To exercise or not - Muscle pain

[sketchdoll]

So the last couple of weeks I've been pretty diligant about getting my workouts in and watching what I eat. I finally started to see the results on the scale at the end of last week. Well this weekend I attended a wedding where I gave myself permission to pretty much eat/drink whatever and I spent a ridiculous amount of time on the dance floor. I basically added another 60 minutes to my active minutes with my fitbit. Awesome right? Well, because I spent a ridiculous amount of time dancing, my calf muscles are incredibly sore!! Today is the second day since dancing so I know it is usually always worse two days later, but I really didn't want this to stop my forward progress in exercising.  I am supposed to get in at least a 30 minute run today, but I can barely go up and down stairs without saying "ow" outloud.  I wasn't sure if I should just workout through the pain in hopes of loosening up my muscles?  Or giving my body a few days to recoop?  I remember back in highschool during summer conditioning for volleyball, we would just work through the pain...but what would be healthier in the long run? I really don't want any set backs, especially since I was just starting to see some results.

[SunsetRunner]

Take an aspirin and keep going.  Usually the pain that one has before a workout goes away duirng the workout then return afterwards.    I always take creatine to help my muscles recover if I overwork them.  And sometimes I take an aspirin if I don't feel like dealing with being in pain for a couple of hours.   

[Nomad92]

You didn't just do what I think you did right?

Telling people to take an aspirin and keep working out. Do you even know how dangerous this is ?

@sketchdoll : No, DO NOT take an aspirin and keep going. All you can do is to rest, if your muscle pain is very very strong, just rest..take a warm bath, eat some ginseng and ginger, keep a balanced diet, drink a lot of water, but let your muscles rest. You can do a very light workout, but that's about it. Painkillers and a normal to strong workout won't do anything except making it more worse ( if painkillers are taken you can even collapse and get a heart-failure ).

Just stay hydrated and relaxed most of the time.

Cheers.

[emili · Accepted solution]

so it seems you are experiencing DOMS which is very unpleasant but really common in the workout world. I love that you got it from dancing. I don't know that I would run if you are really in that much pain, but a really good stretch and walk will probably help with stiffness and at least keep you moving. It should be gone within three days and you can go back to normal activity. If you want to roll your muscles, that could help too. Just be sure to drink a lot before and after - it helps with releasing the gas (in your muscles, not elsewhere 😉 ).

[SantiR]

@sketchdoll Welcome to the Fitbit Community! I'm really glad to hear that your workouts are giving you results! Dancing is a great workout and I'm pretty sure you will continue to see more awesome results.

Regarding your pain, it is always recommended to check with your doctor first before trying anything else. I'm pretty sure a doctor will give you the best solution possible.

I'm also sure you will be back on track really soon to continue with the excellent results you were having! Keep it up! 

[Dominique]

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@Nomad92 wrote:

Telling people to take an aspirin and keep working out. Do you even know how dangerous this is ?

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There’s a difference between training through illness (e.g. the flu) and training through muscle soreness. @SunsetRunner suggested the latter (perfectly safe), not the former. Muscle soreness (DOMS) that occurs after intense use of muscles that haven’t been used for a long time is inflammatory (at least partly) in nature: taking aspirin, a known anti-inflammatory medicine, won’t kill him and may make it easier for him to train during the next couple of days, which is a good way to speed up recovery from the soreness. 

[Nomad92]

I am talking about the effect an aspirin has on your body.

If you take aspirin during exercise, it can inhibit normal clotting, causing you to bleed uncontrollably if you are hit during exercise or a contact sport. If you are unable to stop bleeding, contact your doctor immediately. In addition, aspirin can block the pain that you feel if you have an injury, possibly leading you to worsen a minor injury. Mirkin advises postponing exercise if your muscles are sore. Taking an aspirin so that you can exercise when you are sore might mask an injury.

In fact, your heart might collapse if you overdue it on aspirin.

Kind of a basic: never take any painkillers when or before working out.

Cheers.

[SunsetRunner]

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@Nomad92 wrote:

I am talking about the effect an aspirin has on your body.

If you take aspirin during exercise, it can inhibit normal clotting, causing you to bleed uncontrollably if you are hit during exercise or a contact sport. If you are unable to stop bleeding, contact your doctor immediately. In addition, aspirin can block the pain that you feel if you have an injury, possibly leading you to worsen a minor injury. Mirkin advises postponing exercise if your muscles are sore. Taking an aspirin so that you can exercise when you are sore might mask an injury.

In fact, your heart might collapse if you overdue it on aspirin.

Kind of a basic: never take any painkillers when or before working out.

Cheers.

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After completing 92,894 steps during a weekend challenge the one aspirin helped ease the pain I experienced in one leg and I recovered overnight.   

I didn't suggest taking an aspirin right before a workout where it may cause drowsiness.     I occasionly take something for pain when I overwork my muscles, but not too often. And I only take one.   I'm 37 years old and only had to seek medical attention once in my life time for posion ivy when I was 11.  So taking something for temporary pain occasionaly obviously hasn't had any affects on me.  

Today, I feel good and will continue my fitness routine.    Keep stepping!

[Mukluk4]

I'm with Duke on this.  

Aspirin, Creatine, Protein, Hydration.  Muscle soreness is part of the journey.

