Muscle Strained or partially torn?

[Gamingphreek]

I have a choice to run a 3.2 mile or a 10 mile race tomorrow. I intended to run it until I "accidentally" ran 14 miles. After that I was extremely sore (and fatigued because my inhaler ran out on the way back). Irregardless I still intended to run it despite spraining my calf muscle.

The calf is feeling about 70% but today my friends went to play soccer. I couldn't say "No" to a sport. So despite them telling me I shouldn't I did anyway. When running I somewhat overextended my leg and injured my left quad.

Walking up the stairs I suddenly collapsed when I tried to put pressure on it. It was bad, but since about 20 minutes ago, I can barely move it because there are shooting pains every time I flex that muscle (ie: move it).

I would guess it is a strain, but should I worry about partially tearing it at all? Also I still want to run, but I can barely walk (Can't really walk down stairs). Is there anything I can do (Ice then heat) to help it so that I MAY be able to run?

Thanks,
-Kevin

 

[jme5343]

Hmmm, I admire your persistence. Me? I'd do anything I could to get out of running, lol. You're running with Asthma? Is that the inhaler of which you speak?

 

[Gamingphreek]

Yea I have exercise induced asthma. It was my own dumb fault for the accidental running as well as taking the inahler too early before i went on the run.

-Kevin

 

[thelanx]

Um dude sounds like you need to take a break and stop beating your body up so much. Also, if you strain a muscle you tear the fibers, so your question is not very useful. My advice, don't run and learn to listen to your body's signals (ie pain).

 

[Gamingphreek]

I know, but I HATE getting injured. I know I can do good at very long distance runs and it annoys me when I can't.

In HS I was sidelined for the season with severe shin splints. I went to every home meet with the team and every time I watched someone run the 2 mile, I know I could have done very well and in some cases won it.

I guess I shouldn't run tomorrow...

-Kevin

 

[angminas]

If only you could hear yourself, bro. You're pushing yourself way too hard, and you're going to run your body into the ground, and then you won't be running at all. The stuff you're saying is very worrisome to read. Settle down before you get seriously injured. When you can barely walk but you're trying to figure out a way to run tomorrow, assuming it's not in the Super Bowl, you've got a problem. I hate getting injured too, but bodies are selfish and don't listen to reason. What you're saying sounds something like this:

"I injured myself by overworking in high school, and I have another chronic overwork illness. Despite warnings to the contrary, I 'accidentally' overworked myself today, then overworked myself some more. I think I overworked myself. I can barely walk, and I have shooting pain, but I want to overwork myself tomorrow too. What can I do so I can overwork myself?"

Your sig says you're Christian. Remember that your body is a temple, given to you by God. You have a responsibility to take care of it. I hope you feel better soon!

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
I know, but I HATE getting injured. I know I can do good at very long distance runs and it annoys me when I can't.

In HS I was sidelined for the season with severe shin splints. I went to every home meet with the team and every time I watched someone run the 2 mile, I know I could have done very well and in some cases won it.

I guess I shouldn't run tomorrow...

-Kevin

If you don't want to risk permanent injury, then you should rest. Maybe even go see a doctor about your quadriceps if the pain is really that bad.

 

[Azraele]

Do not run tomorrow. You need to let your injury heal. There will be other opportunities.

 

[Siddhartha]

I know a guy, Dave, who ran at least five miles every day for a couple of weeks on a broken foot. He found out it was broken when his running partner, a doctor, saw it when Dave took his shoe and sock off after a five mile run. It was swollen and discolored. Dave said his foot was sore but he figured he could run through the pain.

Dave grumbled about not being able to run while his foot was healing.


Dave is a maniac. More times than I can remember, he has pushed, punished, his body to the point of not being able to walk.

I am sure there is a buzz in this type of behavior. I sure hope I never acquire a taste for it.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well I decided not to run today. The pain is a little better today...granted I haven't walked around to much on it.

