I would still recommend that you have this checked out by an orthopedic surgeon.
You can't even be sure that your problem is ITBS. It may be, but there are
other injuries that can cause those symptoms too. Since your new to running, I
wouldn't try and self-diagnose and self-treat.



-----Original Message-----
From: itbs@yahoogroups.com on behalf of katie_h10
Sent: Wed 6/11/2008 9:04 AM
To: itbs@yahoogroups.com
Cc:
Subject: [itbs] Re: New runner - pain after my first race



Hi there! Here are some answers:

1. It was a trail race, at Seaton Trail in Ontario. They do odd
distances usually around the 25-30k mark in Ontario.

2. Before that, my longest run was 20km, in the winter. That pace
was slow, about 6.8min/km. The race pace was more like 6min/km

3. I generally always train on trails, a lot of up and down. I don't
really run on the road at all.

4. I wear trail shoes, I bought them right after the first race
because my feet hurt (different issue which has resolved itself). So
they are pretty much brand new.

5. I didn't notice the knee pain until I tried to run a week or so
later. I have noticed that changing my pace too much will trigger it,
ie: if I am running and then I switch to walking, my right knee will
start to ache. Also I have noticed that going downhill irritates it
much more. I just ran a 10km race yesterday (52 minutes) and I felt
discomfort but no pain. I have noticed pain just walking around my
apartment, in both knees now.

I am thinking I will try out this pat strap. Congratulations re: Boston!

Thanks,
-Katie

--- In itbs@yahoogroups.com <mailto:itbs%40yahoogroups.com> , "DrT \(George
Themelis\)" <drt-3d@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Katie,
>
> Boy, this sounds so familiar.... It is a carbon copy of what happened to
> me, only instead of a 26 km race, mine was 42 km (my first
marathon), back
> in 2004. Also, at the time I was in my 3 year of running, so I was not
> exactly a beginner.
>
> Sounds like you have an ITB injury due to overuse, with maybe other
> contributing factors. A few questions:
>
> 1 - 26 km race is a strange number... somewhere between a half marathon
> (21) and a full marathon (42). What kind of race was this?
>
> 2 - How long was your longest run before this race, how often. and
at what
> pace? At what pace was your 26 mile run?
>
> 3 - Was the terrain unusual, compared to what you trained at? Too soft?
> Too hard? Too hilly? Any side-slope?
>
> 4 - Did you do anything unusual during the race? Did you wear different
> clothes? Anything to compress your legs (from thigh to knee)? How about
> your shoes?
>
> 5 - How much wear do your shoes have? Turn your shoes around and
> look at the wear pattern at the bottom. How does it look?
>
> 6 - Did you feel any pain in the legs during the race? How was your
> recovery (first day or two) after the race?
>
> As I said, I went through exactly the same thing in 2004. I was not
> exactly prepared for my first marathon, with a longest run of only 19
> miles. So, clearly, I ran longer (mile and time-wise) and with higher
> intensity. I was wearing the wrong shoes (trail shoes, always
bought what
> was cheap and had never given any thought to what shoes might be
> appropriate) and they had a lot of wear in them (I had used them through
> my training).
>
> When I tried to run after the marathon, I felt exactly what you are
> describing. I was able to bike and do anything else, except for running.
> 3 miles into the run, I was forced to stop and walk. I now believe that
> my ITBS injury was caused by "overuse" (too much running in one
race) with
> the shoes as a contributing factor.
>
> I went to the doctor (confirmed ITBS), had Physical Therapy, bought the
> "right" shoes, stretched, experimented with shoe inserts, etc. But the
> pain was not going away, after months of frustration. Finally, I tried
> the "band", based on a recommendation I read in this list. The band
is an
> elastic band that you tie just above the knee. It is supposed to
pin down
> the IT band and reduce the friction at the knee.
>
> I was very skeptical at first, but this did the trick for me. I
felt the
> difference the first time I put it on (I was able to run 7 miles
with only
> discomfort, no pain). I was able to run while the injury was
healing (so
> the band was acting as a "band-aid"). I kept the band for several
months,
> until the discomfort disappeared. I ran my 2nd marathon the next year,
> wearing the band as a precaution, and then got rid of it. The
particular
> brand I used is the pat strap (www.patstrap.com)
>
> I have been ITBS-free since then and have completed 4 more marathons
> without problems (the last one was last Sunday, I finally qualified for
> Boston!) I always run marathons with relatively new shoes.
>
> If the band or stretching or anything anyone else suggests does not work
> for you, then your only option is to stop running until the injury heals
> completely (this can take months) and then start from scratch again and
> *slowly* build up. That's the only advice I can give you. Be extremely
> careful. This condition is really tricky and if you are not careful you
> might join the ranks of those with chronic ITBS who are unable to run.
>
> Good luck!
>
> George T.
>
>
>
> 1a. New runner - pain after my first race
> Posted by: "katie_h10" katie_h10@... katie_h10
> Date: Thu May 22, 2008 3:28 pm ((PDT))
>
> Hi everyone, I'm 25 years old - female, and I have been running for 6
> months but physically very active with martial arts for 6 years. I
> ran my first ever 26km race last month.
>
> Now, recently whenever I go for a short run I will be fine for a few
> kilometers but then I have severe pain on the outside of my right
> knee. If I keep my leg straight and take a few steps this way there
> is no pain, but the moment I bend the knee in the slightest it is
> agony. I have to almost "walk it off" for 5-10 minutes before the
> pain goes away, and then I can start jogging again for a few more
> minutes before the pain comes back.
>
> I haven't ran in a week now for fear I am aggravating it. Also, I
> ride my bike fairly aggressively to school every day and there is zero
> pain. It seems to only happen when jogging. Any ideas?
>
> -Katie
>







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