My First Fencing Injury (Kind Of...)

[NYCRedhead]

Last Friday, I had a really great fencing class. While I was warming up, we were running the piste and doing everything from sprints to glute-kicks to knee-lifts, back and forth. I noticed as I was running that my right quad was especially tight. I didn't pay it much mind; it could have been from a little overexertion on Wednesday's class, and I also do other forms of exercise throughout the week. I knew to take it easy, so I did. I quickly warmed up and was able to do full lunges, etc.

Over the weekend I was quite sore from Friday's class -- kind of unusual. Still, my quad was tight. I rubbed and massaged it with some "muscle cream" and took Sunday and Monday off from my usual workout schedule (pilates, yoga and cardio). I did walk a lot yesterday, however. This morning, I felt well enough to attend a weekly class for one of my other hobbies.

This class starts with essentially a 50-minute pilates-style workout. I was careful to warm-up a bit and not to overextend in my stretches as I was warming-up. I finished the pilates bit and then we started working on the apparatus that we use for this class. I did one movement on it, and I was likem "Okay, that's a wierd feeling..." I then did a second move (climbing said apparatus), and "POP!"

Jesus, Joesph and Mary.

I sat with it elevated and iced for the next 40 minutes.

I am bringing this here because: A) I am sure people here know how to deal with quad injuries, 2) I feel like I did the initial injury in the fencing class, and 3) to get some feedback on how long I should rest the injury before going back to salle.

I am currently staying off it (with the exception of getting home, I've been pretty good), icing it for 20-minutes every few hours, taking anti-inflammatories, and happily, munching on painkillers. :-)

Since this happened a few hours ago, I'm going to give it 24 hours, or so, to see if things settle down before worrying about the doctor. I RARELY ever injure myself. I listen to my body and am in pretty good shape. I've broken bones through sports, but I don't usually "pull" anything.

Thoughts? Comments?

Sheila

[KD5MDK]

GSADFYT (Go See A Doctor You Foolish Tool)

[NYCRedhead]

GSADFYT (Go See A Doctor You Foolish Tool)

LOL...I probably will. I am a complete hypochondriac. But, I have at least 12 hours before I can. Indulge me...:-)

Sheila

[DJ Apostrophe]

hearing a pop = BAD...

you could have torn a ligament... Doctor's quickly for MRIs.

Sorry you hurt yourself... it sucks... Plantar Fasciitis kept me out of most of last season...

heal quickly (only a few months to sailing season... you aren't going to be able to clear the boom on a gybe if you don't take care of yourself... we both know how that feels).

-w

[lindajdunn]

Go directly to your doctor and do NOT return to the salle until you do.

Voice of experience here. I didn't hear a pop, but I did have a sharp pain and by the time I got a good diagnosis, I'd made the injury far worse.

If the doctor doesn't suggest an MRI and wants to take a conservative approach and try Ibuprofen for a few days first, ASK FOR AN MRI.

Wish I'd done that.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I dont know who your coach is, but it sounds like they're giving you a crappy warm up and/or you're too out of shape to be fencing and need to go ride an exercise bike for a while.

Go see a doc.

[Elendae]

GSADFYT (Go See A Doctor You Foolish Tool)

I second this. As someone who's had entirely too many injuries, I can tell you that a doctor visit cannot be skipped. Speaking of... I think I have a broken finger, so off to the doctor with me as well.

[rcmatthews]

I dont know who your coach is, but it sounds like they're giving you a crappy warm up and/or you're too out of shape to be fencing and need to go ride an exercise bike for a while.

Go see a doc.

What sounds unusual about the warmup she described? Sounds like pure chance to me.

[HDG]

What sounds unusual about the warmup she described? Sounds like pure chance to me.

And the yoga, pilates, cardio combo argues against being too out of shape to start fencing.

[BrianH]

....and/or you're too out of shape to be fencing and need to go ride an exercise bike for a while.

Go see a doc.

Cardio, pilates, yoga, walking and fencing? I doubt seriously she is out of shape; it sounds like she is diligent in getting exercise and stretching. Your last sentence makes sense though.

Brian

[HDG]

Yes, we're all agreed: GO TO THE DOCTOR.

[Rabid Monk]

To add to the doctor bit:
Don't take no for an answer, and don't assume that your doctor knows how to read an MRI.

It popped, it hurts, so something ain't right.

A boring story you can skip if you wish, but which illustrates my point:
My sister injured her arm during a snatch (she's a weightlifter), and the doctors didn't believe her. It took nearly 2 years before she finally got an MRI (which we set up on our own and paid for out of pocket, as well as the cost of sending her to a province with 2 tier health care), and the doctors still didn't see anything wrong. They wound up sending her to a therapist, thinking it was all in her head. The therapist, however, was good enough to refer hor to a very good doctor in another province who set up a proper MRI (drinking the radiocative fluid, or whatever the stuff is), diagnosed a torn ligament, and scheduled her for surgery to fix it. In total it took 4 years of her arm in constant pain, and none of the doctors here believed her, so DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. Now she's training again, and is a lot easier to get along with without having her arm in constant pain.
As a laugh, currently the doctor who diagnosed the problem, the surrgeon, and the therapist are the only ones who know the problem was real. We haven't told the doctors here yet. There will be red faces when we do.

