Gutted, had to stop

[donefor]

After 4 months of persevering with c25k and managing to run 5k three times a week, I have now developed severe hip pain, the speed this pain has developed is frightening, it has gone from an ache to agony and I am struggling to walk. My GP has told me running is bad for my joints and an xray will probably confirm that I need a hip replacement and at the moment I am relying on pain medication just to cope. I have never enjoyed running, but was amazed that with the plan I succeeded and am now gutted that I can't do it anymore. What are people's thoughts on the forum?

[drun]

Well done be proud of you achievement of running 3x5k each week.

Running is a high impact sport that is why a rest day between runs are important to allow the muscles to repair.

None of us are medical professionals on here and I suggest you talk to your GP about exercises that can help your joints.

This link below from the NHS is about low impact exercises and includes swimming and walking, also why not head over to our walking forum Active10

healthunlocked.com/active10

nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/e...

[Hidden]

Don’t run if I’m pain.

In 2017 I fell down the stairs at home and was on a walking stick for 9 months. I couldn’t walk 100 metres, and had hydro therapy twice a week for a month. I found the water very beneficial and would use it as an exercise if I had hip, knee and ankle problems, either swimming or running in the water. Cycling helped after 9 months when I came off the walking sticks and it took me a long while to walk a mile, but I did it and recently completed C25K.

A lady I know, who is over 60, who has had hip replacements walks three miles twice a week, so never give up exercising, just find one that’s right for you.

[nowster Graduate]

Never run if in pain.

Some GPs are against running, based on outdated evidence on how it affects joints. Don't forget that GPs are generalists and may not have specific knowledge in some fields. That's why there are specialist consultants.

There are many potential reasons for hip pain, from the wrong shoes/technique to deterioration of the joint itself (eg. osteoporosis). It would be foolish for anyone here to speculate.

Wait for the X-Ray result.

If the GP is supportive, ask for suggestions of exercises which might help. Maybe discuss the possibility of seeing a physio.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Take the advice that you are being given by your medical experts, but, do take heart.

Do wait until you know exactly what is happening...and then make some decisions.

Until you have an accurate diagnosis, you simply need to stay positive and try some regular gentle exercise ( seated if need be ), to keep you strong. There are loads of exercises out there and simple short standing workouts. Keeping up strength and stamina is going to be important for you, mentally and physically.

E.g.

youtube.com/watch?v=ztUKDDZ...(Not working as expected?)

You have done so well and I empathize with the way you are feeling right now... but... this may give you hope...if running is what you want to continue with , when the time is right?

hiprunner.com/

There are some awesome runners on the forums, who have had hip replacements and although every one of us and our issues are different, there is hope for a happy outcome

Take care and do keep us posted please

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

I'm sorry to hear that.

Curious to know - when did the aches start? Did you run with the aches?

Your GP is talking a load of nonsense by the way.

[donefor Graduate in reply to John_W]

the ache started two weeks before i stopped running and got worse on a daily basis, was warned 5 years ago about hip deterioration, but coped well so thought I would be fine.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to donefor]

Interesting. Have you done much walking in the last 5 years? Is that a regular thing for you? Who was it that warned you re: hip deterioration? How was that diagnosed?

[donefor Graduate in reply to John_W]

Had an xray 5years ago after hip pain and after 8 months of pain killers and swimming 5 times a week it disappeared. I walked regularly 3 times a week in our village and surrounding area 3-5 miles each time for over 2 years.

[Hidden in reply to John_W]

Actually, the GP is not entirely talking nonsense. Running can be very bad for your joints given certain situations. The surface you run on is a big factor, as is poor posture and technique.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

It can be very bad for joints that are already compromised. Having said that, there is increasing evidence that running can actually improve conditions like knee osteoarthritis.

[Hidden in reply to John_W]

Yes, but again, you have to know what you are doing. The trouble with running is that it is one of those sports that people tend to think you can just 'do'. Most of us last ran in our schooldays where they teach you nothing about technique (and also mostly doing it on a low-impact surface, like grass). If your posture is bad, etc, just like with anything else, you can do yourself a mischief. You wouldn't lift heavy weights without thinking what could happen if you aren't doing it correctly, but too many of us, myself included, imagined at the start of couch to 5k, it was just 'running'. We put our aches and pains down to lack of fitness, but often it's poor technique, not stretching properly, etc. Most of us don't have access to professional trainers and are trying to do something which is far more technical than we might appreciate. Running can be amazing for the body, but it can also be devastating for it if we aren't careful.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

What was your motivation for running if you didn't enjoy it? Where's the loss?

Obviously the GP has information we don't have (has seen you for one thing!) but I would be a little suspicious of comments about running being bad for joints... needs unpacking because it is good for most people's bones and good for their health in other ways and *not* running/being active has health risks.

The X ray will be important along with specialist advice. It could be that you've been slamming dutifully away at 3x5K and there will be many adjustments you could make to that programme, including supporting activities, reconsideration of running surface etc

Wee caveat... the Google of my screen name is my spaniel who was my constant running companion. Some years ago she developed a mysterious and dreadful problem - pain so bad and so unrelieved we thought we would have to put her to sleep. We pressed the vet for X rays even though she didn't think it could be anything that would show up on X ray... and to her surprise found a very badly deteriorated hip. We were contemplating treatment options (our house is not the best for the rehab period) when she simply recovered from whatever it was...

.... years on, I couldn't tell you which hip it was! (Sadly she later developed an unrelated disorder and can't run with me but that's another story altogether)

[donefor Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

I was very unfit and wanted to get fit although I don't like exercise. If I tried on my own and failed I would soon give up, so posted on the village face book page that I was doing it and asked if anyone wanted to join me, That way I couldn't just drop out, and after my first couple of attempts, I think I definitely would have done, so pride kept me going, it took 15 weeks to get through to week 9, and I was managing well until the pain. I wouldn't say I enjoy it, but it has been manageable, and it is a beautiful route I take. So for now, I just have to wait for the xray which is still over 2 weeks away, due to back log. so for now, it is chair exercises and rest.

[Hidden in reply to GoogleMe]

But really, it can harm your joints if you are constantly running on a concrete/tarmac surface and don't look at technique to reduce impact.

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Hidden]

ie exactly as I said: needs unpacking 😉

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

Hi, you can check my posts for my injury history, there's a lot of it - but I have a dodgy hip and have to do a lot of physio to keep it strong so that I can run on it. When I broke my ankle nobody told me running was a bad idea. All the professionals were determined to get me running again. Which, I have just begun to do again.But ask yourself, if you weren't enjoying it, maybe find something else that you do enjoy? And also, 5k three times a week would be more than I would do on a regular basis. My creaky joints need an extra recovery day between runs. And I'd make at least one of the runs much shorter, say 15-20 minutes. Plus, Pilates or similar on a non running day, and lots of hip strengthening exercises. Try to get referred to a physio, or find a private sports physio who can monitor your recovery. Good luck!