Side cramp?

audiobliss

Ok, I'm in dire need of doing regular cardio exercise, so I'm (wishfully) attempting to establish some sort of program for the summer.

I started out on our stationary bike but find that my legs and knees get sore before I really get a good cardiorespiratory workout, so today I jumped on our treadmill instead.

Was doing good at a light jog for the first few minutes, then decided to give it a spirited jaunt. For 2 minutes or so I upped it to around 8mph maybe (who knows how accurate it is...it's old!). After slowing back down to a light jog to recuperate before the next spirited jaunt, I noticed my side was sore. This is something that's plagued me for a long time. My side just gets sore while running. I guess it kind of shocked me today since I haven't done any running lately (ok, ok...in a long time...). I kept it down to a light jog for another five or six minutes and it subsided. I tried another spirited jaunt and it started coming back, so I just got off the treadmill.

Now, my question is, what does a side cramp feel like? I had a hernia probably about 10 years ago, and this feels a lot like that. However, I don't want to be a wimp, totally over-reacting and calling a typical side cramp a hernia.

Any thoughts?

dorokusai

Stretch.

bobman1235

I have no input on the cramp stuff, but to avoid it you may want to try inclining the treadmill - for every 1% incline you use 4% more energy, so you can stay at a slower (more comfortable, in your case) pace but still be working almost as hard.

Ricardo

Medical Club Polk...

billbillw

The cramp is just from lack of oxygen in the muscles between your ribs. I used to get them when I was running, especially when I was pushing hard. Just cut back. Stretching helps some, but its really just your body telling you that you are pushing too hard.

zingo

It sounds like a typical side crap that can easily be had by high exertion running or other cardio. If you get another one, interlace your fingers and put them behind your head, expanding your rib cage. Make sure to drink plenty of water. It could be caused by a tensing of muscles or dehydration and you will feel the pain in your side and possibly up into your lungs or ribs; completely normal. It also shouldn't last longer than a couple minutes.

tryrrthg

I ran competitively in college and an old trick to get rid of side cramps was to exhale every time the foot of the side of your body with the cramp hit the ground. So if you have a side cramp on your right side you would exhale everytime your right foot hit the ground. It seemed to work, although I'm sure there is no science to it. It probably just gives you something to distract you from the cramp. Or maybe it helps up your oxygen intake with the added breathing and that helps get rid of the cramp...

tcrossma

Yep, take it slower until you start getting into better shape and ease into the faster workout. When you start to feel a side cramp coming on, slow down to a walk for a bit (don't stop completely) and keep walking for several minutes until after it passes, then slowly pick up the pace again. The cramps should happen less and less the more in shape you get. This, at least, is what works for me.

tommyboy

Sounds like you are more out of shape than anything else. If its a stomach cramp, try not to drink a lot of water before or during the workout.

This is the biggest problem with people who try to get into shape, as soon as they start feeling pain, they stop and don't try it again. If you don't feel pain working out..... well then you aren't working out:p.

Fight through it. After a month you''ll be running like a champ.

Strong Bad

Stop running and lift weights.

Face

Ricardo wrote: »

Medical Club Polk...

You mean we're not supposed to post all our medical issues here?

audiobliss

Thanks for all the info and suggestions, folks.

I figured it was probably just me being a wuss and needing to exercise more. Hopefully I'll be able to make myself exercise every day and just slowly build up.

Really appreciate it!

janmike

Stop eating so much bacon.

BottomFeeder

tcrossma wrote: »

Yep, take it slower until you start getting into better shape and ease into the faster workout. When you start to feel a side cramp coming on, slow down to a walk for a bit (don't stop completely) and keep walking for several minutes until after it passes, then slowly pick up the pace again. The cramps should happen less and less the more in shape you get. This, at least, is what works for me.

What he said. It's called a "stitch," and yes, you'll get less of them as you get into better shape. You can also run through them, but I wouldn't suggest doing that until you're in better condition.

sda2mike

hydrate before, during and after your run;)

RuSsMaN

Eat bacon before, during, and after your workout.

Shizelbs

tryrrthg wrote: »

I ran competitively in college and an old trick to get rid of side cramps was to exhale every time the foot of the side of your body with the cramp hit the ground. So if you have a side cramp on your right side you would exhale everytime your right foot hit the ground. It seemed to work, although I'm sure there is no science to it. It probably just gives you something to distract you from the cramp. Or maybe it helps up your oxygen intake with the added breathing and that helps get rid of the cramp...

+1

I used to run 8 miles daily in high school and this always worked for me. That being said, I see no scientific/medical reason for it to be true.

sda2mike

RuSsMaN wrote: »

Eat bacon before, during, and after your workout.

with russ' plan you would hydrate with coffee;) or bourbon:p

exalted512

audiobliss wrote: »

Thanks for all the info and suggestions, folks.

I figured it was probably just me being a wuss and needing to exercise more. Hopefully I'll be able to make myself exercise every day and just slowly build up.

Really appreciate it!

Quit being a pansy and run through it. No pain no gain.
-Cody

fossy

dorokusai wrote: »

Stretch.

+ 1 it can yield amazing results

audiobliss

Aye, that it can.

It's amazing how much more flexible (within reason) you can become if you stretch regularly. I'm not very flexible, but when I stretched semi-regularly in my fitness class, I did become more so.

However, it's just so hard to make yourself stretch.

BaggedLancer

exalted512 wrote: »

Quit being a pansy and run through it. No pain no gain.
-Cody

I second this notion. Exactly why I was working out with a cyst putting pressure on my spine and ended up in the ER. I thought it was all part of that no pain no gain thing.

Ackaroth

I used to get samething. Someone told me to breath in through nose, out through mouth while jogging/running and it seemed to help.