Week 2 of running brought on sore ankles… It started near the end of one session and then two days later I went out again not thinking much of it and after doing one walk/run interval my body shouted NO MORE. and I limped home… It was one ankle that was hurting the most and I put Ice on it and put my legs up and wished it away… my wish didn’t come true…
Over the next days I decided to ignore it, and hope that it would go away that way….it didn’t… and it didn’t even get better but actually worsened and both ankles were in pain, same problem, both sides.
I read a few things, iced it and tried to stay off my feet, but I have things to do, meals to make, kids to corral and a 14 month old that gets into everything. I tried taking some ibuprofen and it just made me feel very loopy and didn’t help with the pain much. Last tuesday, more than a week after the pain started, I had enough and called the family doc. I got in because of a cancelation yesterday and so I headed into Montreal yesterday morning.
The doctor was not very happy that I hadn’t been there in nearly 6 years and it was actually a fluke that my file hadn’t been thrown out. However, the fact that I had not seen anyone else in those in those 6 years, gave me the advantage and he will be keeping me as a patient as long as I go in for a check up in the fall…
He said that if it would have been only one of my ankles, with the amount of swelling and pain, he would have thought it was fractured, but because it was both, it is most likely either the tendons of the ligaments that are giving me problems and his suggestions are basically what I have been doing (or trying to do)… restand ice, oh and stronger anti-inflammatory’s and he also gave me a referral for physiotherapy.
(It’s hard to take a pic of swelling, but I think you can see it there… it the same on both sides)
*sigh*
So… I am in pain… and the minute I seem a bit better I get a bit too ahead of myself and tend to overdo things and then I am in more pain…
I think running is going to have to wait a while… my Vibrams will be great for walking… and I think I am going to get back into the pool routine again…
double *sigh*
my daughter has a weird problem like what your sharing on one of her ankle and the other leg is the knee…some ligament band thing that slips or something like that…your story sound the very same as hers….be nice to your ankles it will get better:)
Wishing you well
Same thing happened to me when I started barefoot running. I had to take a couple weeks off until they stopped hurting (even just walking around), but they haven’t hurt since. You probably just need to go real gentle and gradual with your running until your tendons and muscles strengthen up.
Glad to hear it’s not fractured!! Sorry to hear, however, that will be a little while before all is well, but maybe the physiotherapist can help with some running strategies. I can imagine swimming will be heavenly! take care and big hugs 🙂
I had the same pains but in my shin area when I first started dragon boating. It seems that doing something aggresive (such as dbing or running) after a long bout of inactivity makes for an unhappy body according to my physiotherapist.
I went to see a physiotherapist who gave me excercises to heal and strengthen which were really helpful. I took a break from my competitive dragon boat team (who was meeting 3 mornings per week for greuling 1 hour sessions plus competing a full day each week) and picked up kayaking which was still a workout but wasn’t such a shock to my tired body. 🙂
Ouch! That looks painful. Rest up!!! (I know, easier said than done with a little one running around). Maybe it’s your body telling you that this just isn’t the right form of exercise for you? I’m biased though… I’ve never enjoyed running.
Thanks everyone…
I won’t be running any time soon… I can still hardly walk…
I have been taking anti-inflammatory’s daily and it is getting better, especially on the right ankle which was not the original ankle that started hurting. The one I did originally hurt does feel better also but the pain seemed to have spread to the back tendon so the whole area is still painful….
As I said, I am going to try to get back into my old swimming routine… I am also going to try my hand at Kettlebells, though I might need to wait a bit to feel more stable…
I”m a runner (and homeschooler) and love you blog. Living in Ottawa.
i’ve had the same thing – get some running compression socks, and you will be amazed how you will feel after. Wear them all the time. they are not the same as drug store compression socks. mail order from a running store or sport shop (bushtukkah, Running room etc…)
erin