About a month ago, I foolishly started doing some speed/track work without proper warm up or stretching. I was coming off of a good month of training and, feeling invincible , I decided to jump right into it because that particular day I was pressed for time. Unfortunately, I think as a result I either pulled or strained a muscle in my gluteus region. I have been doing internet research trying to find our if this is a proper diagnosis and, if so, stretches and other remedies to help the healing process--all with no success. I'm posting this in hope of getting others' insights.
For the most part, the pain is greatest when I am getting up from the sitting position. It actually totally debilitates me for about 15 seconds and then its almost like it disappears while I am in the standing position. It's like it locks up when sitting and takes a few seconds to unlock. Hard to explain really but maybe someone out there can relate.
I have been able to continue to do slow runs, but I have consciously been shortening my stride so as to not put additional strain on it. And it stinks doing that-totally threw me off the good running vibe I once had. One thing I ran across on the internet was "piriformis syndrome." Reading up on that, it sort of sounds like that too. I just don't know.
For now, I've decided to shut down running altogether for about a week, work the stretches, take the pain relievers and work the ice pack. The pain is coming from behind the fatty part of the buttocks so its hard to even get at. I am contemplating re-acquainting myself if a chiropractor but not sure they could do anything. I would consider a deep tissue massage but a little embarrassed by the target area.
I've been running for 16 years and have had my share of injuries (as well as training partners with injuries). Not to scare you, but your combination of symptoms makes me think of my last marathon training partner who was diagnosed via MRI with a stress fracture of the femoral neck. Book an orthopedic doc and ask for an MRI (xrays won't detect it). GOod luck!
Well. I went the MRI route. Thankfully it is not the stress fracture but the diagnosis is a herniated disk at L5, and a bulging disc L4. I'm not sure what is worse. Right now I am going with conservative care of Physical Therapy and Chiropractic rather than surgery. If I do not get any relief after a few weeks, I will then try orthopedics or neurologist. I do have the option of pain management through steroids or epidural, but I am hesitant to go that route right now because I want to see if conservative care is actually working and the drugs will mask the results. Anyone go through this before? Any hope for my running future without surgery?
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