A pothole & a sore ankle (Read 484 times)

Hiker Chick

posted: 3/18/2008 at 1:27 PM

In my very first race Sunday, I twisted my ankle in a pot hole at the beginning of the race. Thanks to those great race endorphins, I hardly felt it and finished the race. The rest of the day I was so euphoric about finishing my first race, didn't feel a thing. I love that red bar in my log!!! Monday woke up, my ankle/lower leg area hurt. Didn't think too much of it, figured it was stiff from the race, went to work. As the day progressed it felt worse & worse. I was limping by the end of the day. Today, sore again. It's the muscle just above the ankle joint. It's sort of a gentle achiness just sitting here, and sore when I walk. Like a super-stiff muscle, and then feels really tired when I get back to my desk. So the question... do I run anyway? I've found conflicting information on this website from other similar injuries: Don't run on it, it could injure it more. Run, it's good for the healing process. Stretch. Don't stretch. Ice & heat. Ice only. It's confusing!! It is not swollen, from what I can tell. I've been icing & taking ibuprofen since yesterday. If walking or running would help it heal faster, I'm all for it. But I don't want to injure it further... I've got more races to sign up for!!! Big grin

Thanks!

Michelle

Jerry-

posted: 3/24/2008 at 2:47 PM
modified: 3/24/2008 at 3:03 PM

Hi Michelle Firstly, great news about your race may it be the first of many. Well it has been 6 days now so I am hoping you are OK and up and running again. However, I have had experience of damaging my ankle a couple of times as I do a lot of off road hill running, trail running and the like and it is a common occurence for me to knock an ankle or shin. Your injury sounds similar to one I had a few weeks back when I was running up a steep gradient and I stumped my foot on a rock, I thought my shin was going to crack it was such a horrible thud and with a few explatives I continued. I continued to the end of the run, a distance of about 6 miles more and felt great apart from some stiffness in the tendons at the base of the shin. It was the next day when I started to feel there was something wrong. I took ibuprofen and just took it gently by taking the weight off it when I could and walked when I needed. It went after a day or so. My running mate came up with a good saying "If it is uncomfortable, you are OK, if it hurts, you are not" Smile

I certainly wouldn't do anything if it is visibly swollen and/or bruised, that is natures way of saying no

Jerry
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