Thanks for the advice guys. I guess I was just pushing myself too hard. (The 14 miles was really and truly a stupid stupid accident)

-Kevin

 

[SVT Cobra]

Lots of heat and stretch it very slowly (and not much at all for the first few days) let it rest for a week.

 

[angminas]

Glad to hear it!

 

[Gamingphreek]

I'm training for half marathons (and eventually marathons). I want to be able to make the VT Track Team (Longest Event not sure what that is) in my Junior year or Senior year (I'm going to need a year and a half to train further before I even have a very slim shot)

-Kevin

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I don't think it was the 14 mile run that hurt you, really, it was the game afterwards. Your muscles have less of a capacity to resist injury when they're sore / fatigued. When you played the game, you probably did something that otherwise wouldn't have been so bad - except that you were already torn up. You need to learn to keep things in moderation. Train, but don't overdo it. If you're running a half marathon, you don't really even want to run over 13 miles. Those few extra miles put a ridiculous amount of wear on you and you want to be in your prime for the race, so what you're really doing is cutting yourself short. I'd say 10 - 12 miles should be your long day runs, which should happen once or twice a week to save your body. You need to be way more careful in your running. I'm a runner, have been for a while now. I'm also a Exercise Bio major, so I know what you're doing to your body. PM me if you have any statements / questions.

+Brent

PS: If you can't walk, don't run the race - either of them. Your potential for serious injury increases exponentially when you do stuff like that.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
I don't think it was the 14 mile run that hurt you, really, it was the game afterwards. Your muscles have less of a capacity to resist injury when they're sore / fatigued. When you played the game, you probably did something that otherwise wouldn't have been so bad - except that you were already torn up. You need to learn to keep things in moderation. Train, but don't overdo it. If you're running a half marathon, you don't really even want to run over 13 miles. Those few extra miles put a ridiculous amount of wear on you and you want to be in your prime for the race, so what you're really doing is cutting yourself short. I'd say 10 - 12 miles should be your long day runs, which should happen once or twice a week to save your body. You need to be way more careful in your running. I'm a runner, have been for a while now. I'm also a Exercise Bio major, so I know what you're doing to your body. PM me if you have any statements / questions.

+Brent

PS: If you can't walk, don't run the race - either of them. Your potential for serious injury increases exponentially when you do stuff like that.

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

I can walk today, right now all the muscles feel just sore (Ripping, repairing etc...). Running is out of the question, I am just pushing myself too much. I'm probably going to back down to about 6 miles a day- but I think a few days, at least, off will help immensely.

The only thing preventing me from taking more than a day off is, I have heard that 2 days off from running is VERY detrimental to training. You should take 1 day off a week is what I have heard. I normally take off Sunday (Church etc...).

I'm going to ice those particular spots down for about 20 minutes and then just let them heal.

As a side note, I was prescribed NSAID's a while back when I was having very bad knee problems (Knee cap sometimes gets stuck in between my joint preventing me from moving it all the way). After the 14 mile run. my knees and ankles were very bad off for the next day. Would the NSAID's help at all with that.... I only took them for about 3 days when I had my knee problems. Therefore I have a whole bottle of them sitting in the medicine cabinet.

-Kevin

 

[classy]

Trust me its bad strain. If you ever tear a muscle, even partially you won't have to ask which is it, you'll be in serious pain and most likely need surgery.

 

[jiggahertz]

How do you accidentally run 14 miles?

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: jiggahertz
How do you accidentally run 14 miles?

I "accidentally" ran 11 miles once. Of course it was along a nude beach in Barcelona, Spain.

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

Originally posted by: jiggahertz
How do you accidentally run 14 miles?

I "accidentally" ran 11 miles once. Of course it was along a nude beach in Barcelona, Spain.

bad... mental... image...

 

[FP]

Irregardless?

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: jiggahertz
How do you accidentally run 14 miles?

Thought this would come up.

