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New Year, New Injury

It was a Saturday so I was all set for my long run, 22km to be exact. Things were going smoothly—quite perfectly in fact—as I kept a steady pace below 6:30 and maintained my heart rate in Zone 3. The cool weather gave me an extra reason to smile (and a good excuse to keep on wearing my favorite mizuno leggings). Yup, I could definitely cover the distance on my own (Annie passed this week)—and I was going to enjoy it. Had you been there, you would’ve witnessed me rolling down the roads of Ayala Alabang singing “The hills are alive…” sans the little apron, of course.

A little after 5 km, I felt a slight pain below my right knee (different from my other meniscus problem on the left knee). This had been troubling me for the past weeks after my runs, but never had it attacked during the actual run. Ouch. I plodded on. Ouch again. I shifted to brisk walking. After a few minutes, I tried running again only to feel the pain return instantly. After a few more futile attempts at running, I gave up. Crap, I was over 4 km away from my car.

What followed was—without any ounce of exaggeration—the longest 20 minutes of my entire running life. Walking back that distance was like dying a slow death…in slow motion. Groups of cyclists were passing me by every so often and I contemplated on grabbing one cyclist from behind and hopping over on his bike to ride back home. Since they were all burly men, I decided against it. The whole walking thing was making me sleepy…and worse, it didn’t make me sweat!

I made good use of that time though: soul searching, evaluating of the year that passed, and planning for the year ahead. Then, I did a couple of memory enhancing exercises, recited the alphabet backwards followed by all prime numbers under 1,000 and many many more. I even thought of new inventions for runners that I’ll tell you more about in a future post.

Then, as always, I started worrying. What is this? Can I run again on Monday? God, not another major injury, pleeeease.

As soon as I got home, I covered my injury with ice and elevated it. Then, I repeated my plea with more fervor: God, not another major injury, please!

My guess is that the little devil is this: Anterior Compartment Syndrome (another way of saying shin splints that make you sound awfully smart). How do I know? Well, that’s what my inner doctor told me after a few minutes of meditating. And yeah, I also looked up my symptoms on the web.

Just to be sure though, I’ll visit a new doctor this week. Time to get a second opinion on my meniscus (left knee) and have my shin problem (right leg) checked. What a great way to start the New Year, don’t you think?

Posted on 01.07.08 to 07 Therapy & Injury. Tags: , , . Subscribe to follow comments on this post. 17 comments. Add your thoughts or trackback from your own site.

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17 Responses to “New Year, New Injury”

  1. So sorry for the bad news miss jaymie….. You might have changed your running gait due to your miniscus problem that’s why you encountered a different injury. Careful though, if you get stuck with your brand spanking new gait you will have a very hard time correcting it again.

    Go to your doctor have it checked na. Compartment syndrome is already on the high end of the Shin Splint scale. It still might be just a micro tear that you have to rest and compress. :) If you are still itching to run then I suggest that you get a compression Sleeve too.

    ICE ICE ICE and rest. Your training should be constantly monitored. When I was going through my recovery training, I was trying to land my left(injured) foot way out on its side (supinating) and I was not pronating well enough to disperse the shock, It made my body sway from side to side which was a terrible thing to see. :) But I was determined enough to recover and take the whole process slowly. With coach Jo’s patience and guidance. My running gait was always our topic during training for like a month and half. I’m sure I haven’t totally corrected my gait 100% but at least the shin injury is now controlled enough for me to train hard again. And so will you. Just visit your doctor first to get confirmation that its neither a compartment injury or a stress fracture. You will be able to breath quite well once you get a negative result. hehehehe see you soon!

    ben said on Jan 07 08 at 11:01 AM Reply

  2. Hi Jaymie – I am so sorry to hear about your injury. I wish you all the best. I hope your doctor finds the answer.

    Regards Mark

    Mark P said on Jan 07 08 at 11:14 AM Reply

  3. Bummer, what a way to start a year.
    Shin splints are usually experienced when you are using spikes training on tartan tracks. You have very good shoes, the wave should create a lot of support to your heels.
    Just maybe the cement roads in AA are the culprit this time. If you are allowed to run again try to run on grass (a golf course offers the best protection) or run waist deep in a pool. Otherwise cycling is the next best thing to let the shins heal…..
    Hope you can make it to Clark…
    Oknoy

    oknoy said on Jan 07 08 at 11:28 AM Reply

  4. Ben, so much for my compartment syndrome guess! haha. I’m pretty sure you’re right. I think my gait changed with the injury on the left. I’ll visit the doc tomorrow. Wish me luck!

    Mark, thanks! Maybe we should get AAVA to asphalt their roads?

