Niggles, aches and pains

It is interesting to follow all the blogs that include the trials and tribulations of running and injuries. It seems that there is a huge spectrum of body types out there, those who can take heavy miles month after month and those who periodically come up lame in one way or another. "Injuries" seem to range from missteps to overtraining to major damage events coming from racing hard or even non-running related events.

So, some questions:

1) How do you define a 'niggle', and in general, what do you do about it?

2) What is an 'ache', and when does it become enough of an issue to see a doctor?

3) How do you modify your training when you have an 'ache'?

4) When an 'ache' becomes a pain, do you immediately see a doctor, or do you self-medicate (RICE, etc,) and modify your training?

5) What are your 'Go To' training activities when you cannot get out and run due to a niggle, ache or pain?

Niggles, aches, and pains...oh my!

1) How do you define a 'niggle', and in general, what do you do about it?

Niggle is like the calm before the storm. Just hint of something going on makes you aware. Depends but typically, foam roll, stretch, Ice, go to chiro for ART, Graston.

2) What is an 'ache', and when does it become enough of an issue to see a doctor?

Ache is a pain that seems to throb or be persistent. I am at the chiro usually on a niggle that lasts more then 2-3 days!

3) How do you modify your training when you have an 'ache'?

Ache - not sure if at all to broad of a question.

4) When an 'ache' becomes a pain, do you immediately see a doctor, or do you self-medicate (RICE, etc,) and modify your training?

Pain IMO is beyond the niggle or ache and immediate attention if not already needs to happen. Rest for sure should be in the solution.

5) What are your 'Go To' training activities when you cannot get out and run due to a niggle, ache or pain?

Swimming would be my only choice. Everything else seems like a bore.

1) How do you define a 'niggle', and in general, what do you do about it?

Something I can feel when I start out running or after a few miles but not overwhelming. It will go away after a rest day or two, some more stretching or maybe new shoes. My knee always hurts when my shoes need to be replaced.

2) What is an 'ache', and when does it become enough of an issue to see a doctor?

I've never been to a doctor for running stuff, I have a friend who's a PT and I've asked her about really intense sharp pain that interfered with even walking.

3) How do you modify your training when you have an 'ache'?

more stretching, maybe ibuprofen and ice.

4) When an 'ache' becomes a pain, do you immediately see a doctor, or do you self-medicate (RICE, etc,) and modify your training?

self medicate and cut back running.

5) What are your 'Go To' training activities when you cannot get out and run due to a niggle, ache or pain?

Pilates or wt lifting inside.

1) How do you define a 'niggle', and in general, what do you do about
it?
My definition of niggle is when you feel a minor soreness (example in hamstrings after doing lunges the day before). Normally they go away after a day or two, but I will incorporate the stick, foam roller, and/or stretching to help it along.

2) What is an 'ache', and when does it become enough of an
issue to see a doctor?
My definition of an ache is a niggle that is a little more sore. I would not see a doctor over an ache.

3) How do you modify your training when
you have an 'ache'?
I take things a little bit easier and add in more stretching and foam roller type exercises.

4) When an 'ache' becomes a pain, do you
immediately see a doctor, or do you self-medicate (RICE, etc,) and
modify your training?
I normally self-medicate. The doctor is a last resort. As far as training, I may take an extra day or two off and continue to stretch, foam roll, and/or use the stick on the area.

5) What are your 'Go To' training
activities when you cannot get out and run due to a niggle, ache or
pain?
Swimming, biking, rowing

1) How do you define a 'niggle', and in general, what do you do about it? To me a niggle is just something that doesn't feel right on a run. It could be a slight muscle ache or slight pain in my calf or achilles, but it wouldn't shut you down and it often subsides the further you go.

2) What is an 'ache', and when does it become enough of an issue to see a doctor? An "ache" is persistent in that it won't go away and might even bother me when I'm not running.

3) How do you modify your training when you have an 'ache'? This depends. Most of the time I work on the area a bit more with the stick or the foal roller or some target stretches or strengthening. sometimes, I'll shut it down and take a day or two off. I might get a massage or go see my ART practitioner if it last more than 4-5 days without any change or it gets worse.

4) When an 'ache' becomes a pain, do you immediately see a doctor, or do you self-medicate (RICE, etc,) and modify your training? Usually a doctor is my last resort. I would see my ART person first, but after some self-medication.

5) What are your 'Go To' training activities when you cannot get out and run due to a niggle, ache or pain? Swim, bike, or elliptical.

1) How do you define a 'niggle', and in general, what do you do about it?
Something there, but not debilitating. "Oh, hey."

2) What is an 'ache', and when does it become enough of an issue to see a doctor?
I associate aches with muscle soreness. I guess you could call the persistent throbbing/creakiness of a possible pull/strain an ache. I don't see doctors for anything running related.

3) How do you modify your training when you have an 'ache'?
Less of it. Stretch more often.

4) When an 'ache' becomes a pain, do you immediately see a doctor, or do you self-medicate (RICE, etc,) and modify your training?
Even less of it. I don't normally let it get to this point, but the one time it did, it was a week off.

5) What are your 'Go To' training activities when you cannot get out and run due to a niggle, ache or pain?
Niggles: run through them.
Aches: as long as they don't affect my stride, run through them.
More than that: probably bad to cross-train, so reading/eating/sleeping as my "go to"s.

I'm going to combine the Matt Manning and Dave-O training plans here as a solution to all your problems Tom: Run more and drink beer!

In all seriousness, I tend to ignore most everything until it stops me from running normally/at tolerable pain levels. At that point, the doc and PT are usually the answer. Listen to tose people, they're sadists but they know what they're talking about (mostly).