Groin strain...

[Ricecakexx]

I was so happy i finished the c25k in January but now i have an inner thigh injury after doing body pump then ran a park run the next day and could hardly walk after. Haven't done any exercise for 2 weeks. Has improved a bit but still hurts and walk with a limp. Went to doctors and they arranged a telephone physio appointment but the physio didn't bother ringing. I chased it up with doctors but still hasn't rang. I'm really not sure if I need to be doing any stretches or exercises to speed recovery. I'm gutted I can't run at the moment. Would I be able to go on an exercise bike or do a spin class soon. I'm really not sure what to do. I used to have loads of energy but feel drained since my inner thigh injury 😩

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Oh gosh. This sounds very uncomfortable. If it still hurts, and you're walking with a limp... please, don't run and don't do any exercise, until you have an accurate diagnosis.

The chances are, you will make matters very much worse and end up on the IC for a very long time. There are really, no shortcuts to recovery.

A diagnosis from an expert is the starting point, I'm afraid.

The runs will wait.

Please keep us posted.

[Ricecakexx in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you so much for your advice. I was so pleased I graduated the c25k and was really getting into running. It's so difficult as my mind wants to run but my body doesn't. I'm so looking forward to getting better and running again. I love it.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Ricecakexx]

I do empathise..it is very hard to be patient...but it will be worth the wait. I had once to be out for nearly twelve weeks...But...the runs are always there and when we get out again, it is so, so sweet.

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏 Sometimes life feels very unfair! If it was me annoying as it is I would keep chasing up that physio appointment. You don’t want any more damage to that area. Once you have been seen you will be given helpful feedback. Ask the GP for a face to face physio now as it’s gone on so long and still hasn’t resolved. Sometimes a polite letter with all the facts, delays etc does the trick. Here’s hoping you get seen soon!!

[Ricecakexx in reply to Annieapple]

Thank you so much for the advice. That's a great idea about putting it in writing to the Dr. Thank you 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Ricecakexx]

Sensible advice Annieapple ! X

[Heti Graduate]

Try some Yoga stretches! I’ve had a tight right hamstring for 2 weeks and I find it helps!

[Ricecakexx in reply to Heti]

I'll give that a go... thank you 😊

[Madwife60]

if you can afford it I’d try a chiropractor- so lucky here as I live near the main chiropractor teaching college do it’s relatively cheap. A private one is about £30 a time and I rationalise the cost by paying for that rather than the cost of the gym/classes. Maybe some gentle swimming might help

[CarverD]

Take the time to heal properly. I made the mistake of trying to run to0 soon after a similar injury early in my running career and put myself on the injured list for another 3 months. I found icing the area helped immensely. Best of luck.

[Noraboswell]

Google NHS Groin Strain and info comes up from the direct website or various NHS health trusts.

[nowster Graduate]

One thing we often do as new runners is use the wrong muscles.

I had a tight hamstring in my left leg which made me subconsciously use a minor muscle in my right groin (one of the adductors) to the point where it was getting very sore.

A sports physio correctly identified the underlying problem and gave me exercises to do in addition to my running, which completely fixed the problem over the course of a couple of weeks.

If I'd been researching the problem myself I'd never have worked out what was wrong and might have made things ten times worse.