[sketchdoll]

Hey thanks for the replies everyone! I ended up not doing my typical run yesterday. I took my dog for a lengthy walk instead.  This morning I woke up and my calves were still pretty sore but much more tolerable. I figured I would give the treadmill a go and while I initially thought I would run 5 minutes on and 5 minutes off alternating for 30 minutes, I was able to do the full 30 no problem. In fact, my legs felt better running than walking!

A question about DOMS though. I noticed weighing in on the scale, my weight shot up today. I am assuming this is due to some fluid retention and inflammation of the muscles. How long does DOMS have an effect on our weight? Should I wait a few more days before weighing in for more accuracy? 

And a question about pain meds. I typically don't take any pain meds (unless I have a terrible migraine). I guess I like to be aware of what my body is going through.  However, I know pain meds can help speed up the recovery process. What type of pain meds is most beneficial for muscle pain, i.e. Asprin, NSAID, Acetaminophen? I've always been told to take an NSAID, but I know Asprin was mentioned so I wasn't sure which one was better.

Thanks again!

[emili]

I take motrin. Nothing works better for me. Once your pain is gone, you should be back to normal. Maybe hold off weighing yourself till Thursday. But drink, drink, drink to push it all out. Make sure your sodium intake stays normal if you significantly increase water intake

[BWright1175]

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@emili wrote:
I take motrin. Nothing works better for me. Once your pain is gone, you should be back to normal. Maybe hold off weighing yourself till Thursday. But drink, drink, drink to push it all out. Make sure your sodium intake stays normal if you significantly increase water intake

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^^This.

Motrin / Ibuprofen is the only pain reliever in my medicine cabinet.

[SunsetRunner]

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@sketchdoll wrote:

Hey thanks for the replies everyone! I ended up not doing my typical run yesterday. I took my dog for a lengthy walk instead.  This morning I woke up and my calves were still pretty sore but much more tolerable. I figured I would give the treadmill a go and while I initially thought I would run 5 minutes on and 5 minutes off alternating for 30 minutes, I was able to do the full 30 no problem. In fact, my legs felt better running than walking!

A question about DOMS though. I noticed weighing in on the scale, my weight shot up today. I am assuming this is due to some fluid retention and inflammation of the muscles. How long does DOMS have an effect on our weight? Should I wait a few more days before weighing in for more accuracy? 

And a question about pain meds. I typically don't take any pain meds (unless I have a terrible migraine). I guess I like to be aware of what my body is going through.  However, I know pain meds can help speed up the recovery process. What type of pain meds is most beneficial for muscle pain, i.e. Asprin, NSAID, Acetaminophen? I've always been told to take an NSAID, but I know Asprin was mentioned so I wasn't sure which one was better.

Thanks again!

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I chose Aspirin because I figured if I'm going to take anything for pain, I may as well take something that offers more benefits.  An Aspirin may help prevent a heart attack.

[TrainerJ]

Awesome for adding 60 mins of !!!!

Sounds like muscle delay soreness which is typically commom after all that awesome dancing !!!

Carry on with watching what you eat !! I love it !! stay consistant with your regiment even more results will show !!!!

Seek a Muscle recovery agent to take after your workout and dancing ( Post workout drink )

[StepQuizKathy]

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@Nomad92 wrote:

You didn't just do what I think you did right?

Telling people to take an aspirin and keep working out. Do you even know how dangerous this is ?

@sketchdoll : No, DO NOT take an aspirin and keep going. All you can do is to rest, if your muscle pain is very very strong, just rest..take a warm bath, eat some ginseng and ginger, keep a balanced diet, drink a lot of water, but let your muscles rest. You can do a very light workout, but that's about it. Painkillers and a normal to strong workout won't do anything except making it more worse ( if painkillers are taken you can even collapse and get a heart-failure ).

Just stay hydrated and relaxed most of the time.

Cheers.

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Hi Nomad

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I'm late to this party!

I'm late to this discussion. I thought I'd bump this to update it with my question regarding antiinflammatories for the typical soreness post workout and then there is the dreaded DOMS.

I was reading in BF's Men's Fitness magazine, a January article (only mag in his bathroom) about taking NSAID type of antiinflammatories (Motrin, Aleve, aspirin) that does stop the pain of after exercise soreness caused by inflammation, but also prevents the growth of muscle, and the inflammation is essential to increase muscle mass. It said that when you do take it regularly for workout soreness it backfires by preventing increased muscle mass (I do want  to have stronger upper body muscles which I guess means increasing mass).

I haven't found anything else on this subject.

Have you read that before? What are your thoughts on this?

I have to be careful of toing too much in one workout, hiking or weights or I will get overly sore to where I want to take something, but after reading that I don't want to take anything if it stops the inflammation and stops muscles from growing stronger. I'd rather be sore!

[tersav]

Aspirin is a NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) along with Ibuprophin (Motrin) and Naproxin (Aleve).  All decrease inflammation and relieve pain.  Aspirin will not cause your heart to collapse unless you are allergic.  It is not a good idea to take any NSAIDS before excersizing because you run the risk of becoming dehydrated and harming your kidney function.  Better to use NSAIDs after your run while hydrating or a few hours before remembering to hydrate.  Runners get lots of musculoskeletal stress and NSAIDS can help you heal, feel better and keep moving.

[bcalvanese]

I always take a couple tylenol authritis before my power walks. I cant take asperine because I'm on blood thinners.

The tylenol helps get my old butt through the power walks with as little pain as possible...:)