Swelling Ankle - What to do?

George Chac said:

I have done very little running in my life. I would like to start
training for a marathon,

Nothing like "dreaming large", is there "Bob"??
Besides gettin Enzyte, may I suggest you get some mileage in first?
Then dream about a marathon. Your post is a little like a kid on a
tricycle saying he's going to ride the Tour De France.

go see an orthopedist. nobody here can diagnose your problem for you.

See a chiropractor.

George Chac said:

Hi,

I have done very little running in my life. I would like to start
training for a marathon, but I am hampered by a swelling ankle problem.

When I have tried running in the past, and even now, the outside rear
part of my right ankle swells up a little. Sometimes it swells up more
than a little and I am unable to run for a few days until the swelling
goes away.

Others have given me the following advice:
- Before a run, take a couple of Advils.
- During a run, use an ankle brace.
- After a run, ice the swelling (sometimes I don't do this right away).

I have done all three, and it seems to help a little. But still, I
wonder if there is something more I can do to fix the problem in a more
permanent way.

Does anybody know why I have this problem, or if there are any other
solutions for it? By the way, is running with an ankle brace supposed
to be uncomfortable?

Thank you very much. From a new runner,

George Chac

TheBillRogers:

You're the complete opposite of the positive and encouraging people in
the training program that I'm in. I just joined the L.A. Marathon's
official training program, L.A. Roadrunners. It is a seven month
training program, which prepare different levels of runners,
runners/walkers, and walkers for the L.A. Marathon. It is a
progressive training program, and there are many beginner runners
there. The coaches, pace leaders, and assistants welcome new runners.
True, I run in one of the slowest groups with the Roadrunners, but I
don't think that my dream is as far fetched as a kid wanting to ride
the Tour De France. You have a very pessimistic and discouraging
attitude.

Jerry Paulson:

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I will give them a try. I have
never really stretched my ankle before running. I will give that a try
as well. Thanks for giving my question some time. I appreciate it.

Does this ever happen in your left ankle as well?

Quoted message said:

no, only in my right

Quoted message said:

Do you have a history of cardiac problems?

no cardiac probelms.

Quoted message said:

What is the longest you have run without experiencing the problem?

I've been able to run for weeks at a time without getting the swelling,
but eventually and unexpectadly, it comes back

Quoted message said:

Do the symptoms always occur regardless of your pace?

It happens more frequently at a fast pace

Quoted message said:

Is the swelling visible or does it just 'feel' swollen?

The swelling is visible, but it is just a small area that swells (it is
the area below and to the rear of the protruding bone on the outside
part of the ankle.

Quoted message said:

Do the symptoms occur only when running on certain surfaces?

In the past, I've run mostly on a treadmill; and it would happen there
frequently

Quoted message said:

When was the last time you changed your running shoes; any correlation?

shoes are new

Quoted message said:

How much do you weigh / how tall are you?

I am overweight now. 200lbs, 5'5" tall. In the past, I noticed that
the swelling would come back more often when I was overweight, and less
often when I was thinner.

Search some ankle
exercises tha Dot and Virginiaz suggested
back in spring 2004, May - July.

Keep the ice,
be careful of NSAIDs,
slow and easy, and it will likely calm down.

I just ran 4 miles,
and last April, I could barely do that.
even though I cycled 5x/week.

Graduated steps,
For your ascent ...

George Chac said:

TheBillRogers:

You're the complete opposite of the positive and encouraging people
in the training program that I'm in.

Maybe so, but in contrast to the absolute vomit he mostly spews, his
advice to you wasn't so far off the mark, if a bit exaggerated and
harshly stated.

If you don't run regularly now, haven't run regularly before, need to
solve an ankle pain problem before you can really start running, and
are somewhere around 70 pounds overweight, well then I absolutely
salute you for wanting to take up running and setting your sights on a
marathon - I've been in your shoes more or less, minus a few pounds but
plus a smoking habit, and so have many of us here - but I'd also
suggest you consider targetting the 07, not the 06, LA Marathon.
Moreso if you're beyond your twenties in age.

As you learn more about running, one thing which will become clear is
there are a ton of races at distances less than 26 miles, and it's
widely agreed to be a good idea - for multiple reasons - to start with
shorter races like 5 km and work your way up in distance. And 6-7
months is not much time to go from 0 to 26 miles. Unless you turn out
to be that rare freak of nature who is impervious to the wide variety
of "growing pains" the rest of us have suffered as adult-onset runners,
you'll need to increase your weekly training s-l-o-w-l-y just to
minimize injuries much less avoid them.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

The only way to "fix the problem in a more permanent way", is to
transform yourself from new runner to ex-runner. And that goes for
almost every jogging related injury discussed in here.

George Chac said:

Hi,

I have done very little running in my life. I would like to start
training for a marathon, but I am hampered by a swelling ankle problem.

I used to have ankle problems frequently. After (many) years of
little or no exercise, I started running. My ankles immediately
complained. Frequent sprains stopped me from running for weeks at a
time.

I use a "wobble board" regularly, for 10 or so minutes a few times a
week. (See: http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=wobble%20board
for examples and vendors.) And, I am very careful about my running
form, to avoid any unnecessary strain or impact. Whenever a knee or
anke complains, I take a day (or several) off to allow it to heal.
Gradually, my knees and ankles are getting stronger, and complaining
less often.

But, it takes years, not weeks or months. Muscles grow rapidly.
Tendons and ligiments grow very slowly.

And, if you try to hurry the process, you will just injure yourself,
and it will take even longer.

Steve

You make a lot of sense Charlie. I am definitely starting off with a
lot of barriers to have to get passed; not to mention that I may have
to slow it down a little as many have suggested. I think I'll stay in
the program though, but maybe drop down to a slower paced group, or a
run/walk group, or maybe just a walking group. There are many older
and "not so in shape" people in the walkers groups; they take many
hours to finish the race, but I think if they can do it, so can I.

Thank you everybody for your informative and knowledgable advice. I
knew I would get good information here.

I will search for the ankle exercises that Twittering One pointed out;
and also the wobble board. Thanks also for the inspiring comments some
of you made about slowly progressing into a runner after not being one
at all. That is my goal as well. I would like to run.

Thank you again,

George Chac

George Chac said:

I will search for the ankle exercises that Twittering One pointed out;

DO NOT listen to that idiot. She is a severly mentally ill woman, with
no knowledge of running whatsoever. Ask her about psych meds and
you'll get good advice (if she's on them when she replies) otherwise
you'll do better winging it on your own.

George Chac said:

I think I'll stay in the program though [...]
I would like to run.

Well I hope you do. There's little in this world finer than a good
run.

A training group is probably an excellent way to stay motivated through
difficulties and setbacks at the dawn of your running career.

Some of us have also found inspiration to stick with it in books.
Though it's not exactly the most thorough, up-to-date training manual
available, I found Jim Fixx' 1977 classic _The Complete Book of
Running_ much better writing and fuller of humanity and inspiration
than later how-to books. You can always follow it up with a more
modern instructional book if you feel the need but I really think Fixx
might be best for someone not yet fully addicted.

And quite a number of runners, especially those crazy [censored] who run
marathon and longer distances, have penned decent and better short
nonfiction. One collection I enjoyed was _And Then The Vulture Eats
You_ edited by John L Parker (who also wrote the most celebrated
running novel, _Once a Runner_).