Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Stand Down


Effective immediately, I am to cease running until further notice.

From what I've gathered I've strained my groin (here come the jokes). It's now impacted my stride and is bothering me at work (while walking around). In an effort to nip this in the bud, I need to stop running and rest up. My groin has been bothering me for about a month, but now the pain has moved throughout my quad and hamstring. This, combined with the fact that my stride is effected and I'm limping around the metro train, gives me reason to cease all running for at least 2 days. Again, I am able to run with the issue, but I need to kill this thing now and not have it lingering around later this summer and fester into some damned injury. I'm in the process of getting information about how to successfully combat this groin pain, but from what I've gathered there are a few ways you can go. Some say you can run through it while other say you need rest...and lots of it. Some say to stretch it...but not too much.

If any RED FOX readers have had this injury, I'd love to hear from you about what worked...and what didn't. This is the first time I've ever had this problem.

As of now, I plan to run Twilighter after taking a couple days off, but I may nix it if this doesn't get any better.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I injuried my groin playing football. I was able to continue training for the Baltimore marathon, but had to cut out hills and speed work because of the pain. It took 2 months to fully heal but that was because I was still putting 70 miles/week on it. When not running I iced and kept it in a compress. I did go out and get some compression shorts, which did help a bit. Good Luck

Chris Vames Sloane said...

Never had a groin injury. Just listen to your body, Jake, I think you know what to do already. But, make sure you try to massage the area a little bit and try to use the running stick a little bit. Try to make all of your muscles relax. Take an epsom salt bath(or use Endura Soak). Hope it gets better soon, sounds like you are being smart taking a few immediate days off. It won't hurt your fitness and it probably is what you need to do right now.

Anonymous said...

http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/toolscontent/0,7156,s6-241-290-291-417-0,00.html?toolName=What Hurts?

Groin Pull
A groin pull that develops over several weeks could actually be a hip stress fracture, so gauge groin pain carefully

Definition:
A pulled adductor muscle occurring suddenly during fast running, resulting in pain just below the crease between the lower abdomen and the thigh.

Groin pain in the crease between the abdomen and thigh that develops over several weeks may indicate a stress fracture in the hip; if you have this, you should see a sports-oriented physician right away.

Remedies:
Treat with ice, anti-inflammatories and stretching. Stretch the hamstrings first, then the quads, then the adductors. Wrap the area with a 6-inch Ace bandage. If pain persists, see a sports-oriented physician.


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http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/toolscontent/0,7156,s6-241-290-291-9106-0,00.html?toolName=What%20Hurts?


"My inner thigh aches."

Q: Does your pain increase with activity and decrease with inactivity? Are you limping?

If the answer is yes, you could have a muscle strain or pull, see [A] below. If the answer is no, read on.

Q: Does the pain come and go during the day? Do you feel pain while sitting that then disappears on a run?

If the answer is yes, you could have a back injury, see [B] below. If no, read on.

Q: Has the pain been ongoing for months? Do you feel stiffness in the morning? Does it subside after exercise?

If the answer is yes, you could have arthritis, see [C] below. If no, read on.

Q: Do weight-bearing activities increase the pain? Does hopping up and down on the sore leg cause sharp pain?

If the answer is yes, you could have a stress fracture, see [D] below. If no, read on.

Q: Does it hurt when you're running hard? Are you feeling weakness or numbness on the inside of your thigh?

If the answer is yes, you could have a hernia, see [E] below.

[A] Muscle strains are common among runners who take on too much too soon, says Lisa Callahan, M.D., of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Treat with RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation). Mild to moderate strains improve within two weeks. If you don't see improvement with RICE, it could be a muscle pull, which requires a doctor's care.

[B] Back pain or injury can present itself as groin pain. It could be a simple case of muscle weakness that's easily fixed with stretching and strengthening, or it could be a more serious case of disk or nerve impingement, says Marjorie A. King, Ph.D., director of graduate athletic training education, Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. See your doctor.

[C] Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints; it causes pain, stiffness, and swelling. Run on softer surfaces, every other day, and wear well-cushioned shoes, says Dr. Callahan. Consider weight training for the muscles that support the hip. When symptoms are aggravated, cross-train instead of running. Applying heat and stretching the groin can also help.

[D] Stress fractures are micro-cracks in bone. You can have a stress fracture anywhere in the thigh, hip, or pelvis and feel it as groin pain. See your doctor for a diagnosis. It's important to take a stress fracture very seriously and let it heal, otherwise it can become a complete fracture that requires surgical treatment. Treatment demands rest for six to 12 weeks.

[E] An inguinal hernia occurs when part of the intestine bulges through the abdominal wall. A sports hernia is a weakness or tearing of the deep abdominal muscles. See your doctor for a diagnosis. Healing can take up to six months.

Mike B said...

Not to be a downer here, but in 2007 I also had groin pain, which came about slowly. I dismissed it initially, until it got worse. A number of doctors, including hernia specialist, confirmed that it was no hernia - fun process! I ended up having a stress fracture of the sacrum.
Take care...

KLIM said...

Thanks guys.

I am trying to completely leave the area alone (no stretching, massage etc) for a few days to see if absolute rest settles the issue.

I think the best thing to do is take it one day at a time. I'd like to think I'd be back to running by Monday, but we'll see.