[pancavalier41]

In my opinion as a medical professional (and not being able to examine you via the internet) my suggestion would be to see an orthopedic physician or a sports medicine specialist.

With what you have described, it sounds like a tear or severe strain of one of your quad muscles. You haven't been too specific on some of the symptoms, so this is just speculation. Being that I work hand in hand with ortho docs, chances are that is what is the problem and most will send you for an MRI.

In the mean time here are a few things you can do for yourself before you see a doc:

A) RICES (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Support).
-Rest as much as possible. Outside of normal activities of daily living, dont do anything you dont have to do.
-Ice with an ice bag for 20-30 minutes at a time. Any more than that may cause damage. After one icing session wait about an hour and ice again. This will be MOST beneficial to you.
-Use an ace wrap/compression sleeve for your quad. This will support it. -Elevate the leg when sitting/sleeping.
-Support yourself with crutches if you cannot walk.

B) Take NSAIDS. These are over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs. Take these ONLY if you are not allergic to them.

C) Discontinue all unnecessary activity.

If I was working with an athlete I have examined I'd allow for light stretching and some basic isometric strengthening, however, I am not personally familiar with your case so I would not suggest that at the moment.

Pilates, yoga and any other activity you do in that family should make you flexibile and limber enough to be a fencer. They are good supplement activities to fencing and other sports. Once you have fully healed from this injury continue to partake in these activities to reduce your chance of reinjury........and watch out for those pilates apparati....tricky

[rcmatthews]

I think anyone with these types of injuries is much better off going to a sports specialist, provided insuarance allows of course.

[Mo]

To add to the doctor bit:
As a laugh, currently the doctor who diagnosed the problem, the surrgeon, and the therapist are the only ones who know the problem was real. We haven't told the doctors here yet. There will be red faces when we do.[/SIZE]

Please take a video camera when you do!! The tape would be priceless.
Another option for Shelia, go see an Active Release Therapist, or Art Chiropracter.
A good ART guy can keep any fencer finely tuned.
Momster

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Well if shes in good enough shape, then its the warm up.

Based on the description of the warm up, it sounds like the coach was having them do fairly intense sprints and agility drills. A body thats used to yoga, walking and pilates isnt going to respond too well to fast stop and start motion. Athletes are supposed to progress into that kind of training, not just hop in.

Almost all overuse injuries are preventable.

[NYCRedhead]

Thanks everyone!

I am going to see my general doctor tomorrow and I will ask for an MRI. She and I have a great doctor/patient relationship, so I know that isn't going to be a problem.

As for my fitness: Spinning/bike, rowing, and a lot of incline walking are all part of my cardio program. I do not distance run because of two herniated disks in my back. They were operated on about 8-years ago and I only occasionally have pain when I hyperextend while I sleep or have a jarring movement of some kind (without my core engaged). It is also the reason why I concentrate so heavily on strengthening my core.

Otherwise, I do some kind of sweat-inducing exercise for at least an hour or more each day -- unless I'm hurt or sick, which is rare. (Honestly, it's generally 5-6 days/week)

As for today, my leg feels really good. But I will not be fencing tonight... I am going to swing by my salle this afternoon and let my coach and mates know what happened and that I'm taking at least the rest of the week off. As for my coach, I know that I am in good hands.

And I just bought my own sabre, too. Darn.

Sheila

[piste off]

It is great that you are seeing a doctor. Definately the right move.

I think that people understimate the demands fencing can have on the body. I've seen a lot of injuries in this sport, ususally people comming back after a long lay-off or for folks new to the sport. Does not seem to matter how good in shape they are from other activities.

A word of caution on the back and your herniated disks. The fleche is murder on them and it may not be an issue since you picked sabre, but you may find yourself doing them for either group footwork or just exploring the other weapons down the road.

Rick

[NYCRedhead]

The good news: They're not going to have to take me out back and shoot me. I had my concerns.

I have a severe strain to my right quad. I've already had 2-weeks of zero activity, so I've been given an okay to resume a somewhat modified activity-level, but he hasn't really put me on any restrictions. A complete coincidence -- he fences, so he was even showing me how to graduate into a deeper lunge as I heal further. He also put me on 2x/wk physical therapy and a whole bottle of anti-inflammatory meds.

I'm back on the piste on Friday...WOOT!

Sheila

[RITFencing]

The good news: They're not going to have to take me out back and shoot me. I had my concerns.

I have a severe strain to my right quad. I've already had 2-weeks of zero activity, so I've been given an okay to resume a somewhat modified activity-level, but he hasn't really put me on any restrictions. A complete coincidence -- he fences, so he was even showing me how to graduate into a deeper lunge as I heal further. He also put me on 2x/wk physical therapy and a whole bottle of anti-inflammatory meds.

I'm back on the piste on Friday...WOOT!

Sheila

Great! Good luck, and welcome back to fencing.