Where to start? I haven't posted for over a year. I had to stop running after completing couch to 5k and reaching half marathon distance due to a twinge in my knee....and have been thoroughly miserable! Long story short, the twinge never mended and 3 months ago I had part of my medial meniscus removed that had torn. I was informed it was very minor, non invasive surgery, although it was done under general anaesthetic! I was also told that is how the French surgeons prefer to operate. My recovery has taken 3 months, not 3 weeks I was led to believe, and was quite painful (and I am quite tough) Ten excellent physiotherapy sessions later, my quads have built almost back to normal and I have completed two very nervous, very steady week 1 sessions. I loved it so much and felt so alive again that I got quite emotional. There was only my dogs and a herd of cows that judged me! Has anyone else had a similar experience and has any come back tips, apart from taking it steady?
Starting again: Where to start? I haven't posted... - Couch to 5K
Starting again
Wow that's a blow, but hopefully you're mended and pain free, so fitness can you run, does it hurt to run?
You remember the plan link below for info
healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Why not take it easy see how the fitness levels are you've done the plan before it's all about you and remaining healthy,
You are so right....will never take my health for granted again! I plan to take it easy and combine running with cycling, but that doesn't give me the same buzz. It doesn't hurt when I run now, but it is early days, hopefully it will remain that way as I increase gradually. I definitely learnt a tough lesson that sometimes there is a good reason for knee pain., plus it was so sudden.
They take so much punishment Franglaise, all we can do is try to look after them as best as possible 👍
Hi Franglaise. So good to see you back after all this time, but so sorry to hear about this. That sounds like a total nightmare. It’s impressive that you are getting back into running and haven’t been put off. Wishing you lots of luck – not that you will need it – and hope your 2021 is better than your 2020.
Hi Stephen, so good to speak again. Thank you for the best wishes. Totally not put off, just the opposite, itching to get back. I don't plan on pushing it and will be quite happy to run 3 times a week for fitness. How is your running going? Seem to remember you suffering some knee pain around the same time I was, I am so glad yours wasn't my nightmare....spot on description by the way. All the best.
Hi! Really great that you want to get back to it. Three runs a week for fitness is a good plan, I reckon, and always worth doing – whatever the speed, distance or weather! My running is going OK, thanks. There have been quite a few injuries (including knee pain, as you say), but I’ve just accepted that it’s part of the “experience”. Do keep posting on here. Looking forward to hearing about how your runs go. And Happy New Year.
So kind, I will, Happy New Year to you too...hopefully a much better one for everybody. Well done with your running.
Many of us have had to repeat C25K and I hope to be starting again in a few weeks time.
Once you know that you can do it you do need to keep control of the urge to do a bit more than the plan. Slow and steady reconditioning of your body is always the wisest approach, especially after injury.
It is interesting that when I last saw an NHS physio about my knee I was informed in very clear terms that surgery is avoided at all costs because of risk and danger of creating more issues............c'est la vie, c'est la difference!
I wanted to avoid surgery at all cost also....In the end it wasn't an option for quality of life. Did loads of research before making a final decision and the advise differs according to which country you are in...UK advise against, but how much of this is due to being free healthcare at the point of source and NHS picks up the tab? France and America where healthcare is private are total advocates for it. I do understand where you are coming from. The surgeon shaved away as little as possible so I still have cushioning and it would never have repaired had I left it plus physio did nothing for my particular problem and the physio admitted that it never would. But I can only speak of my own experience.
One can never know the motivation..........penny pinching parsimony or money grabbing over medicalisation......
The NHS physio showed the results of a study which indicated that minimal intervention was the preferred treatment for long term outcomes, while a friend, who is a former NHS physio, suggested my issue was very similar to yours but that without scans it was impossible to clearly identify.
Anyway, a year on from starting daily knee strengthening exercises, my knees seem to be in good shape. Let's hope that both our experts were correct in their diagnoses and treatments.
Enjoy your running.
Exactly, let's hope so. I had two MRI scans and an x ray with dye to make certain of the problem prior to intervention, so I am as confident as I can be they had my best interests in mind (and not their wallets!) The other deciding factor is I am returning to live in the UK and going back to my job where I need to pass my fitness test. All the best to you, enjoy your running also.
You know the drill already. As Tim (IannodaTruffe) says above, the temptation is to go further and faster the second (or third) time through the programme.
I only had a month out due to ankle sprains, but I was advised (by physio) to start even gentler than W1R1. You've already had plenty of physio work, I'd expect.
If you have any upcoming physio consultations, mention that you're starting running again, and take their advice in preference over anything someone behind a keyboard on an internet forum tells you.
My physio isn't an advocate for running and tries steering me towards cycling, which I do but it isn't my passion. She doesn't tell me what I want to hear. I intend going slow and steady and appreciating every step...it isn't about speed or distance this time, just the joy of being able to do it will be enough...and shed the couple of kilos I inherited.🤫
There's probably a reason for that. Cycling causes less of an impact and, until recently, running was considered bad for the knees.
Almost word for word perfect with her...moderation is maybe the key?
Exactly! My physio (back in September) is a runner, and was hoping to do 10km at some point, but was resting from it due to shin splints. Even the medical professionals can do things wrong occasionally.
The important thing is to take notice of what your body's telling you. Pain is an indicator that something's going wrong. Discomfort is telling you you're not doing something right. If it's hurting, stop. Don't continue through pain -- you'll cause more damage.
The best of luck in getting back to your previous levels of fitness.
Thank you so much, happy running.
Sorry about your recent injuries Franglaise, I did wonder what happened to you, when you do resume running take the runs slowly as you say you have completed two runs of week 1 of C25K
I ran ten miles in July, it was probably the highlight of my running year, however, if I ran a longer distance I might also get what you got or some other injury, for you, onwards and upwards 🏃🏾 👍
Hi Al, lovely to speak again. Ten miles is a fantastic achievement...well done. It is difficult to say. My surgeon said it could have been an old injury that only showed with increased distance, it could just have happened or the most worrying, it could have just been degenerative...polite speak for 'old girl' The advise on here is sound as always...listen to your body and do what is comfortable. I would be ecstatic with that distance again....or even half that. I was probably guilty of taking my body for granted, having never had anything go wrong before....not anymore.
Hi F great to hear you are back up and running. I too have just restarted due to a lengthy knee niggle (18 months on and off) but thankfully no surgery required. I'm just starting w3 and loving every step. Totally unfit but at least I know it can be done 🙂 I'm even enjoying running in the rain!
Fingers crossed your knee behaves. Wishing you a belated merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year
xxx
Hi there! Belated Merry Christmas to you too....sorry to hear of your niggles...hopefully all sorted now? Happy running in the rain
Welcome back 🤗Take it easy, I'm sure the re do will work out fine. 2021 will be a much better year.
Thank you...here's hoping 2021 will work out fine and be much better for everybody
Lovely to hear from you again. Sorry to hear about your knee. I hurt my ankle and it’s never been the same since. I spoke to a podiatrist who said there are a lot of ligaments and some of them have probably come away from the bone, but I can run on it, so I do. It’s been the same level of ‘not right’ for over a year now, but I can balance on it. Something else is obviously taking up the slack. So I keep going. Good luck!
Hi there...so sorry about your ankle. Keep going but be careful. I didn't know just how much I loved running until it was taken away! I know what you mean about it not feeling quite right...every step at the moment is as if I'm treading on puppies tails.
Poor puppies!
Of course im avoiding them.
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