Runners, Physical Trainers, questions inside.

[jtusa]

I've started running a lot harder lately. I'm not fat or grossly out of shape or anything, but due to a possible job change, I've been pushing myself quite a bit. For the first few weeks I was feeling the burn, but the muscle endurance in my legs was already starting to get better and I was feeling good, not overly sore, etc. But the past couple of days my left leg has been killing me. Before I'm even feeling it in my right leg, my left leg will be in pain to the point I have to stop and walk it off, and even at a good walking pace the pain doesn't subside. It seems to be localized to the front outside area of my left calf.

I stretch a good 5-10 minutes and I walk 5-10 minutes before I start the run. When I get back I stretch my legs too. After I stretch the leg doesn't hurt, and it's not overly sore after the fact.

I'm thinking maybe I'm pushing myself too hard? I've been running everyday, so maybe a taking a day off every couple days? Any info/advice/recommendations are welcome. Thanks.

 

[spaceghost21]

Where exectly does it hurt?

I'm no doctor, but I have WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than my fair share of running related injuries.

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: spaceghost21
Where exectly does it hurt?

I'm no doctor, but I have WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than my fair share of running related injuries.

Seems to be localized to the front left(outside) of my left calf.

 

[flawlssdistortn]

Are you running on concrete? Isn't that supposed to be really bad for your joints?

 

[AbAbber2k]

Calf strain? You need to let it rest. Every time you run you're just going to aggravate it. Back off on the intensity and see if that helps. If it doesn't hurt at a moderate jog do that, if it still does, back off further. Also wouldn't hurt to ice it down once a day.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: jtusa

Originally posted by: spaceghost21
Where exectly does it hurt?

I'm no doctor, but I have WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than my fair share of running related injuries.

Seems to be localized to the front left(outside) of my left calf.

I'm still not following. Get a picture of leg and draw an arrow on it.

 

[JoeKing]

might be shoes. Try doing a few quick miles on a gym treadmill. See if it still hurts. Treadmills have lots of give so if it still hurts it's either your shoes or the way you run. If not it's the surface you're running on.

 

[spaceghost21]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: jtusa

Originally posted by: spaceghost21
Where exectly does it hurt?

I'm no doctor, but I have WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than my fair share of running related injuries.

Seems to be localized to the front left(outside) of my left calf.

I'm still not following. Get a picture of leg and draw an arrow on it.

Probably most helpful right now. That is what I have had to do everytime I've been to physical therapy. Also, there's a LOT of information - not all of it good - on running injuries.

Find out what is hurting you, find out what you need to do and do it. Don't let something like this keep you from running, but, don't try and rush things and run through the pain. Believe me, it almost always just makes it worse.

Good luck running and if you can give us more information chances are someone here has had the same problem or can help you!

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: jtusa

Originally posted by: spaceghost21
Where exectly does it hurt?

I'm no doctor, but I have WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than my fair share of running related injuries.

Seems to be localized to the front left(outside) of my left calf.

I'm still not following. Get a picture of leg and draw an arrow on it.

a pic would definitely help me, but outer calf might be because you overpronate

 

[AbAbber2k]

Based on his description it doesn't sound like shin splints, so I doubt it's due to the surface he's running on. Also unlikely that it's due to his shoes, as bad shoes should (though admitedly not always) result in similar symptoms on both sides. Probably just a muscle strain. Not a big deal. Just give it some rest and ice, as I said.

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: sash1

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: jtusa

Originally posted by: spaceghost21
Where exectly does it hurt?

I'm no doctor, but I have WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than my fair share of running related injuries.

Seems to be localized to the front left(outside) of my left calf.

I'm still not following. Get a picture of leg and draw an arrow on it.

a pic would definitely help me, but outer calf might be because you overpronate

That area, not right over the bone, just to the left of the bone. The bone doesn't hurt, it's definitely muscle.

BTW, that isn't me! 🙂

http://www.jtusa.net/legs.gif

 

[SVT Cobra]

Shin splints for sure. Ice, Ice, Ice!

What shoes are you using to run? Either way, it happens to everyone when they up the intensity. Ice it and take asprin, it will go away in a week or two.

 

[thehstrybean]

Originally posted by: jtusa

Originally posted by: sash1

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: jtusa

Originally posted by: spaceghost21
Where exectly does it hurt?

I'm no doctor, but I have WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than my fair share of running related injuries.

Seems to be localized to the front left(outside) of my left calf.

I'm still not following. Get a picture of leg and draw an arrow on it.

a pic would definitely help me, but outer calf might be because you overpronate

That area, not right over the bone, just to the left of the bone. The bone doesn't hurt, it's definitely muscle.

BTW, that isn't me! 🙂

http://www.jtusa.net/legs.gif

LoL @ teh pictAr!

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: F22 Raptor
Shin splints for sure. Ice, Ice, Ice!

What shoes are you using to run? Either way, it happens to everyone when they up the intensity. Ice it and take asprin, it will go away in a week or two.

Was just looking up details on shin splints and it seems resting the legs and exercising those muscles specifically outside of just running (like standing up straight and lifting up on the toes) should help the muscles adjust. 2-3 weeks and I should be back to normal. Seem about right?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: jtusa

Originally posted by: F22 Raptor
Shin splints for sure. Ice, Ice, Ice!

What shoes are you using to run? Either way, it happens to everyone when they up the intensity. Ice it and take asprin, it will go away in a week or two.

Was just looking up details on shin splints and it seems resting the legs and exercising those muscles specifically outside of just running (like standing up straight and lifting up on the toes) should help the muscles adjust. 2-3 weeks and I should be back to normal. Seem about right?

Well, it's shin splints, but you got the bad kind, at least in my experience. Shin splints can be on the inside and outside of your calf and the outside ones are much more difficult to stretch / work on. But yes, you should definitely ice it every day, 15 minutes on, 15 off, 15 on, 15 off; and take some ibuprofen before you go to sleep to help with inflamation and pain. If you flex your foot toward your calf, and walk like that on your heel (it's awkward, but helpful) it will strengthen those muscles. As they strengthen, they'll push the calf muscle back into a place that isn't painful. You can PM me if you have further questions or problems. If you ask my experience, I've been a sprinter for the past 4 years.

+Brent

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: jtusa

Originally posted by: F22 Raptor
Shin splints for sure. Ice, Ice, Ice!

What shoes are you using to run? Either way, it happens to everyone when they up the intensity. Ice it and take asprin, it will go away in a week or two.

Was just looking up details on shin splints and it seems resting the legs and exercising those muscles specifically outside of just running (like standing up straight and lifting up on the toes) should help the muscles adjust. 2-3 weeks and I should be back to normal. Seem about right?

Ehh, just run on it and man up. The running alone will repace the exercises and it will heal. When I ran the NY marathon I had them so bad when I started my 20+ runs before that it felt like my calf was detatched from the bone. But, they go away.