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Do Your Legs Hurt?

Friday, 07 December 2018 23:10

By Mederic Hall, MD (ustriathlon.org)

It started as a mild ache along the inside of your shin after a long run. Now you can barely limp along the pool deck without pain. Or maybe your leg tightens up after 2 miles into your runs. At first the feeling was an annoyance, but now things have progressed to the point that you can barely lift your foot up after 5K.  The pain is so intense you are forced to stop. Your symptoms quickly improve, but on your next run it’s the same thing. You change your shoes, try a yoga class, adjust your bike, but nothing is helping! What should you do next? 

If exercise-related leg pain is interfering with your ability to train and compete, seeking advice from a sports medicine expert is essential. There are multiple causes of leg pain in the athlete including (but not limited to): 

1. bone stress injury
2. muscle/tendon strain
3. chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS)
4. vascular issues such as popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and external iliac artery endofibrosis (EIAE)
5. nerve entrapment syndromes. A careful evaluation is required to ensure a quick diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. ...

I’ve seen athletes struggle for months because of a missed diagnosis despite seeing multiple providers. You should seek out a physician with experience in treating athletes with exercise related leg pain and the ability to perform and interpret diagnostic tests such as MRI, compartment pressure testing, and vascular studies. READ MORE

Photo: Mederic Hall and wife Joanna. They moved from Rochester to Iowa City a decade-or-so ago. Do you remember them. Great athletes. Joanna has been kicking ass on Iowa's tri scene for the last several years.