Running Injury

[ndi_amaka]

****I don't know if there is a more apprpriate place to ask this question so if it needs to be moved I understand****

For YEARS I have this chronic pain that I don't know how to prevent or treat. I like to go running and speed walking on a regular basis but as soon as I am about 10 to 15 minutes into my workout the lateral side of my right leg feels like it's on fire. THe muscle (peroneus longus, I presume) gets so incredibly tight and no amount of stretching will loosen it.

I've done everything that I can think of...proper stretching for 20 minutes, drinking lots of water, and wearing appropriate running shoes with good socks. It's really annoying cuz I end up doing just a "brisk" walk after about 15 minutes cuz the pain is so bad. There is never a problem with my left leg and it's always in the same exact spot in my right leg. It doesn't cause pain at all doing normal activities or walking at a regular pace but as soon as I start jogging it kills me.

I was wondering how I could prevent the injury so I can enjoy jogging? Is there some kind of brace or something I can wear?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[SpeedRacer]

****I don't know if there is a more apprpriate place to ask this question so if it needs to be moved I understand****

For YEARS I have this chronic pain that I don't know how to prevent or treat. I like to go running and speed walking on a regular basis but as soon as I am about 10 to 15 minutes into my workout the lateral side of my right leg feels like it's on fire. THe muscle (peroneus longus, I presume) gets so incredibly tight and no amount of stretching will loosen it.

I've done everything that I can think of...proper stretching for 20 minutes, drinking lots of water, and wearing appropriate running shoes with good socks. It's really annoying cuz I end up doing just a "brisk" walk after about 15 minutes cuz the pain is so bad. There is never a problem with my left leg and it's always in the same exact spot in my right leg. It doesn't cause pain at all doing normal activities or walking at a regular pace but as soon as I start jogging it kills me.

I was wondering how I could prevent the injury so I can enjoy jogging? Is there some kind of brace or something I can wear?

i am in no way qualified to answer your question medically, but as a runner, i wanted to ask - what is your running stride like? some people have lots of pain problems and it is based in their stride.

 

[ndi_amaka]

i am in no way qualified to answer your question medically, but as a runner, i wanted to ask - what is your running stride like? some people have lots of pain problems and it is based in their stride.

Uuum...my stride? I don't know. How is it supposed to be?

 

[drjazz]

As a fellow runner your story sounds quite familiar...You may be suffering from Illiotibial Band Syndrome, which is the most common injury to runners (especially those whose workouts cover long distances). The IB runs along the lateral side of each knee. It sounds as though you are taking proper precautions (i.e. stretching, hydration, etc.) therefore I would say that your pain arises from more mechanical issues, namely with the way your foot impacts the ground. I would consider having your arches analyzed by either your PCP or a PT. If the involved leg happens to have a fallen arch (i.e. flat-footed) then you may be overpronating your foot causing your leg to fall in towards your pelvis when your foot makes contact with the ground. This causes undue stretch and strain on the IB and it rubs on the side of the patella.
Once this issue is cleared up, you can begin to address your footwear and judge whether or not it is supportive enough for you. For additional information, google "iliotibial band syndrome" and there are numerous websites dedicated to diagnosis and treatment of this injury should you have it.
Good luck

 

[ndi_amaka]

I don't think I explained myself correctly. The pain is on the lateral side of my leg but it is above the ankle joint rather than around the knee area. It is especially a problem upon takeoff...when I'm on my toes rather than on the heel. I think it has to do more with the muscles attached to my fibula rather than with the tibia.

Does anyone else experience this?

 

[AJM]

I don't think I explained myself correctly. The pain is on the lateral side of my leg but it is above the ankle joint rather than around the knee area. It is especially a problem upon takeoff...when I'm on my toes rather than on the heel. I think it has to do more with the muscles attached to my fibula rather than with the tibia.

Does anyone else experience this?

I'd have to examine you to know for sure, but it sounds like you might have a similar problem to something I've been dealing with. From your description, my guess is that you may have an injury to one of your peroneal tendons -- most likely tendonitis +/- peroneal subluxation (subluxation can cause chronic irritation leading to persistent symptoms). Often these injuries don't have a clear cause. I recently had peroneal tendonitis, along with a dislocated and torn peroneus brevis. The pain that I had was exactly like what yours sounds like -- I could walk at a slow and moderate pace with no problems, but if I tried to pick up the pace or go up or down stairs I got severe pain in my lateral ankle and just above the ankle. The worst was trying to stand on my toes -- I couldn't do it without a lot of pain.

I would recommend that you get seen by a sports medicine specialist or an orthopod who specializes in foot & ankle. If this is peroneal tendonitis there are a number of things they can do -- the most common to start off with would be temporary immobilization with a walking boot, along with physical therapy. Usually this goes away with appropriate conservative treatment.

Keep in mind that this is not a qualified medical opinion, just sharing my experience as a fellow runner who feels your pain (no pun intended), and is waiting to get back to running again!

 

[Buck Strong]

Could it be chronic exercise induced compartment syndrome?

This is an overuse injury of the lower extremity in which physical findings are unremarkable. The compartments most often involved are the anterior and the lateral (14). Usually, a patient with chronic exertional compartment syndrome has no symptoms at rest. The typical pattern is demonstrated by an endurance athlete experiencing exercise-induced pain in the anterolateral lower leg. Detmer (15) studied 100 operative cases, 70 of which involved runners. The pathomechanics of the syndrome are unclear but may be related to the stress of hard-surface exercise, leading to edema formation in the involved compartments. One study (16) found that tibial venous drainage was impaired in patients with chronic exertional compartment syndrome and that the fascia of the compartments was thicker and stiffer than that in control subjects (0.35 mm thick versus 0.22 mm). Patients may also experience numbness or, in a few cases, footdrop. Symptoms dissipate quickly when the offending activity is discontinued, but compartment pressures may remain elevated for up to 40 minutes after exercise.

 

[DrDre']

Glad someone jumped on the IT Dx. Whatever.

I'd vote for an ortho, PT or DPM consult. YOu probably have a issue with ankle or foot anatomy.


I had a 14 mo injury that nothing fixed until I began doing specific strengthening exercises and most importantly, orthotics. Don't waste anymore time trying to fix it on your own.


Good luck!

 

[Bull's eye]

Could it be chronic exercise induced compartment syndrome?

This is an overuse injury of the lower extremity in which physical findings are unremarkable. The compartments most often involved are the anterior and the lateral (14). Usually, a patient with chronic exertional compartment syndrome has no symptoms at rest. The typical pattern is demonstrated by an endurance athlete experiencing exercise-induced pain in the anterolateral lower leg. Detmer (15) studied 100 operative cases, 70 of which involved runners. The pathomechanics of the syndrome are unclear but may be related to the stress of hard-surface exercise, leading to edema formation in the involved compartments. One study (16) found that tibial venous drainage was impaired in patients with chronic exertional compartment syndrome and that the fascia of the compartments was thicker and stiffer than that in control subjects (0.35 mm thick versus 0.22 mm). Patients may also experience numbness or, in a few cases, footdrop. Symptoms dissipate quickly when the offending activity is discontinued, but compartment pressures may remain elevated for up to 40 minutes after exercise.

This gets my vote. First thing I thought of when I heard the history. Go see your pod. Have them check your compartments when exercising. Good Luck.

 

[barowe]

This gets my vote. First thing I thought of when I heard the history. Go see your pod. Have them check your compartments when exercising. Good Luck.

This is my vote as well especially if it never bothers you with regular activities, or at any other time than when running. It is pretty uncommon to get it in the lateral compartment though, usually anterior.