After my long run on Sunday my left knee was quite sore, but it was similar to what I'd encountered with my right knee so I assumed it would be fine the next day.
But I got up Monday and it was even more painful. Walking to work, I almost turned around after half a block to get my bicycle. I made it to work but it wasn't pleasant.
I have to admit I was pretty bummed out. Obviously, I wasn't going to be running at all with my knee like this. Was something going on more serious than IT band issues?
In a way, I accepted that it was somewhat inevitable. I was going to keep pushing the running until something stopped me. Ideally that would be simple fatigue, but given my history it was more likely to be my knees. So I shouldn't have been surprised. But it had come on more suddenly than my other knee. And I hadn't done anything any different than I'd done the previous two weekends, with no problems. Maybe it was the accumulation, not enough recovery. Who knows.
I limped around at work and by the end of the day it was a bit better, more like uncomfortable than painful. I'd also managed to accept things as they were. If I had to start over, so be it. I could work my way back up from short walks. Barring any permanent damage I'd soon be back to short runs. I could deal with it.
I woke up Tuesday and got out of bed hesitantly, only to find my knee felt normal! That's what I expected Monday, but instead it had got worse. Why was it fine now? Later in the morning I got on the treadmill, just walking. It felt fine. I raised the incline to 15% and the speed to 6 km/hr (a brisk walk). Still fine. I kept it up for 20 minutes. Still fine. Ok, I'd try a slow jog. That didn't feel as good and seemed like it might be reawakening my knee so I went back to walking and did 30 minutes. My knee felt fine. Later in the day I went for a walk outside and even jogged short distances a few times without any ill effects.
Now it's hard to know what to think. Assuming I still feel ok on Thursday I'll try a short, easy run and see how it goes. If I'm lucky I'll be able to do some kind of easy run on the weekend as well.
I should be grateful that it's "only" this weird IT band issues. (Assuming my self diagnosis is correct.) The ups and downs may be frustrating, but at least there's a good chance it'll get better eventually, with patience. If it was my actual knees joints, or hips, or back, that'd be a lot tougher to deal with and a lot less likely to just get better. My sympathies to those of you with more serious problems. I realize my issues are relatively minor in the big picture.
But I got up Monday and it was even more painful. Walking to work, I almost turned around after half a block to get my bicycle. I made it to work but it wasn't pleasant.
I have to admit I was pretty bummed out. Obviously, I wasn't going to be running at all with my knee like this. Was something going on more serious than IT band issues?
In a way, I accepted that it was somewhat inevitable. I was going to keep pushing the running until something stopped me. Ideally that would be simple fatigue, but given my history it was more likely to be my knees. So I shouldn't have been surprised. But it had come on more suddenly than my other knee. And I hadn't done anything any different than I'd done the previous two weekends, with no problems. Maybe it was the accumulation, not enough recovery. Who knows.
I limped around at work and by the end of the day it was a bit better, more like uncomfortable than painful. I'd also managed to accept things as they were. If I had to start over, so be it. I could work my way back up from short walks. Barring any permanent damage I'd soon be back to short runs. I could deal with it.
I woke up Tuesday and got out of bed hesitantly, only to find my knee felt normal! That's what I expected Monday, but instead it had got worse. Why was it fine now? Later in the morning I got on the treadmill, just walking. It felt fine. I raised the incline to 15% and the speed to 6 km/hr (a brisk walk). Still fine. I kept it up for 20 minutes. Still fine. Ok, I'd try a slow jog. That didn't feel as good and seemed like it might be reawakening my knee so I went back to walking and did 30 minutes. My knee felt fine. Later in the day I went for a walk outside and even jogged short distances a few times without any ill effects.
Now it's hard to know what to think. Assuming I still feel ok on Thursday I'll try a short, easy run and see how it goes. If I'm lucky I'll be able to do some kind of easy run on the weekend as well.
I should be grateful that it's "only" this weird IT band issues. (Assuming my self diagnosis is correct.) The ups and downs may be frustrating, but at least there's a good chance it'll get better eventually, with patience. If it was my actual knees joints, or hips, or back, that'd be a lot tougher to deal with and a lot less likely to just get better. My sympathies to those of you with more serious problems. I realize my issues are relatively minor in the big picture.
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