the quadriceps means they tighten and pull, and if we neglect our hamstrings this leads to a posture imbalance which leads to pain and injury.

This is one of the reasons cross-trianing is so beneficial, particulalry forms of exercise which use the muscle groups in very different ways, such as spinning.

[Prune in reply to Rignold]

Thanks Rignold, that is good advice and I will definitely follow up on it with a physio appointment when I get paid next week.

Not sure why I thought it would magically disappear given it's clearly brought on by running. Hopefully I can find someone good near me.

Might try to persuade my loved ones to purchase a second hand bike for my birthday too. After all, it is a big birthday coming up (32).

[mfamilias Graduate]

Aw, rats, Prune, that stinks Don't know anything about hipbones apart from the fact that they're connected to the thighbones, so I'll just send you a bucketful of compassion and a hug and hope that will help.

[Prune in reply to mfamilias]

Thanks Mfam, the hug helped lots, as did the high quality sympathy x

[poppypug Graduate]

Hi Prune, sorry Ive just seen this or I wouldve replied earlier

I had what started off as a mild pain in my right hip which I thought would go away in time or I would be able to run through it . Well it didnt go away, it got progressively worse, to the point where it was too painful for me to run with it.

I went to the docs who sent me for an Xray that came back normal. I then went to see a sports physio who diagnosed it as hip bursitis and that he was sure it had been caused by over use /over straining. I was told no running for 2 weeks , I had a massage and was given strengthening exercises and told to go back in 2 weeks . Had another massage, given extra exercises and told I could run, but for very short distances and to go slowly.

Not long after, I developed the same pain in my left hip. So I stopped running for 2 weeks and carried on with the exercises.

Now I am completely pain free in my hips . It took a lot of stopping and starting and resting , but I have completely turned the corner now. I think my pain was caused when I increased my runnning to 4 runs a week whilst I was training for a 10k I had entered. My training plan was completely scuppered , but now I listen to my body and try not to push it . Definitely mention it to your yoga teacher , in the meantime she should be able to suggest some gentle poses as to not aggravate it .

I really hope you get it sorted.I know it is so frustrating when you are so close to graduating, but time off now is better than a long lay off further down the line .

Theres loads of brilliant company on the IC at the moment anyway, so you wont get too lonely

Big hugs and hope you feel better soon xxx

[Prune in reply to poppypug]

Thanks so much Poppy Pug, really interesting to know that you've had hip pain too and come out the other side fighting/running.

I'll try to get a diagnosis and rest in the meantime.

The company IS great on the IC, though. Trying to keep a positive attitude. Have been meaning to say how much I love your new picture too, btw. Is he yours?

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Prune]

Hi Prune, yes there is a light at the end of the tunnel, you will come out the other side

No the little pug isnt mine, sadly. I saw the pic and just fell in love with it, sooo cute ! xxx

[Prune in reply to poppypug]

I think he is my spirit animal, if I were to have one!