Diary of an injury

I've been a tad quiet on here lately.

I get like that when I'm injured :-(

It was touch and go getting ready for the marathon, but I made it intact, and during the race my legs felt fine. My legs felt fine immediately afterwards, and after 3 days of rest I decided to start running again. I had a series of road race league events in 4 weeks' time, so couldn't hang around.

Big mistake!

I didn't know I was committing a blunder at the time of course - hindsight is a wonderful thing. My calf felt a bit stiff and I had slight discomfort, but I wasn't running in pain. I ran a well paced 8 miles on the Sunday and things felt fine, apart from a bit of tightness that came and went. Looking good!

Then on the Tuesday I ran the hilly club run, taking it steady, but again could feel some tightness in the side of my calf. At the end of the run I could feel soreness on the side of the shin - shin splints - clearly caused by the tightness in the calf. Not to worry though - I've had occasional sore spots before and they've cleared up after a massage. I continued to run without any discomfort.

Then suddenly on the Saturday, 2 weeks after the marathon, I got my phantom pain back - a non-specific ache or tingling, sometimes at the top of the calf sometimes at the bottom, sometimes in the surface of the muscle, sometimes in the shin. I felt sure it was a trapped nerve - I knew the pain wasn't associated with an injury at the site of the pain, but I couldn't figure out where the tight spot was that was causing the referred pain - I suspected it was the shin muscle on the other side of the leg, but couldn't be sure. (In fact it now seems it's the top of the medial soleus where I strained it 2 months ago)

So we were back where we were before the marathon: phantom pain and occasional shin splints. It all cleared up though before the marathon, so I should continue I reckon. Another big mistake!

The phantom pain got quite noticeable during the Saturday, a rest day, getting worse as the day wore on - proof in my mind that it was being caused by nothing more than a tight muscle. I decided to go ahead with the Sunday run as planned. Despite feeling uncomfortable when walking, after a few steps of running the pain disappeared and I felt fine for the rather enjoyable 11 mile run, albeit with the sensation of a bit of tightness in the calf.

I rested the next day. Sensible. On the Tuesday night I jogged our club 5k handicap race, but something was wrong. I had a dull ache in my shin bone. Apart from the sore spot at the top of the shin though, everything felt fine to touch - there were no tender spots near the site of the ache and tapping the shin didn't hurt. I suspected it was still the phantom pain which magically disappeared before the marathon. It didn't feel right though.

I ran the following night, but the aching was still there. The thing that worried me though was my heartrate was way too high. I got home feeling drained after only 4 miles. Overtraining? Post marathon funnies? (I've had these sorts of blips during marathon recovery before.) Or just the anxiety of running 4 miles with an ache in my shin?

Club night on Thursday and I decided to just jog out with the group, let them do their intervals, and jog back again. The ache now was getting worse, and after a mile jog I decided I'd go straight back rather than stand around getting cold. Jogging back with what was now a horrible dull pain in the core of the bone, sense finally took over. What had I done to my poor shin? This felt horrible. I walked back feeling very sorry for myself - the pain getting worse with every step.

It didn't help meeting Gina on the way back, who regaled me with tales of a Denmead runner who had months in a plaster cast due to shin splints. I hadn't realised it could get that bad! Oh no, what have I done?

Then the weird bit: as I got back within sight of the leisure centre I had a sudden stab of intense pain in the side of the calf and the deep intense ache in the bone instantly disappeared. Phantom pain in a nutshell! Phantom pain or not, it was time to rest and abandon ideas of doing the road races.


I've not run since: 11 days and counting. (Actually I tried running after 7 days rest, but it still hurt and I gave up after a few hundred metres)


The bad news: I definitely have shin splint symptoms. I have had discomfort walking since then. The podiatrist has said to wait until I have no more discomfort, and then wait another 2 weeks. He then added that I shouldn't anticipate getting back into the running before Xmas!! My physio has also given me harsh warnings about the consequences of not letting the bone heal.

The good news: I haven't done anything nearly as bad as I feared on that Thursday, as most of the pain has been trapped nerve pain. I've discovered where the trap was, as previously mentioned, and it responded pretty much instantly to some deep self-administered ice massage. Yesterday I did a hard gym session. I ache like crazy today in my shoulders and hamstrings, but my lower leg feels great. This injury definitely doesn't like being rested! The sore spot on the bone has now gone completely. I'm tempted to blame the trapped nerve for the sore spot, but I suspect that was genuine shin splint symptoms.

So where now?

If I am to do as instructed I now have to wait another 2 weeks before attempting to run again. This will be very difficult to do, but I will spend some time working in the gym and assess the state of my leg. That treadmill is going to be calling out to me: "Come on Susie, you know you want to. Just a mile or 2. What's the worst that could happen?"

Then there's the drive home passing all the runners in the neighbourhood, with me muttering "lucky b***ers" under my breath.

Ho hum!


There have been displacement activities though: I've managed to get a bit more piano practise in. In fact I've revived interest in getting my album finished. I did a CD album of electronica 10 years ago, and was half way through the follow up when the marathon bug took hold. It takes a lot of time to do, far more than 2 weeks of non-running, but I shall make an effort to get it finished.

I've finally got round to booking onto a coaching course. This won't happen until next year, but I've got involved in a local scheme to get people into running. It's organised through Havant Borough Council, rather than having an 'intimidating' athletics club setting. Should be fun! We might then be able to encourage people to join a running club (our running club!) if they get hooked. I've always anticipated developing my coaching side and this will be a good start.

Finally, the gift of music! If you have spotted My Pig sitting in front of my piano Daisy and were expecting an album of laid back acoustic music, then think again. Here's the opening track "Voices and Daisy" (rubbish title, but it does exactly what it says on the tin!)