New to jogging/ knee injury.

mel1

Hi,
I feel totally silly but...
I'm about two stone over weight (quit smoking, had a baby, that's my excuse) which I Gained over about two year.
Few weeks ago I very seriously decided to do something positive about it. I've always been a good walker so decided something a little tougher was for me.
I already own a treadmill so I decided to take up some interval jogging.
Warm up fast walk 5 mins.
Slow jog 3 mins.
Cool down walk 5 mins
Faster jog 2/3 mins
U get my drift.
Was doing fine for about 2 weeks.
Was a fun run on about a week ago and I joined in with my walk/own pace.
A couple behind me for a while called me and very pleasantly told me that I need to change the way I was landing on my feet or I could do myself an injury. I need to land on the balls of my feet instead of my heels.
So I studied the hard core runners as they passed and sure enough they were all only landing on the fronts of their feet. I went home and looked it up and yes proper runners land on front of feet and not on the heels.
So following day I went down to treadmill and did my usual half hour consciously landing on the front of my feet.
Guess what, it was easier to jog and I could do it for longer. Much more pleasant experience than how I was doing it.......until I got off the treadmill.
I knew something was wrong when I was hobbling up to the house. My legs felt like they were broken at the knees.
I assumed it would pass but when I got outta bed next morning I nearly passed out with the pain. I've had a few sprained ankles and this was like that only much worse. Knee caps felt like I was on fire. Hobbling around swinging one leg in front of the other terrified to bend them. Got some sprain bands but they didn't help. Painkillers don't help. The fire is gone out of them but incredible tender to touch the insides of the knee just below the joint. Walking is still painful.
I feel like an awful idiot going to the doc, who will probably laugh at me for being silly. Going to Portugal end of next week and hope it's better.
Hoping I just sprained them. Tried ice, all the usuals. I really am in incredible pain when I get up after sitting for a while.
Anyone experienced this or know what I did wrong?
Mods would you mind if I also posted this in the runners section?

Alf Veedersane

You've changed the way you run so it's possible that it's the different mechanics but a doctor is best placed to advise you. They don't laugh at people who are in pain.

In short, you should go to the doctor.

Tdoyle

You need to go to doctor. Have to say as a fairly new to running person myself I find your story scary. Hope you get it sorted soon

dylbert

Landing on your forefoot means you would have been using your calf muscles a lot more which may have caused tendinitis at your knee, but as the others have said only a doctor will be able to tell you for sure.

Oryx

A sports physiotherapist is another option. Youve done this because you did too much of a new movement too soon.

Ill move this to the A/R forum.

mel1

Thanks everyone.

fits

Its mid foot landing that I see recommended everywhere. Go to a chartered physio. I wouldn't bother with a regular gp for something like this.

Also look up NHS couch to 5k plan. Introduces running really gently which was great for me who has been dogged by injuries.