So periodically I have mentioned that I have knee pain. Well, of late it has become really bad. Like where I do a sort of sad limp run in my workouts. Mike convinced me to take some time off but I hate it. Not because I'm some turbo runner but because I'm terrified of losing the little momentum I've got. But it hurts so bad I feel like I have no other choice for now.During this little break from jogging I've been reading up on knee problems and trying to figure out exactly what is going on. And I think I've got "runner's knee"and I've realized this is something I've had for a long time. Like I thought it was normal that after you sit on the couch for a while, like while watching a movie, for your knees to get stiff and painful so that you can't stand up straight right away. And I thought it was normal for your knees to hurt when you keep them bent too long at night when you are sleeping. Or to hurt any time they are bending. And I realized I always walk down the stairs kind of sideways to avoid bending me knees too much. And I honestly don't know how long this has been going on. Maybe it started with that first pregnancy a while back and I just chalked it up as a pregnancy pain. I'm not really sure.
So here I am. I know I've got runner's knee but I don't know how to correct the problem. I don't think rest will solve the problem. I need to strengthen my legs so that the load on my knees isn't so great. AND I need to lose weight. I have no doubt that the added weight is a big contributor to the problem. And I need to stretch better so that my legs aren't pulling in strange directions during my runs because the muscles are tight. And hopefully after the break from jogging, which I am replacing with swimming and the elliptical, the pain will be gone - or at least minimal.
But how long am I supposed to break for? I was thinking maybe I could just take a couple really slow really short runs in the mean time as long as the pain is really low. I just don't know. Maybe I should go to the doctor? But I have a few fears with that. First that he will take a look at my chubby body and say, "Well, anyone your size is going to have a lot of problems with running so you can't anymore." OR that he'll say, "I'm not finding anything. You just must be a wimp." OR "You sure don't look like you run. You obviously just want to get out of having to." I don't know. We'll see.
Anyone else have this issue?
7 comments:
not runners knee, but with my feet. i too was afraid to stop. i read up online and found kinesio tape. it said that a physical therapist had to apply it, but i googled and taught myself. it's spendy but it made running bearable again. probably wasn't the best idea- running through the pain, but i did anyway. i recommend going to a running store like wasatch running and ask the sales geeks. they knew a lot when i was asking about my injury. do what feels right to your body. good luck!
I made comments on next post, but I just wanted to add that your postulating about what the doctor would say is waaaay harsh. That inner dialogue that we all have with ourselves is always much worse than what others think. He would probably congratulate you for running despite your pain and making an effort to improve your situation. If you have doubts, bring that before/after photo below and he will say...."Great job. Here's what you should do...." You're doing awesome!
runnersworld.com has a lot of really great advice about knee pain and other running ailments. You should check it out. For me my knee pain was just something I had to work through and build my muscles back up, now I am fine. I think you need to make sure you are doing weights along with your elliptical and swimming it makes a huge difference and you lose weight twice as fast. I know some great weight training to help your knee if you are interested.
Jamie - yes, tell me some of your weight training exercises!
That inner dialog reminds me of when we were in high school and your stomach got really big. You were scared to go to the Dr. because you were convinced they would say, "no, nothing wrong, you just got fat" Then you ended up having a tumor the size of a cantaloupe. Doctors aren't as mean as you think!
Megan, thank you for your sweet note on our blog. I will pass it along to my mom. We really appreciate it. Hope you are doing well!
My knees got better when I got rid of my running shoes. I think the issue was overstriding. It's very tough to overstride barefoot.
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