Leg Pain

[[old] William Fisher]

I've been erging on and off for 6 or 7 years. Got a D last August, and averaging 10K or so per day since December, not particularly hard. I'm 57, 6'5', 245, about 7 min 10K. I've had both knees fixed, meniscus tears, a few years ago. Over past 3 weeks, I've had increasing pain in my left leg, not a knee-tear feeling but a <u>hard </u> ache from the knee down, to point that it's hard to walk. Doesn't bother me sitting, but hurts like h*** to let myself down into a chair. No problem rowing, but I've pretty much stopped that for four days now, with no improvement. Tried heat, ice. <br /><br />Any thoughts, or should I just resign myself to hobbling around?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Willie

[[old] Yoda1]

Willie,<br /><br />A friend of mine had exactly the same problem as you are having. He went to a P. doctor. (foot doctor, can't spell worth a damn) Ended up that a combination of old shoes that didn't fit quite right and leg length discripance (spelling again) was the problem. My friend made the adjustments and to the best of mine knowledge has never had the problem again. Hope you find the problem.<br /><br />Yoda

[[old] Porkchop]

<!--QuoteBegin-Yoda1+Jul 16 2005, 03:14 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Yoda1 @ Jul 16 2005, 03:14 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Willie,<br /><br />A friend of mine had exactly the same problem as you are having.  He went to a P. doctor.  (foot doctor, can't spell worth a damn)  Ended up that a combination of old shoes that didn't fit quite right and leg length discripance (spelling again) was the problem.  My friend made the adjustments and to the best of mine knowledge has never had the problem again.  Hope you find the problem.<br /><br />Yoda <br /> </td></tr></table><br />That would be a podiatrist. Check around before you go to one, though. If you are a fairly active person, you might be better served by a podiatrist who emphasizes a sports medicine approach. Some do, some don't. I've seen both kinds, and I have had much better luck with the sports medicine type.<br /><br />Porkchop

[[old] John Rupp]

Never use heat on an injury, that is begging for trouble.<br /><br />Walk around barefoot as much as you can, and row barefoot as well or use flats.<br /><br />Most foot, knee, and leg injuries are caused by poorly designed shoes.

[[old] R S T]

<!--QuoteBegin-John Rupp+Jul 17 2005, 06:23 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(John Rupp @ Jul 17 2005, 06:23 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Never use heat on an injury, that is begging for trouble.<br /><br />Walk around barefoot as much as you can, and row barefoot as well or use flats.<br /><br />Most foot, knee, and leg injuries are caused by poorly designed shoes. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />IF you do happen to require some orthotics from the podiatrist (e.g. insoles given to correct for your leg alignment/different leg length/whatever), DO NOT row bare foot, you must USE the insoles in good shoes while you row.<br /><br />Also, have you increased the volume of your training recently? Or increased the amount of running? You have an injury that sounds similar to one that I had when I increased running training volume by too much too fast. (Actually - as a result of that injury I got into erging!). I would suggest rest for a few days, then go to a good sports physio for a proper diagnosis. <br /><br />Good luck<br />RichardT

[[old] Canoeist]

I started rowing barefoot for awhile after Roland Baltutis came to visit. He rows barefoot and I thought that I would give it a try. But, in time, rowing barefoot started a dull ache in my knees. I think it was because I could no longer have arch supports in my shoes. I went back to rowing with the shoes and have never had the problem again.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack<br />