We have a trail here that runs from Blacksburg to Christiansburg (6.2 miles + .75 from my dorm). I normally make a loop and therefore don't run with my Student ID or Keys or anything.

Well I ran this entire course and got to Christiansburg and was thinking, I wonder how hard it would be to run back. I walked up to a bus stop and had one of those "Oh ******" moments. I didn't have my Student ID so I couldn't get on the bus (No Money and No ID). So I had to run the entire way back.

On the way back, my inhaler ran out (I took it about 2 hours before I started the run also) and I fell twice because I couldn't breathe very well. And then to top it all off I ran later in the day. So on the way there the sun was up and it was about 55-60F outside. So I was in shorts and a t-shirt. On the way back it dropped into the 30's which prevented me from stopping because it was so cold.

All in all, it was completely and totally my own stupid fault for not thinking at all.

-Kevin

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: jiggahertz
How do you accidentally run 14 miles?

Thought this would come up.

We have a trail here that runs from Blacksburg to Christiansburg (6.2 miles + .75 from my dorm). I normally make a loop and therefore don't run with my Student ID or Keys or anything.

Well I ran this entire course and got to Christiansburg and was thinking, I wonder how hard it would be to run back. I walked up to a bus stop and had one of those "Oh ******" moments. I didn't have my Student ID so I couldn't get on the bus (No Money and No ID). So I had to run the entire way back.

On the way back, my inhaler ran out (I took it about 2 hours before I started the run also) and I fell twice because I couldn't breathe very well. And then to top it all off I ran later in the day. So on the way there the sun was up and it was about 55-60F outside. So I was in shorts and a t-shirt. On the way back it dropped into the 30's which prevented me from stopping because it was so cold.

All in all, it was completely and totally my own stupid fault for not thinking at all.

-Kevin

At least you weren't running from the cops.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
I don't think it was the 14 mile run that hurt you, really, it was the game afterwards. Your muscles have less of a capacity to resist injury when they're sore / fatigued. When you played the game, you probably did something that otherwise wouldn't have been so bad - except that you were already torn up. You need to learn to keep things in moderation. Train, but don't overdo it. If you're running a half marathon, you don't really even want to run over 13 miles. Those few extra miles put a ridiculous amount of wear on you and you want to be in your prime for the race, so what you're really doing is cutting yourself short. I'd say 10 - 12 miles should be your long day runs, which should happen once or twice a week to save your body. You need to be way more careful in your running. I'm a runner, have been for a while now. I'm also a Exercise Bio major, so I know what you're doing to your body. PM me if you have any statements / questions.

+Brent

PS: If you can't walk, don't run the race - either of them. Your potential for serious injury increases exponentially when you do stuff like that.

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

I can walk today, right now all the muscles feel just sore (Ripping, repairing etc...). Running is out of the question, I am just pushing myself too much. I'm probably going to back down to about 6 miles a day- but I think a few days, at least, off will help immensely.

The only thing preventing me from taking more than a day off is, I have heard that 2 days off from running is VERY detrimental to training. You should take 1 day off a week is what I have heard. I normally take off Sunday (Church etc...).

I'm going to ice those particular spots down for about 20 minutes and then just let them heal.

As a side note, I was prescribed NSAID's a while back when I was having very bad knee problems (Knee cap sometimes gets stuck in between my joint preventing me from moving it all the way). After the 14 mile run. my knees and ankles were very bad off for the next day. Would the NSAID's help at all with that.... I only took them for about 3 days when I had my knee problems. Therefore I have a whole bottle of them sitting in the medicine cabinet.

-Kevin

Actually, it's not as bad as you may think. You probably don't want to take 2+ days off while training, but if you're slightly injured you can take as much as 3 and still be great for a race. Your muscles begin deteriorating from the state they currently are at after 72 hours. Listen to your joints especially - if you run on bad joints, you can damage them for life in a rather short span of time.