To Infinity and Beyond - Becoming a Better DopeyBadger (Comments Welcome)

[dmross]

LOL! Only in runner's minds could one describe something as "jelly" and another "concrete" and yet be the same thing. But it sounds similar.

I wouldn't be surprised if mine wasn't hip related as well. I believe my left leg lands normally, whereas the right leg seems to swing out and then land occasionally. This has always been a sign that my something was weak in my right hip. Sometimes it swings out and sometimes my right heel will click my left ball of the ankle. Not every time, just every once in a while. It used to be much worse and cause my left ankle to bleed from all of the heel clicks.

http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/qa-why-does-my-leg-flick-out-when-i-run/

This article I just found actually describes it well: http://www.runnersworld.com/ask-the-doctor/ask-the-doctor-i-lose-control-of-my-leg-when-running

I think I'm going to try and focus even more on my form and see if I can't get my leg to stop swinging and to land more straight in line with my body.

You're on the right track, I think...

Proximal manifestation: the hip is inherently unstable in single limb support so therefore "jelly legs"
Distal manifestation: the ankle is inherently more stable in single limb support so therefore "concrete"

Both issues involve poor dynamic support of the joint for whatever reason. The hip and knee lose stability from soft tissue support structures and motion is all over the place, but the ankle becomes dependent on bony blocks and exhibits poor shock absorbency. Makes sense to me. I myself enjoy concrete legs. It's lower leg problem that is fixed when I engage my core and hip abductors.

 

[DopeyBadger]

You're on the right track, I think...

Proximal manifestation: the hip is inherently unstable in single limb support so therefore "jelly legs"
Distal manifestation: the ankle is inherently more stable in single limb support so therefore "concrete"

Both issues involve poor dynamic support of the joint for whatever reason. The hip and knee lose stability from soft tissue support structures and motion is all over the place, but the ankle becomes dependent on bony blocks and exhibits poor shock absorbency. Makes sense to me. I myself enjoy concrete legs. It's lower leg problem that is fixed when I engage my core and hip abductors.

Nice explanation. Makes sense to me. I think I likely don't engage my core or hips enough, and especially over the last 5 weeks as I've been taking it easy. I've likely become too lax the last few weeks and need to focus more on form. We'll see how it goes.

As for the left leg bone issue, it's clearly still an issue. Not while running, but post-run today Gigi decided to place her hand on my leg and use that to prop herself up off the ground. OUCH!!! Yep, it's still injured. I just haven't elicited any pain while running yet (or much). The distortion almost seems bigger now then it was a few weeks ago. Thankfully we should know more on Monday.

 

[canglim52]

Nice explanation. Makes sense to me. I think I likely don't engage my core or hips enough, and especially over the last 5 weeks as I've been taking it easy. I've likely become too lax the last few weeks and need to focus more on form. We'll see how it goes.

As for the left leg bone issue, it's clearly still an issue. Not while running, but post-run today Gigi decided to place her hand on my leg and use that to prop herself up off the ground. OUCH!!! Yep, it's still injured. I just haven't elicited any pain while running yet (or much). The distortion almost seems bigger now then it was a few weeks ago. Thankfully we should know more on Monday.

I have sore spots on the inside of both legs a few inches above my ankles. They never hurt when I run, but they are almost always sore to the touch especially after a run. I always assumed they were shin splints, but now I want to know your diagnosis. Whatever it is I'm just hopping it doesn't lead to more issues.

 

[canglim52]

You're on the right track, I think...

Proximal manifestation: the hip is inherently unstable in single limb support so therefore "jelly legs"
Distal manifestation: the ankle is inherently more stable in single limb support so therefore "concrete"

Both issues involve poor dynamic support of the joint for whatever reason. The hip and knee lose stability from soft tissue support structures and motion is all over the place, but the ankle becomes dependent on bony blocks and exhibits poor shock absorbency. Makes sense to me. I myself enjoy concrete legs. It's lower leg problem that is fixed when I engage my core and hip abductors.

Interesting that you said concret legs come from stable ankles. I have crazy strong ankles. My hips are week from all the sitting I do, and I could def work on my core. I wonder if my concret legs will go away if I fix my hip/core issues?

 

[DopeyBadger]

I have sore spots on the inside of both legs a few inches above my ankles. They never hurt when I run, but they are almost always sore to the touch especially after a run. I always assumed they were shin splints, but now I want to know your diagnosis. Whatever it is I'm just hopping it doesn't lead to more issues.

Mine's at the midpoint between my ankle and knee. I can take my fingers and rub them down my right leg bone on the inside of the leg and feel nothing. I rub it on the left leg on the inside and feel a distortion on the underside of the bone roughly the size of a dime if it were a sphere/ellipsoid (small marble?). If I rub just down the inside of the leg, it doesn't really hurt. But if you get your fingers to the underside of the bone between the bone and muscle, watch out because I'll probably punch you. When I went to the doctor four weeks ago this was the process. She was pressing and pressing and I kept saying nope, nope we're good. AND then she got her fingers in-between bone and muscle and I about jumped to the ceiling. She looked at me and said, "I think we need an x-ray". I'm guessing this is what it looks like (because I think it's a bone spur or inappropriate bone growth to fix an injury).



