Hey Doc, it hurts when I do this

[Billy]

Let's whine a little. It's not dignified, but just this once.

What's hurting you?

Like many on this board I've been extremely fortunate with my health. Some of that is our own doing (eat right, exercise, get enough rest, don't stick your head in a wood chipper), but some of it is just plain old dumb good luck. But let's face it, even with the benefit of good health, stuff still hurts sometimes.

No need for the "...as long as there are children starving in Africa, how can I complain about my ACL..." kind of comments. We all know how lucky we are to live where we do and hike these mountains.

So what hurts when you hike? I've got a brand new rolled ankle, and semi-chronic pain behind the left kneecap.

What do you got?

 

[Forester Jake]

Two extremely painful herniated discs in my lower back just three weeks ago... not only is my mobility impeded, but I have to now find a trusty new (lightweight) pack :/

 

[NH Tramper]

Pain on the left side of my left knee that sets in while hiking, ligament attachment I think. It starts on the way up but is most problematic on the way down. By the time I get in my truck it's pretty painful to lift my leg while bending the knee. A long drive home doesn't help, but a night's rest does wonders. The next day the pain is pretty much gone and it's business as usual.

First time it happened was a couple of hikes back, when I did South and Middle Carter, and Mount Moriah. I was planning to stay at the Imp Campsite but I got there so early I figured I'd wild camp somewhere along the way. Well, the lack of water after that really put limits on where I'd stay and I ended up going all the way to Bangor Road in Gorham (where I left my truck). The descent down the Carter-Moriah Trail after Moriah's summit was when the pain first started. It is steep going, really rough on the knees. Being that I was initially backpacking I was carrying a lot of weight -- roughly 34 pounds with water at the start of the day -- on a long day hike. Moreover, that trail, especially what follows North Carter, is pretty rugged.

Being pain-free the very next day I thought I was out of the woods, but on my last hike to Owl's Head it started acting up half way up the slides, and by the time I got back to the trail head I was hurting again. Dang it!

Because of that I took this weekend off (meaning I only did a small 6.3 mile loop on Pawtuckaway's North Mountain area and went dancing Sunday night). I felt great all weekend, not a twinge, so I'm thinking I'll try a list mountain next weekend. I am considering buying a knee brace just in case I find myself wanting some extra support.

Anyone care to take a guess at what's ailing me and what I should do about it? I'll gladly give you a greenie... well, my thanks.

 

[Tom Rankin]

My Aching Neck! (Mostly in the Winter, or with a heavy pack)

 

[TEO]

NH Tramper, ligament damage in and of itself doesn't hurt.

It sounds like you might have IT band syndrome (illio-tibial), which is where the IT band, a massive tendon that runs down the outside of your quad from your hip down to just below your knee, is tight and it becomes inflamed. Ice, ibuprofen (2800-3200 milligrams per day--basically as close to the daily limit as your stomach can take), rest, & stretching.

But I'm not a doctor, physical therapist, nor did I sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night. At the very least, you should see a physical therapist, who should be able to diagnose your injury, make sure that you're doing the correct stretches in the correct way, and give you some exercises to help balance/stabilize your knee.

 

[Maddy]

Some ~25 yrs ago I woke up one morning to the cold hard fact that I would never enjoy another pain free day as long as I lived.
I had to accept it and carry on. If one area seemed to improve, another would flare up, and it continues to this day. The body parts that cause me pain now are greater in number and without a doubt will remain sore to one degree on another for my enduring life. By mid 40's the writing was already on the wall. The degree of pain is mostly tolerable. There are certain times when it can really exacerbate but for the most part I can live with it and just block it out of my mind. For me it became a way of life and I learned to work and play with it.


Several weeks ago, a friend who is about 20 yrs my junior said to me "It's happening!" I asked her to please clarify that statement.
She replied "What you said about never having another pain free day as long as you live". Had shared my revelation with her years ago and she laughed because at the time she was secure in the knowledge that she would never experience this phenomena.

Yes....I did have a great and so did she! I thought it quite amusing that she recalled my giving her fair warning.

 

[Neil]

Does anyone else suffer from this?

After 14 hours of hiking in sneakers on granite the bottoms of my feet get a little bit sore. Is there a treatment for this affliction?

 

[Rainman]

Pain on the left side of my left knee that sets in while hiking,...The next day the pain is pretty much gone and it's business as usual.

Being pain-free the very next day I thought I was out of the woods, but on my last hike to Owl's Head it started acting up half way up the slides, and by the time I got back to the trail head I was hurting again. Dang it!

Anyone care to take a guess at what's ailing me and what I should do about it? I'll gladly give you a greenie... well, my thanks.

I had a similar problem, although mine was on the inside of the left knee (MCL). After a long hike for trail work, the left knee was sore. At home no problems, but hiking it started hurting again (quicker and quicker each time). A course of prescription naproxen (Aleve), with stretching fixed it. No problems since.

 

[Chip]

Does anyone else suffer from this?