    Oknoy, I hope I’ll make it to clark too! That’s why I’m going to behave this week and pray that it’s nothing serious. Thanks :)

    bullrunner said on Jan 07 08 at 2:14 PM Reply

  5. Jaymie – I would prefer AAVA to line all the sidewalks with Tartan or any other synthetic track material. (Dream on)

    Mark P said on Jan 07 08 at 3:24 PM Reply

  6. Oh no oh no oh no stop running on concrete na kasi Jaymie ehhhh. You know naman that they’re as cruel to your feet just as the sun is on your face. I hope you can make it to Clark (wag mag-alala, asphalted dun!)

    Swim swim swim! Para mawala ang kahit anong sakit sa tuhod at legs. I swear by it.

    marga said on Jan 07 08 at 8:51 PM Reply

  7. HI! Jaymie, Sorry to hear about your injury. I do hope you’ll have that check as soon as possible. Take it easy get well soon

    Armand said on Jan 07 08 at 9:22 PM Reply

  8. hala! :) it’ll come to pass! ;) mapapagod din yang injury na yan! cheers jaymie!

    rorenz said on Jan 07 08 at 10:28 PM Reply

  9. hi br, time to invest in a stationary bike. if you can handle the boredom of training in one. run to run, run to train, run for health, run to enjoy!

    roadrat said on Jan 08 08 at 8:12 AM Reply

  10. hey Jaymie,

    I’d like to commend you for considering 22k for your practice(?) long run considering a meniscal problem ( one thing with us runners is we love pushing the envelope!). As a running physiotherapist (former), sounds like your very recent symptom is telling you to take it easy for a while— at least just go for easy runs. I know, it’s way easier said than done– yet so many races to run, but only a couple of knees.
    Run safe.

    venice nepomuceno said on Jan 08 08 at 8:49 AM Reply

  11. I notice that when you write about an injury, a lot of people comment. A lot of us relate. I agree with your gym plan especially if you go to Fitness First RCBC which has a pool, several cycling, stretch and strength classes to choose from. They also have trainers for sports-specific conditioning. I know you told me before that you hesitate going into a new thing that you may not complete. But the gym is not really a new activity. It is just a facility that gives you cross training options under one roof rain or shine. Good luck!

    Tina said on Jan 08 08 at 8:52 AM Reply

  12. Mark, they might as well put water stations at every block and change their name to Runners’ Village :)

    Marga, you know I’ve been wanting to swim or bike. It’s just a matter of time :)

    Armand, thanks! Yup yup seeing the doctor in 4 hours.

    Renz, you’re alive! Where have you been?!

    Hey roadrat, ack, stationary bikes sound so boring. But then again I might just eat my words…Do you cross train?

    Venice, hey nice to meet a running physiotherapist here :) Yes, I just dwelled over my training log a few minutes ago and I know it’s the long runs that are killing me. I’m truly going to decrease mileage now. (How many times have i said that?)

    TIna, I agree with you completely. I think the gym will make it more convenient for me to cross train since I don’t have a pool nearby nor a bike to ride at this time. How’s your training going?

    bullrunner said on Jan 08 08 at 12:13 PM Reply

  13. FF-RCBC has a great pool. Heated so you wont hesitate to jump in even on cold mornings. Tell me when you finally decide to enroll in a gym. I’ll introduce you to someone who helps me strength/pool train. (I can imagine others shaking their heads in disagreement…) For me, what I lack value most is time and the gym has proven to be a practical solution. As for my runs, I did a 22k LSD last Sunday. (LSSD – or Long super slow distance by your standard) Am now a jeff galloway convert. His conservative program also helped save my knees.

    Tina said on Jan 08 08 at 3:13 PM Reply

  14. hi Tina,
    I’m with you when it comes to going to the gym. Early 2007, I hurt my back ( nth time, usually sports-related) playing tennis and this freaked me out as I run at least three 10 K’s and half marathons between Spring and Fall. Part of my recovery was going religiously to the gym for resistance trainingand more cardio workouts. I was not able to keep my annual running schedule but when I finished my second half marathon last fall, my back did not really bother me that much!

    venice nepomuceno said on Jan 08 08 at 11:15 PM Reply

  15. Tina, I wish I lived near RCBC but I’ll be signing up at Alabang. Hopefully, there’s a trainer just like yours in my gym. Congrats with your 22k! It’s good to hear too that you’ve been injury free all throughout!

    Venice, my therapist just advised me to lift weights to strengthen my legs too. I’m sure this will help me a lot as it did you. Thanks for sharing.

    bullrunner said on Jan 09 08 at 5:00 PM Reply

  16. jaymie,
    during the running boom in the 80′s , i’ve read in the Runners World that to “keep on running” , you should always . . . . “listen to your body”.

    mandie

    mandie said on Jan 10 08 at 5:25 AM Reply

  17. awww that sucks Bullrunner. Well more reason to leave those concrete streets of Alabang. My first two years in running I was injury prone, I did a lot of bad training and my body wasn’t quite ready for all the miles, eventually I got a lot better about listening and taking care of my body and my body got stronger as well. Weights will help and so will flexibility exercises. You know what’s awesome – Yoga, combines both.

    rick said on Jan 10 08 at 6:09 PM Reply

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