Lung Pain - Doc told me to stop running!

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Last post: Nov 3, 2009 6:29 PM by RobinfromMaine

Jill Daggett

2 posts since
Aug 9, 2009

Currently Being Moderated

Oct 8, 2009 4:38 PM

Lung Pain - Doc told me to stop running!

Help! I have been a small time runner with Exercise Induced Asthma for years (approx. 3 miles at a time). I have been training for a half marathon for 8 weeks and have been feeling some pain in my lungs near the end of my runs. My lungs will also hurt for 1-3 days after running when I breathe in. Its not horrible pain, probably a 3 or 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. I thought maybe I needed a stronger inhaler, so I called my doctor. He told me to stop running! He said he can refer me to a pulmonary specialist if I really want to run, but that will take 4 weeks and the half marathon is in 4 weeks. I would really appreciate any words of wisdom. Is it normal for a person to have sore lungs when they are increasing their milage fairly quickly? I can take the pain and push through it, but now I am worried about what will happen if I keep running.

spicegeek

2,562 posts since
Jan 14, 2007

Currently Being Moderated

1. Oct 8, 2009 5:01 PM

in response to: Jill Daggett

Re: Lung Pain - Doc told me to stop running!

No sore lungs are not normal

I`m not entirely sure what you are hoping to hear - but a medical proffesional has told you not to run - I guess you don`t have to listen them - but really is this race more important than breathing ?

NYC Marathon Nov 1 2009 - 4:03:13 ( 9:17 mm )

NYC Half Marathon Aug 16 2009 - 1:55:38 ( 8:49 mm )

1 mile - 7:07 10K - 52:58 ( 8:32 mm)

4 mile - 31:35 ( 7:53 mm) 8K - 42:28 ( 8:32 mm)

15K - 1:22:02 ( 8:49 mm)

Find the Half Marathon Team on FACEBOOK

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Jill Daggett

2 posts since
Aug 9, 2009

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2. Oct 8, 2009 5:14 PM

in response to: spicegeek

Re: Lung Pain - Doc told me to stop running!

Crud. Yeah, that's not exactly what I wanted to hear. I was hoping lots of people would tell me that they had lung soreness when they were training and that it was just the muscles getting stronger.

Thanks for replying.

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spicegeek

2,562 posts since
Jan 14, 2007

Currently Being Moderated

3. Oct 8, 2009 5:22 PM

in response to: Jill Daggett

Re: Lung Pain - Doc told me to stop running!

there wil be other races - don`t risk your health

NYC Marathon Nov 1 2009 - 4:03:13 ( 9:17 mm )

NYC Half Marathon Aug 16 2009 - 1:55:38 ( 8:49 mm )

1 mile - 7:07 10K - 52:58 ( 8:32 mm)

4 mile - 31:35 ( 7:53 mm) 8K - 42:28 ( 8:32 mm)

15K - 1:22:02 ( 8:49 mm)

Find the Half Marathon Team on FACEBOOK

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winkirun

24 posts since
Sep 15, 2009

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4. Oct 8, 2009 6:23 PM

in response to: Jill Daggett

Re: Lung Pain - Doc told me to stop running!

Do you ever remember being a kid and swimming all day and then the next day, your lungs would be sore? This was because you were stretching your lungs beyond their capacity with all the holding of your breath while swimming. In the case of swimming, your lungs will get stronger over time, but in the case of decreased lung capacity, you may be endangering your future running ability. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I work in the medical profession (I am not a doctor but am in medical records, so I see patient histories), and I think that you may need to get with an expert who knows what your goals are and is willing to work with you to achieve them SAFELY. In the long run (pun intended), this may mean the difference between ultimately completing your running goals SAFELY or not meeting them at all. Just my opinion. Be patient, and seek advice. That way, all you have to lose is time. There will be other marathons. There is always the next one or the next one. I know this is hard to hear, but it is true.

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face... you must do the things you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt

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Haselsmasher

193 posts since
May 25, 2009

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5. Oct 8, 2009 7:36 PM

in response to: Jill Daggett

Re: Lung Pain - Doc told me to stop running!

Asthma is not something to mess with. It's very possible after a visit with the doc you *will* get a different inhaler. However running when a doc has said "Don't." I have to say, while difficult, is probably smart.

Jim

Current status: PF: Gone. Orthotics: Gone. Motion Control Shoes: Gone. Learning Pose running and using minimalist shoes. http://jimhaselmaier.blogspot.com/

"Kick off your high heel sneakers, it's party time."

-- From the song FM by Steely Dan

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LucyLin714

5 posts since
Oct 7, 2009

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6. Oct 8, 2009 7:52 PM

in response to: Jill Daggett

Re: Lung Pain - Doc told me to stop running!

I have the same problem with my lungs but I do not have asthma. It usually is sore when I run distance. First I thought it was because

running is bad for our immune system-- and I must have collected too much dust at the track and my lungs were filtering it. But

then on days where I run inside on my treadmill my lungs would hurt too. It's not bad pain either. It usally goes away after 30 hours.

Should I be concerned? Thanks for your time and concern in this matter.

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lenzlaw

7,455 posts since
Jan 18, 2008

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7. Oct 11, 2009 11:52 AM

in response to: Jill Daggett

Re: Lung Pain - Doc told me to stop running!

I'd get that pulmonary specialist appointment and find out what's going on. I'm trying to imagine "lung pain" and can't. I've had colds where breathing was hard but I wouldn't call that pain. And I've had muscle pain in my chest but it doesn't sound like the same thing. Get it checked out.

Len

We've come this far and it's still the same,
Runnin' out here in the rain.
Just one more mile, if only you could fly.
(Apologies to T. Rush and J. Tempchin, for the paraphrase)

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RobinfromMaine

69 posts since
Dec 6, 2008

Currently Being Moderated

8. Nov 3, 2009 6:29 PM

in response to: lenzlaw

Re: Lung Pain - Doc told me to stop running!

I second the recommendation of keeping the appointment with the lung specialist.

Lungs don't hurt. The chest wall can hurt, and other structures (like your heart) can hurt. My guess is that your doctor thinks that your asthma isn't well controlled and that caused overuse of your chest muscles. If he thought it was your heart he would be sending you to a cardiologist.

It is prudent to follow your doctor's instructions for now, not least because he may know something that we don't know about your condition. On the other hand, the goal of treating asthma should be that with proper management your asthma doesn't limit you.

Your doctors should be helping you get to the point where you can run with their blessing.

Robin