Lower ab pain while/due to running

Wiseman

I am experiencing lower ab pain due to running. This first surfaced a while back when I slipped on treadmill and had to catch myself. Felt a pull in pubic/lower ab area. During marathon training, it resurfaced but was able to train and race with the help of NSAIDS. Now I'm in JOS and back running again, the pain is back. I had my doc check for hernia and he said no, after exam...suggested probably a pull/strain and, you guessed it, rest. Its not stopping me from doing anything now and the Motrin has pain greatly reduced...just checking to see if anyone else has experienced this and what you did for it.

Jump4Joy19

I have gotten lower ab pain before when my lower back is tight. The first time it happened, the pain was so intense that my doctor had me get an ultrasound - checking all of those organs in that area for problems. It hurt so bad I was scared, thinking cancer or something horrible. Then I happened to go to my chiropractor and mentioned it to him. He immediately knew that the ab pain was related to the tight lower back, called "referred pain". Two sessions with him and the ab pain was gone. It happened one other time when I slipped on some stairs and hurt my back, but this time I knew what it was and went straight to my chiropractor. Not saying it's the same thing for you, but it might be one thing to investigate.

Coach Patrick

Also watch out as it could be your psoas muscle as well, which is really deep in the lower abs. If you do a lunch stretch like this you should really feel it If so, you might want to schedule some body work!!

[Deleted User]

Coach may have hit this one right on for you. I had similar pain a few days after NYC marathon. Look into hip flexor stretches and a good sports massage. The NSAIDS and ice will help. Running on it may only make it worst but biking or some time on an elliptical shouldnt.

Nate Parady

I have had this issue as well. For me I feel it when laying in bed and the covers put tension on my lower abs when I move my legs around. It has only gone away with rest for me. I am very careful now how I exercise my abs and don't do a lot leg lifting type ab work to try and avoid straining this area.

Doug Johnson

This is one of the reasons I love EN. I had this issue for about 6 months last year and really had no idea what it was. I would get the same discomfort described by William while running. I really aggravated it when my foot caught a root during a trail run. I could not do the lunge that Coach P. describes above due to the discomfort, sometimes pain. And similar to what Nate says, when I would lie on my back and try lifting my legs I could feel it. Another thing I noticed was that it was uncomfortable lifting my legs to get out of my car.

I didn't do anything specific to heal it. The discomfort has gone away but I know it's not 100%. I can still feel "something there" after really hard efforts or long runs. At least I know it's the Psoas muscle now. I would also be interested to hear of others with this issue and how/if they recovered fully.