After 14 hours of hiking in sneakers on granite the bottoms of my feet get a little bit sore. Is there a treatment for this affliction?

Hike 13 1/2 hours.

I have a couple of specific "hiking this hike caused this" afflictions: A very dull but ever present ache/pain in the front of my left big toe from some winter frost nip and a repaired with mesh bilateral inguinal hernia that has since caused an irritating side effect that may require its own surgery. I know exactly when/where these injuries occured and I'm "proud" of them. Other stuff is normal aging or the result of getting into or being out of shape, which I do too often.

 

[NH Tramper]

Teo and Rainman, thank you. Greenies for both of you! Excellent advice, and both of you noted stretching so I will have to find out how to do those (or seek a therapist's help).

 

[Quietman]

Teo and Rainman, thank you. Greenies for both of you! Excellent advice, and both of you noted stretching so I will have to find out how to do those (or seek a therapist's help).

click on the word "stretching" at the end of TEO's post's 2nd paragraph. It is a link to stretching excersices for the IT band. The top 2 have really helped me.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

I had knee problems. They were extensively documented in this thread. ITB syndrome was one possibility. There is information there from my ortho, PT and trainer that I used to get better.

Your mileage may vary. I am not a doctor. Etc.

Tim
p.s. but I do like my chiropractor!

 

[NH Tramper]

Thanks for pointing it out, Quietman. I'm all over it. And thank for that link, Tim. I'll be checking that out too. Greenies for all

ETA: The stretches shown are what I need I'm almost positive. I can tell just by looking at them.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Let me highlight that for me, the foam roller (myofascial release) combine with proper foot orthotics (SuperFeet in my case), and hamstring and ITB stretches were the key. I had Patellar-Femoral Syndrome rather than ITBS. See also this: http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=6099&PageNum=1 for pictures.

Tim

 

[NH Tramper]

Thanks Tim.

 

[expat]

Tell me again, why do I do this?

Achilles tendinitis - developed on Franconia Ridge 35 years ago - not bad if I use the rest step on uphills.
Osteoarthritis in the hip - Steroid injections and NSAID's help - flat walking is actually worse than up or down.
Morton's neuroma - both feet - Superfeet insoles keep this from happening unless it's a really long day.

 

[Stan]

Like many on this board I've been extremely fortunate with my health. Some of that is our own doing (eat right, exercise, get enough rest, don't stick your head in a wood chipper), but some of it is just plain old dumb good luck.

Add genes into that mix of good health. A lot of what ails us is in our DNA so observe your family, parents and grandparents especially, to see what susceptibilities you may have and which you might proactively anticipate.

Does anyone else suffer from this?After 14 hours of hiking in sneakers on granite the bottoms of my feet get a little bit sore. Is there a treatment for this affliction?

I've hiked on compacted limestone (Guadalupe TX) which for miles seemed like a city sidewalk, except for the views. Was grateful I wore hiking boots with a strong shank in the sole. Sometimes hike in sneakers but not when I want ankle support or the protection of that shank.

What's hurting you?

Two things, one successfully addressed and one hopefully about to be.

Some 15 years ago I noticed that walking on city sidewalks in thin soled dress shoes hurt one of my feet ... thankfully ... it did not bother me hiking in hiking boots ... hmmmm ... anything psychosomatic about that? Well, no. It was diagnosed as avascular necrosis of the 2nd metatarsal (toe) and initially treated with a strong ani-inflammatory and physical therapy with a speciaal orthodic which I've worn ever since in street and casual shoes, but not boots. Has never bothered me since.

Currently I have a hernia unrelated to but aggravated by my activities. Not a surprise when it came up, my father had one as did my son. Tomorrow it gets fixed. There goes July ...

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Speaking of hernias and fascia, my co-worker's son has a "fascial hernia" or "herniated fascia" - basically an 8-11mm slit in the fascia on the front of the lower legs. Anyone have experience with this they can share?

Tim

 

[erugs]

Lyme disease related random and roaming pains. For months at a time and then it goes away. Left foot metatarsal last winter and the summer before. Right heal pain, constant sharp and achy since February. Trigger finger in my right hand from 1 mo. smart phone usage and Lyme, but I can type up a storm at a keyboard. I got a good whining session out of my system yesterday when I had a recheck with my LLD primary, so now I'm really set for a few days. Thanks for this thread!

 

[nartreb]

Did something nasty to my shoulder this past October. Wasn't an outdoor injury - it happened while I was in bed. Sadly, not even doing anything especially fun. I did end up marrying the girl under whom my arm was pinned, but the injury was purely caused by me trying to roll over in my sleep. The injury kept getting worse until I gave up rock climbing, pushups - practically any kind of upper body exercise. It's finally starting to heal but I have to be careful with things like opening a stuck window, or swimming. Doesn't stop me from hiking: I can still use the arm if I need to scramble, it just hurts (and both arms are getting weak).

While dancing at my own wedding I injured the ball of my foot. That one is now 98% healed but it still gets a little sore when I run or hike more than a couple of miles.