Running Treatment for Calf Claudication
Running clearly improved my calf pain!
You might think an average run pace of 13:09 is glacial, but I’m delighted that my running is finally coming back. I still had to stop for 10-20 paces each half-mile. This was to allow the muscles to recover from an insufficient blood supply. I have severe narrowing (stenosis) of popliteal artery branches below the knee in my right leg – isn’t aging fun?
I’d be cruising along, picking up the pace, carefully. Then, that pesky right gastrocnemius starts to ache and tense up. This is followed by foot tingles, it starts to go numb, and real pain occurs. Walking for a few paces allows these symptoms to fade, and running begins again. This process becomes easier as time goes by. Presumably due to activation of collateral circulation.
The goal: To build collateral circulatory supply.
My vascular surgeon, Mark, recommended three walks per week as treatment, rather than a dangerous angioplasty. He also said, “Walk until you have to stop, wait until the pain fades, but start walking again before the pain fades completely.” I liked that advice! I always trust surgeons when they recommend against surgery.
So I signed up for a marathon, with Deb, on September 30th. It’s nice to have a race in mind.
We have the training plan on the fridge, but it does break the 10% rule quite a bit.
Two months ago, I couldn’t run 100 yards without that calf locking up. This is serious progress, due to appropriate exercise.
The progressive improvement as the run goes by is demonstrated by the last sub-12 minute split, shown in the adjacent image. Furthermore, I managed to run for a bus, pain-free, the other day, for the first time in ages.
Conclusion: Exercise can improve calf claudication, but it still hurts like crap as you do it.
Answer: Suck it up, and have a life.
Wishing you happy trails,
kev aka FitOldDog
PS To protect my AAA stent graft, I use a low-impact running style.
You are amazing fit old dog! Glad to see you are still kicking ass!
Thanks, Benjamin, I appreciate your encouragement and enthusiasm, kev
Just had a thrombectomy in iliac artery caused by narrowing of the iliac artery. I previously suffered with Claudication due to the narrowing but was still managing to run longish distances. They are going to stent the artery today. Recommendations for the future are to take a big step backwards and lead a more sedentary lifestyle. Cannot believe this advice. Your advice is heartening and encouraging as I lie here in recovery and look forward to more years of running
Hi Lynne, that’s what they said to me.
Guess I should be in a rocking chair on the porch with a shawl and a glass of whisky? No way! For a while I thought the claudication would ruin my run, but it turned out that running has been the best thing for it. It’s not comfortable, but then, Ironman isn’t exactly comfortable. My blood flow is limited by the iliac portions of my stent, which seems harder on running than cycling. But your legs will build collaterals, which mine are clearly doing. My surgeon (good guy, not an athlete) said to walk 30 min 3x/wk, and when my calf hurts wait until the pain has ALMOST gone away, then start walking again. So, I signed up for the Maine Marathon and Cozumel Ironman, while applying the same principal. It’s working, that’s for sure. You’ll be fine with an iliac stent, you just need to understand it. Take care with hip flexion. I minimize mine on the bike. Here’s my story, fyi: https://youtu.be/km8L4v3rwg0
Cheers,
kev
PS You might find this site interesting, and you should chat with Pauline: https://www.facebook.com/groups/576574729149516/
Thank you Kevin. It’s good to get feedback from someone who has experience of the condition.