Running and endo

[Doves76]

Hi

Does anyone know what the latest advice is about running and endo? I was always encouraged to run by a long time endo specialist who has since moved on. This week a podiatrist has advised avoiding high impact exercise such as running because it can be inflammatory.

Before I hang up my running shoes and take up swimming and cycling I thought I would ask here incase anyone has any recent experience or knowledge about it.

A bit about my history - I was diagnosed with stage 4 endo in 1997 and have had multiple surgeries and treatments over the years. The latest was total abdominal hysterectomy in 2021. I have endo in my bowel and around my urethra. Am taking HRT - including oestrogen, 200mg progesterone and testosterone. I have run 2 half marathons and walked a marathon since 2021 yet have found it a tough recovery each time. I had bad achilles inflammation after the marathon and am working on strengthening my core ...still!

Thanks very much

[Marcia71]

to be honest I don’t think it’s a simple yes or no answer. If you feel good about running and enjoy it and aren’t in pain I’d say keep it up. Maybe reduce distances so it doesn’t take so long to get over the race.

A couple of things you might find interesting. My pelvic physio explained to me that with endo we often have an overtight pelvic floor - I do - and that is linked to plantar fasciitis- again I have that. But it’s the tight muscles and the constant pain that has made us tighten the muscles and then pull on the tendons that cause the tightness in hamstrings and into arch of the foot. Not the inflammation.

Yes that can be exarcebated by both endo and plantar fasciitis but one doesn’t cause the other they just often happen together.

I had deep infiltrating rectovaginal endo and adenomyosis and the bleeding got so bad I was constantly fatigued so running just became too hard. I had run a marathon and that triggered my plantar fasciitis. I then had a hysterectomy and ovaries out but plantar fasciitis didn’t settle and I had endo sewn into vault so had more surgery. So I’ve never run since my marathon and to be honest don’t think I ever will again as the combination of plantar fasciitis and tight pelvic floor just cause me too much pain.

So if you enjoy running and it isn’t hurting I’d say keep going.

[Doves76 in reply to Marcia71]

Oh you have been through a lot I hope you have some relief now. Thank you for your reply. I hadn't ever thought about the connection between tight muscles and pain. That is really interesting. Thanks again x