Advice from "experienced" runners please.....

[Chunkeyminki]

After months of thinking about it I at last plucked up the courage and motivation to start C25K.

Into week 3 and already starting to enjoy the feeling of increasing fitness and stamina (I'm 63 and about a stone overweight).

But... after R2 I woke up with a painful hip, tried R3 the next day but hip pain on running sections stopped me, gutted and frustrated!!!

Internet search suggests I gave trochanteric bursitis, a week on and it's still sore though I haven't attempted a run.

Do I take ibuprofen and run through it or continue to rest till completely pain free? I so want to continue and I'm afraid that I will lose motivation again if I leave it too long. I'm usually quite a toughie with a high pain threshold.

Any advice??

[Hidden]

If you do have bursitis, it won't go away on its own. You'll need to see your GP for an injection in the hip (my grandmother had this).

[Jell6 Graduate]

I wouldn't try to run through the pain, probably best to see your gp. Dr Google can be frequently wrong 😊

Have you had gait analysis yet?

The right shoes can really help reduce impact on your joints.

[Chunkeyminki in reply to Jell6]

Thanks for that, I had been thinking of gait analysis but though I was getting ahead of myself with that as I'm only on W3🤔

[Granspeed Graduate in reply to Chunkeyminki]

I got mine in W4 and never regretted it. The right shoes will really help & the gait analysis is quite fun. But I also agree with others that you should get the hip pain checked out by a professional - your gp, or a specialist running physio if you have one near & can manage the cost. They sound expensive but are usually brilliant with diagnosis, treatment & future prevention. Good luck with it all. 👍

[Chunkeyminki in reply to Granspeed]

Thanks for that sensible advice, will try a very gentle jogette tomorrow and if still painful will give it another week then off to a local physiology if no better.

I'll also check out gait analysis locally

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Rest until you're pain free, also do you have propped running shoes they can make all the difference. Good luck 😊

[ArthurJG Graduate]

I’m just going to confirm two things others have said. (1) Don’t run through pain. A certain amount of aching is normal when you first start but actual pain is different. When it’s actual pain, don’t run. (2) Normal advice is around week 4 is the right time to get gait analysis and proper, fit-for-you running shoes. In my case I had to do it in week 2 or I seriously wouldn’t have made it to week 4 (the difference with proper shoes was massive) but week 4 seems to be right for the majority.

[Chunkeyminki in reply to ArthurJG]

Sound and helpful advice thank you.

[Tasha99 Graduate]

I don’t think it’ll be bursitis. Try some ibuprofen. You may need to see a physio if it doesn’t go.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Ibuprofen is a painkiller, as the name suggests its just that, it doesn't cure whatever is causing the pain, so once the effect of the painkiller dies off the pain will come back, it's better to see a doctor regarding the symptoms and source of the pain if it continues and not to run.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5... and includes advice on minimising impact and injury, amongst many other topics.

Any pain that persists or recurs needs medical attention.

Take care.

Enjoy your journey.

[Puppy-love Graduate]

I'm not an experienced runner (on week 8) but I did have hip pain in the early weeks of C25K and, more to the point, I suffered from trochanteric bursitis before I started this running adventure. For two years (idiot that I am), I kept thinking it would get better. Eventually, I went to the doctor and, two steroid injections later, I have had no problems for three years.

You could have bursitis (the pain is often at its worse when you're in bed) or something else. Without Superman x-ray vision, you won't know.

When I got hip pain early in C25K, I was very worried that the bursitis was back. I decided try gait analysis (any to avoid going to the doc) and I got proper shoes. Magically, hip (and shin) pain disappeared. I have a bit of osteoarthritis in the same hip but running seems to help rather than exacerbate that.

So, as others have said, gait analysis and/or doctor would be my advice. Good luck and let us know how you get on.