im pretty sure running shouldnt hurt this much

**gYmgIrL** · March 1st, 2007, 07:27 AM

I'm a veteran, I've been running for neigh-on two weeks now. I have no running shoes and i still get a stitch after about 5 minutes *but* I also get this insaaane ankle pain.

You know when you jump off something high and your ankle goes "ooooowwwWW!" yeah, that happens when I'm running. Its so mean!

then it feels like they're swollen and they are extremely painful. When i dont get that sharp pain, every step i take feels like its pushing againt a bruise on my ankle. Then after i stop running, it hurts to walk for a little while :\

I'm running heel-toe and stepping pretty well lightly, i am running on a pavement thingy though. Should i be running on something softer? like kittens?

Any advice? I totally dont mind giving it up! but its a nice change from boring-ass stationary biking and i can do it during my lunch hour at work, so its cool.

Fix it pls!!

Ta!

:P

xxx GG

**boreal** · March 1st, 2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gYmgIrL

I'm a veteran, I've been running for neigh-on two weeks now. I have no running shoes and i still get a stitch after about 5 minutes *but* I also get this insaaane ankle pain.

You know when you jump off something high and your ankle goes "ooooowwwWW!" yeah, that happens when I'm running. Its so mean!

then it feels like they're swollen and they are extremely painful. When i dont get that sharp pain, every step i take feels like its pushing againt a bruise on my ankle. Then after i stop running, it hurts to walk for a little while :\

I'm running heel-toe and stepping pretty well lightly, i am running on a pavement thingy though. Should i be running on something softer? like kittens?

Any advice? I totally dont mind giving it up! but its a nice change from boring-ass stationary biking and i can do it during my lunch hour at work, so its cool.

ggirl

First off make sure you get a NICE pair of running shoes. I would probably recommend going to a store that has educated "running" staff that can fit them correctly. Unfortunately, those "nice" pair of shoes will run you at least $100.00

I have a couple friends who run a fair amount, like 25 miles a week, and they always swear by good shoes.......AND, replacing them often if you're running a lot.

Have you tried elliptical machines?? I have one at home and it kicks my ass......especially when I hook up the heart monitor (highly recommend that!). Very low impact, I've never had ankle, foot, knee or especially back problems while using it!

Good luck,

b

**g_samsa** · March 1st, 2007, 03:05 PM

Sounds a bit like a bone spur. Bone spurs mostly happen as a result of getting older, but they happen in young people, too, mostly people who do activities like martial arts or dancing. They happen all the time on the heels of women who wear high heels or poorly fitting shoes.

Bone spurs are extra bone that forms around an aggravated area where tendons rub against the bone. They can be shaved down by surgery, but usually it is totally unnecessary. Proper stretching of the foot tendons and properly fitting shoes will normally fix any discomfort.

That's just an educated guess based on what you've said. Maybe you can read up on bone spurs and see if that describes your problem. You are obviously an active person so it doesn't seem out of ordinary for something like this to happen.

As a side note... almost all running injuries can be fixed with a good stretching routine (yoga does the trick for me) and proper shoes. poorly fitting shoes are by far the biggest cause of running injuries. I would start with that (like boreal says). If you can localize the pain then you might try extra padding if you think it would help.

I hope you can find out what the problem is. It's always a bummer to have to cut a run short because of a mysterious pain. Good Luck.

vik · March 1st, 2007, 03:23 PM

I have a few co-workers that had a similar problem where their heels would really hurt when running. I believe what their doctor told them was that it is caused by imbalanced calve muscles in proportion to the muscles on their foot, so it would tend to pull their foot back. Not sure how exactly this causes the pain, but what my friend did was just stretch his calves and foot every morning and eventually the pain went away.

But like Boreal said, if you are going to be running, you should invest in some proper running shoes or else you will be asking for more problems down the road.

**justaguy87337** · March 1st, 2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Should i be running on something softer? like kittens?

awesome!! any way new shoes will help and I found that if I take my fishoil it helps lubricate your ligaments and that usually makes the pain go away. If that doesn't work....kitten shoes maybe?!?!

**justaguy87337** · March 1st, 2007, 04:47 PM

ok serious though my wife has a bone spur in her foot as well. She went to the doc and they built her a splint that she wears at night held on by an ace bandage. It holds her toes up and allows the tendon under your foot to stretch at night. Seems to help.

gobucs1 · March 7th, 2007, 06:47 AM

Gymgirl,

I know exactly what you are talking about, I've had the same problem. For me it all started when I was playing football. I injured my ankle, but I could not remember exactly the moment it happened. It then got progressively worse over the next few days and really swelled up. It was the worse pain I had ever been in. I couldn't put any pressure at all on it.

I went to specialists to see what the problem was. Most docs said it was just a twist or sprain. Believe me I had twisted my ankles alot during my high school and college years. This was not the same. I was put on some steroid and the swelling went away quickly.

