Did Birmingham 10K - now in agony with hip!

[BonnieBlueButler]

I'm just looking for some advice and similar experiences. I've been running for a year, training for Birmingham 10K for about 3 months. I've run the whole distance about 4-5 times before today. In the last couple of weeks, I've noticed a pain starting in the left hip at around 6K. The pain has always stopped after I stopped running.

Today, I felt it start up around 4K but kept going. I felt I had to! It was very painful by the end and as soon as I stopped running, I could hardly put any weight on it. It's now 7 hours later, and I'm in agony. I've taken Ibrupofen and had a warm bath but it's not touched it. I can't really walk without pain and going up and down stairs is almost impossible.

Does anyone have any clue what this might be? I'm really quite upset as I'm worried I won't be able to run anymore if this keeps happening. I felt amazing to finish but the pain has really taken the shine off. Any advice would be gratefully received.

I had this badly after a 10k too. It may be trochanteric bursitis. Is it on the outside of the hip, almost at the top of the leg?

The trochanter is the name for the bony prominence of your hip on each side, and the bursa is a fluid filled sac which sits under it and becomes inflamed.

In cases relating to overuse, this is usually due to the illobital band (tendon that runs from the knee up to the hip), which is stretched over the trochanter, being too tight and causing friction every time it is stretched (I.e. when you take a step). Over the course of several thousand steps this easily inflames the bursa.

I went to a physio and he said the problem was actually in my feet. They roll inwards when I walk/run, which rotates the knee inwards, which makes the illobital band even tighter.

The inflammation will subside with rest, but the important thing is to make sure it doesn't recur. If the above seems to match with what you're experiencing, make sure you get your running gait and foot placement assessed, either by a physio or running shop, and get fitted for proper shoes that correct any errors. Also try to be more conscious of your foot placement as you run - you should be landing solidly in the centre of your forefoot with the weight evenly distributed, not rolling to one side.

In the short term rest, Ibuprofen and ice, not heat which will increase the inflammation. In the long term, Iagree with getting your gait and shoes assessed by a specialist

Thank you both so much. That sounds like exactly what I have. It's a little easier now than it was but still very sore. I will look into getting a physio appointment. Good to see that there is a fix and my running career may not be over!