Active Community: Message List - "Toothache in my knees and thigh(bones?)

"Toothache in my knees and thigh(bones?)

guest — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:01:54 GMT

After almost 9 weeks of jogging ont the C25K olan the knee and thighpain have almost completely disappeared. Testament to the gradually increasing the exercise of a long dormant body and the body's amazing ability to get stronger when stressed properly!

"Toothache in my knees and thigh(bones?)

guest — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:56:27 GMT

Still a little tender but less than it has been. Looks like I am going to be fine.

"Toothache in my knees and thigh(bones?)

guest — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:26:13 GMT

I will keep posting on how I do. I will stagger out to jog tomorrow morning.

Re: "Toothache in my knees and thigh(bones?)

guest — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:29:00 GMT

Sorry for the thread hijack, but I'd never heard of Fauja Singh until now, and did some reading up on him...wow. That man is an inspiration to us all.

Re: "Toothache in my knees and thigh(bones?)

guest — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:58:19 GMT

I agree with the previous posters' assessments, but you did ask specifically about the parts that hold you together.

You know the military saying that "pain is temporary; pride is forever." This unfortunately doesn't apply to bone density. It takes a while to lose bone mass, and if you've lost some due to that many years of inactivity, you won't get it back overnight. There is always the risk of stress fracture, especially if you do too much too soon.

Relax. You don't have to make up for lost time right away, and you will improve for years if you stay healthy.

While it's true that impact exercise has the effect of increasing bone density in most people, we have no reason to believe the process to be entirely painless. Ligaments and tendons should not hurt initially, however. They need to be supple and hydrated to remain pain free, or your muscles will act to guard them from overuse. That guarding, or compensation, can lead to other problems besides inflammation, damage you may not feel at first.

So, give your body a chance to adapt, and don't overdose on the vitamin I. Physicians and drug manufacturers are very emphatic about the negative consequences of ignoring the dosing recommendations. The drugs are designed to handle just one painful symptom of wear and tear (inflammation), but they can't heal you, or replace the necessary patience.

Rather than resort to the sledgehammer approach to pain, it is wiser to adopt an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle. Being able to listen to your body and know when to back off is most important. Rest is how you recover and strengthen for your next challenge, and much of that recovery happens at night. Minimize anything that interferes with quality sleep, and accept that it sometimes takes a few days off to realize the benefits of rest.

Fauja Singh, the "100 year-old marathoner," credits his typical diet of tea, toast, and ginger curry with his endurance over the years. Not sure about the toast part, but it's hard to argue with success. There is some science behind his claim. It turns out that aside from the many known health benefits of tea, Ginger curry contains at least two spices that have anti-inflammatory effects. Both ginger and the yellow root Turmeric, a main component of curry powder, are COX-2 inhibitors, just like Ibuprofen. There is also a polyphenol chemical component of Exrta-virgin Olive Oil with this same quality, and what gives the oil its characteristic "bite" at the back of the throat (a way to tell the good stuff).

While some would maintain that the purified form of such chemicals is easier and cheaper to obtain over the counter as a drug, it doesn't take long to tell the difference in the effect of food vs. chemicals on the body. Turmeric, for example has been used for millenia as a stomach aid. You wouldn't want to try that with Ibuprofen, which lists stomach bleeding as a side effect. You can't fool Mother Nature; for every natural body like yours out there, there's a natural lifestyle that will optimize its performance and minimize pain. Even in the case of Osteoarthritis, lifestyle changes are now an important part of medical knowledge.

So, just over halfway to 100, you'll get plenty of chances to run 8 marathons like our friend Fauja. Watch him cross the line in his recent record-setting attempt, and imagine that's you, sans-turban to save weight. You've got all the time in the world...

"Toothache in my knees and thigh(bones?)

guest — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:09:28 GMT

I will see how I feel after Sunday's jog. If I hurt slightly less, then I think I have my answer. My knees and thigh bones don't hurt the rest of the day after getting iced and Ibu'd, so that is also probably a good sign.

I don't want to repeat anything as I am aiming at an organized 5K in Agoura on March 24 that is run in conjunction with a few other longer races that same day. Assuming my heart doesn't explode or some other serious bodily malfunction, I hope to complete one organized 5k per month for the next 12 months.

"Toothache in my knees and thigh(bones?)

guest — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:11:38 GMT

Considering your age and inexperience I wouldn't be too alarmed. Your body is clearly acclimating to a new way, and lots of times that equals aches and pains. It couldn't hurt to run it by your doctor to make sure though. I agree with Terranss (hard to disagree with a guy who has Mega Man for his avatar) that perhaps you should consider taking it slower and repeating the second week. Keep it up!

"Toothache in my knees and thigh(bones?)

guest — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:17:57 GMT

I don't know if everyone goes through exactly what you're going through, but your bones and connective tissue are definitely the slowest soldiers in the "march to fitness". It's a good sign that fewer things are hurting then the day before, though. They will catch up in time, but while they do you may consider repeating the second week (or move on to the third week and repeat that) to give your chassis some time to catch up to the engine.

Congratulations on starting this new chapter, and I wish you the best. Run healthy!

"Toothache in my knees and thigh(bones?)

guest — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:30:31 GMT

I am a 53 year old male, 6' 3" tall, 180 lbs. Just started the couch to 5K program and am in the middle of my second week. My cardio response seems normal to this new activity, winded but getting better already. Two days a go when I started the second week (5 minute walk followed by 6 intervals of 90 second jog and 2 minute walks and 5 minute cool down walk) When I finished and was cooling down I had pain in both keens and thighs and hips that I can best describe as a very intense burning "toothache" style pain. I have a very high pain tolerance, but this goy my attention. I run on blacktop.

I took 3 ibuprofen and wrapped my knees in ice packs and ace banages. Within in 90 minuets the pain was gone and I functioned normally the rest of the day. Today I am experiencing the same thing after my jog except that the pain does not seen to be as far up my thigh, and my hips are, for the most part, not involved. I took 3 more "vitamin i" and am wrapped in ice again.

I know my body is probably just reacting to the shock of physical activity after 35 years of not regular exercise. Do joints, bones, ligaments and all the connective "stuff " get stronger just like muscles when you get exercise? I am not going to quit, I am just trying to determine if my symptoms are "normal."

Thanks!