*NOTE this is NOT my x-ray, but an example of what I believe it looks like PURELY by feel.

 

[dmross]

Interesting that you said concret legs come from stable ankles. I have crazy strong ankles. My hips are week from all the sitting I do, and I could def work on my core. I wonder if my concret legs will go away if I fix my hip/core issues?

It's my take on what we're all describing. If you've every played with a marionette type puppet, you know that without tension on the strings, the legs just collapse. They don't bear weight. Our tendons, muscles, and ligaments are the strings that put tension on the system. (Yes, that's over simplification.) But if you think of the hip being unstable (ball and socket moving every which direction) and the ankle being more stable (can only move in certain directions before hitting a stop), then it makes sense. Knees are somewhere in between: primarily soft tissue stability, but not as free moving as a hip.

My thought is that when we are running, half of the time one leg is swinging through the air, and the other is solely supporting the body. Hips become sooo important since they are affect where the foot lands as well as how stable the body remains over the single limb support leg. If the hip doesn't do its part well, then the other joints take more of a beating in weight bearing trying to stay stable.

Just thinking out loud here. Gait is fascinating! I'd like to learn more about running gait.

@DopeyBadger good luck next week with your MRI!

 

[roxymama]

I have to take the time to process my day to write my recap but just wanted to stop by to say thanks! And good luck tomorrow for your MRI!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Happy Early Halloween from your friends the SUPERS!

 

[dis_or_dat]

Great costumes! Gigi is sooooo cute! Good luck tomorrow - and then afterwards, you can gorge on all the candy!

 

[Ariel484]

So cute! Gigi looks so much like you!

 

[DopeyBadger]

I have to take the time to process my day to write my recap but just wanted to stop by to say thanks! And good luck tomorrow for your MRI!

Thanks! I'm proud of you for crushing your A race with an A goal!!!

Great costumes! Gigi is sooooo cute! Good luck tomorrow - and then afterwards, you can gorge on all the candy!

Thanks! She has so many princess dresses. So we asked her which one she wanted to be for Halloween, and she said that they weren't costumes. She explained to us they were her normal clothes and she needed something different. She said she wanted to be a SUPERHERO! And FLY FLY FLY! So we pulled out her Superwoman dress and she was all in. We added the blue cape to make it more costume-like. I already owned all of my costume from different running purchases over the years. Then we were a team!

So cute! Gigi looks so much like you!

Thanks! She's a fun kiddo!

 

[canglim52]

It's my take on what we're all describing. If you've every played with a marionette type puppet, you know that without tension on the strings, the legs just collapse. They don't bear weight. Our tendons, muscles, and ligaments are the strings that put tension on the system. (Yes, that's over simplification.) But if you think of the hip being unstable (ball and socket moving every which direction) and the ankle being more stable (can only move in certain directions before hitting a stop), then it makes sense. Knees are somewhere in between: primarily soft tissue stability, but not as free moving as a hip.

My thought is that when we are running, half of the time one leg is swinging through the air, and the other is solely supporting the body. Hips become sooo important since they are affect where the foot lands as well as how stable the body remains over the single limb support leg. If the hip doesn't do its part well, then the other joints take more of a beating in weight bearing trying to stay stable.

Just thinking out loud here. Gait is fascinating! I'd like to learn more about running gait.

@DopeyBadger good luck next week with your MRI!

That makes a lot of sense, and I like the marionette analogy. It's funny but the more you think about it, all the sore muscles, aches, and pains tell us a story over time. it's almost like your body is literally telling you how to fix it.

 

[ZellyB]

That Gigi is just a little doll! A superdoll, of course!!

Hope the MRI gets you some answers.

 

[DopeyBadger]

That Gigi is just a little doll! A superdoll, of course!!

Hope the MRI gets you some answers.

Lol, superdoll!

Well the MRI is finished, and ........

They'll let me know the results later.... no timetable... ugh!

 

[DopeyBadger]

 

[girliea]

Cutest daughter ever....except mine of course!

Well, i'm glad your MRI is finished and sorry you have to wait. Hoping for good news!

 

[ZellyB]

Great family pic! And those pumpkins look amazing!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Cutest daughter ever....except mine of course!

Well, i'm glad your MRI is finished and sorry you have to wait. Hoping for good news!

Thanks! She's a handful!

Great family pic! And those pumpkins look amazing!

Thanks! It was hard to keep the all-candied up kid still enough for a non-blurry picture. Stencils do wonders!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Results are in..... NORMAL!

"The bone marrow is normal in signal intensity without cortical thickening nor periosteal edema or enhancement. No osteochondroma or fracture. The muscles are normal in position, the bulk, and signal intensity. No soft tissue mass or cyst."

So this is definitely good news and a relief. But it's also quite baffling. If it's normal, then why can I feel a distortion in my leg? Any who, the doctor says that if it causes any issues with running in the future to consult with a sports medicine doctor to see if there is something they can help me with. At this time, since I haven't had much of any pain (total 30 seconds in 13 runs/ 83 miles), I guess I'll just continue to play it safe and see what happens.

 

[ZellyB]

I'm so relieved for you that there's nothing serious going on. Hopefully it's maybe just some strange muscle fatigue or something that will resolve. Glad you got the results back quickly as well so you don't have to be left in suspense.