Now I know I have bone spurs that I think is aggrevating my ankles. However the real swelling was from gout. I had gout in my ankles and any aggrevation would set it off. I found out this ran in my family. The gout really hurt my poor ankles. After a while I was back on my feet. However running was really painful and just as you describe, like running on pins and needles. I felt like they were going to twist at any time. Uneven pavement really hurt. What I found helped was when it flared up and got bad, wrapping it at night with ace bandages really helped ALOT.

My ankles went through some trauma, but I started slowly again. Now I am running quite fine. I think it took some time to get them strengthened again. They still hurt sometimes when my foot gets jolted on uneven pavement.

Although we don't know exactly what is setting it off, whether it is gout or the bone spurs, I am very mindful of my ankles. My advice is to see a doctor, have them run some blood tests. Then after getting the go-ahead, start slowly to strengthen. It will get better. Good luck.

OzzyC · April 1st, 2007, 03:28 PM

No one is hurting any kittens here, ok!?

Good luck with your problem GymGirl

**stephenlavin** · April 2nd, 2007, 12:47 PM

Nothing much else to add here. The guys have it all said but in my humble opinion running on a road cannot help either GG. Murder on the joints. Find a nice sunny park and try some soft grass. Might help allieviate some of the stress.

Terry Kerrigan · April 2nd, 2007, 01:11 PM

Hi,
I have a short and long answer for you. Need to know more..
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Pro Ironman Triathlete
Aperion for life
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Madflabby · April 2nd, 2007, 07:04 PM

U R hot.

Take it easy on those joints.

**bbabb22** · May 9th, 2007, 01:25 AM

Most likely its a bone spur but if you want to keep running get off the pavement for a while. If a local high school has a synthetic track go run on that. If your running an landing on your heel that can cause some pain so put some more weight on the ball of your foot, however im a sprinter so my opinion on that may be biased. A longer distance runner might have to correct that statement if needed.

1. Get off pavement for a while
2. New shoes
3. R.I.C.E. it - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
4. Dynamic stretching before you run and static stretching after.

That should help but it would be best to see a doctor. Good Luck!

P.S. I went back and re-read your post, trying some HIIT on the bike if you are bored with it. You don't have to go as long and you will break a nice sweat.

**sucher67** · May 9th, 2007, 04:31 AM

I know I am repeating what has already been said, BUT:

1. Get a good pair of running shoes

2. Run on grass (it is much more enjoyable, but look out for holes!)

3. Get a good pair of running shoes

And,

4. Get a good pair of running shoes!!!!

blast7 · September 23rd, 2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gYmgIrL

I'm a veteran, I've been running for neigh-on two weeks now. I have no running shoes and i still get a stitch after about 5 minutes *but* I also get this insaaane ankle pain.

You know when you jump off something high and your ankle goes "ooooowwwWW!" yeah, that happens when I'm running. Its so mean!

then it feels like they're swollen and they are extremely painful. When i dont get that sharp pain, every step i take feels like its pushing againt a bruise on my ankle. Then after i stop running, it hurts to walk for a little while :\

I'm running heel-toe and stepping pretty well lightly, i am running on a pavement thingy though. Should i be running on something softer? like kittens?

Any advice? I totally dont mind giving it up! but its a nice change from boring-ass stationary biking and i can do it during my lunch hour at work, so its cool.

Fix it pls!!

Ta!

:P

xxx GG

Where is your pain? A heel spur would be directly underneath your heal due to tight fascia and muscular of the foot leading to bony growth from tensile forces of the muscle. A heel spur would hurt all the time so if you don't have pain with just walking alone then that is not the problem. How many miles are you running? You should slowly progress week by week if you haven't run for some time.

**wildstang** · September 23rd, 2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gYmgIrL

I'm a veteran, I've been running for neigh-on two weeks now. I have no running shoes and i still get a stitch after about 5 minutes *but* I also get this insaaane ankle pain.

You know when you jump off something high and your ankle goes "ooooowwwWW!" yeah, that happens when I'm running. Its so mean!

then it feels like they're swollen and they are extremely painful. When i dont get that sharp pain, every step i take feels like its pushing againt a bruise on my ankle. Then after i stop running, it hurts to walk for a little while :\

I'm running heel-toe and stepping pretty well lightly, i am running on a pavement thingy though. Should i be running on something softer? like kittens?

Any advice? I totally dont mind giving it up! but its a nice change from boring-ass stationary biking and i can do it during my lunch hour at work, so its cool.

Fix it pls!!

Ta!

:P

xxx GG

gg simply put you need a good quality pair of running shoes! i know they are exspensive but well worth the investment when compared to ones health and well being. simply stated using a automotive analogy.......sorry!....its like having a bad pair of shock absorbers on your car!.....if left unchecked (replaced) they will eventually break or damage part of the drivetrain or supension! simply put!