Okay, Internet. I am trying not to freak out here.
For about a week, I have had some pain in my left leg, inner shin, towards the bottom of it.
It is not too painful to run on, and in fact, diminishes the longer I run. It occasionally, but not always, hurts when I walk.
So, as of yesterday, I am doing the following:
1. Resting, at least until Saturday. No running at all.
2. Icing it a couple times a day with my friend the bag of frozen peas.
3. Trying not to freak out.
So far, I'm doing pretty well with numbers 1 and 2. This is despite the fact that it was catlicking beautiful out yesterday, and scores of people ran past me as I drove home from work, looking happy, and I got a new pair of running tights in the mail.
I thought about just running 3 miles, slowly, to see how it felt, but instead, I made myself sit down with the peas. I am really trying to keep this in perspective - a couple days off might be all I need to feel better. It worked with the achilles pain last summer. And if that's all I have to do, it won't screw up my trisko plans, because the fact of the matter is, if I had to, I could run one now. Maybe not as fast as I'd like, but I would finish.
But you guys? I'm freaking out. Because, let's face it - I don't have shin splints. I have not suddenly gotten back into running after a period of inactivity, and I'm following a training plan that is not making me overtrain. Dr. Google tells me that it's either a tendon problem or... a stress fracture.
Crap in a hat.
Please, Goddess Nike, please don't let me have a stress fracture.
8 comments:
Crap, GOOGLE gives us WAAAAAY too much to think about. One thing you have going for you is that it gets better during a long run. A stress fracture would most likely be bad at first, moderate in the middle and then severe the longer you go. You are doing the right thing. Give it a couple days and try not to think the worst. It is probably just strained a bit. Hang in there!!
Rest is the right thing, and it will probably clear itself up. And if not, you get to go back to the doctor who will tell you over and over what an athletic body you have!
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. One of my TNT teammates had to bag the Marine Corps Marathon last year and then ended up with another stress fracture a week before the National Half this year and still ran it--and was one of our fastest finishers.
Don't freak out! Dr. Google is probably wrong-o. See how it feels after a little more rest!
Nancy is right. Google does give us too much info to think about. Just rest up, and hopefully you'll be back out there soon.
Its easy to panic. I felt the same way when I had similar pain in my shin. (But mine got worse as I ran) Google almost convinced me that I would potentially need surgery.
Turns out a week of rest and a couple of easy runs once I restarted was all it took.
I think its natural to feel the way you do right know. But try to stay calm and be optimistic right now, and give it a little time to heal.
Uh, "catlicking beautiful?" Whaa--?
Having never heard that adjective before, I went to Dr. Google. The two most prevalant hits? Coffee Besty and...Queen Latifa. I suppose she's one of your NPR buddies, eh? Are words like "catlicking" what you get if you pledge above the $75 mark? Just wonderin'.
My buddy Jordan suddenly developed shin splints after years and years of running--his first case ever. I wouldn't rule that out yet.
My buddy Jordan suddenly developed shin splints after years and years of running--his first case ever. I wouldn't rule that out yet.
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