Help,
I just recently started up running again. I am having some sharp Illiotibial band (IT band) pains in my right knee. I have run through this the past few days with the first mile being very painful, and the rest not feeling so bad. Afterward I am barely able to walk at night.
What are the drawbacks of attempting to train through this monster? What are some things to do to cure this?
Cockeyed Optimist wrote:
I just recently started up running again. I am having some sharp Illiotibial band (IT band) pains in my right knee. I have run through this the past few days with the first mile being very painful, and the rest not feeling so bad. Afterward I am barely able to walk at night.
What are the drawbacks of attempting to train through this monster? What are some things to do to cure this?
Yes, you're an optimist, but certainly not of the cockeyed variety! :o)
I went down with IT Band problems in my left knee in mid-October, training for a marathon. It's one nasty bugger, I can tell you that. After many hours on the foam roller, doing regular strengthening exercises for my inner quads, tons of stretching of hip flexors and other muscles, joining a gym and doing other training, and most importantly, CUSTOM ORTHOTICS, I'm back to jogging 3 times per week, 9-10 miles total.
Don't know how old you are; I'm 46 and only compete for fun. Chances are you're younger, faster and more competitive than I, so I think it would be worth it to get some serious physical therapy for it from a place which know runners. Check out the link I'm posting - it's where I go. Their therapy philosophy is described; it's a little unusual, but becoming more common.
I also have received ASTYM therapy on the IT Band area, as well as my left calf for a problem there. Painful at first, but VERY effective.
Good luck!
Bruce
Use a foam roller bro! That did miracles for me. I spent a good month or two in the training room doing stim and ultrasound. Nothing seemed to work. One of my teamates suggested i use a foam roller. I was out there running within a few days with no pain. But keep up the foam rolling. Thats the key. I stopped for a little and it started to hurt again. I do it for a couple minutes before practice and a couple minutes after practice.
honestly, if nothing else works, get the surgery. it works wonders and is not as risky as many would have it seem
surgery should definitely be your last resort. Do some research on different methods. If all else fails then get surgery.
I had long time troubles with this that the foam roller was able to keep at bay. Whenever I'd take a few days off running though the IT band would tighten up and I'd have to work it out with the roller again.
Recently I found that just laying face down over a large stability ball, letting it push out the lower back for 5 minutes or so improved my IT band situation greatly. Just one session made a big difference. After a few weeks I could take off a few days running without trouble. So, try that. Cheap, easy, quick. YMMV.