Stress Fracture - My cautionary story to others

Hi - I'm not sure if anyone remembers me.  I used to post on here alot.  I'm 29, female, and very active - well, was very active... I was part of the RATW thread.  I was (am) an avid distance runner and used to log 40-50 miles a week.  I've done half marathons and love running more than I can explain to people unless they're distance runners as well. 

A little over a year ago I was advised to cut back on my weekly mileage when I started shedding weight and couldn't stay at a healthy minimum weight no matter what I tried.  So I cut back to 30-40 miles a week (hey - I tried...) and put on a few pounds (a good thing).  Then I started having all sorts of problems - muscle pains I never had before, knee pain & clicking....  I ended up pounding so hard on my feet because of all these other issues that I developed edema in the bone marrow of 3 of my toes.  So I took a few days off until the pain subsided enough for me to run again - I never let any of the issues or pains heal fully though. 

Then in mid-November my worst nightmare happened.  I had been having a nagging pain in the front of my left thigh that was getting progressively worse and intermittent pain on the outside of my hip.  The doctor said it was a muscle strain, ice it, yada yada yada, I'd heard it all before.  Then the following week I was on the treadmill and all at one I experienced an extremely sharp and debilitating pain in my left hip area.  It was so bad that my knee gave out and I stumbled.  I was able to right myself and thankfully didn't fly off the back.  I figured it was just the muscle thing and I could run through it, but after about 20 seconds it was clear that I COULD NOT run through this one.  I hobbled to the locker room and cried for about an hour because of the pain and also because I knew this was an injury that was going to put me out for a while.

I went to the doctor, got tons of pain medication & an MRI that showed I had a stress fracture of my hip (actually of the femural head, but its commonly referred to as a hip stress fracture). 

I couldn't walk for 2 weeks.  Then I limped, barely able to put any pressure on my left side for another 5 weeks.  At about the 7th week I was finally able to walk without an extremely visible limp.  Its now been 10 weeks since my injury & I'm still in pain.  It hurts when I get up and take my first step every single time.  Last week I finally was able to start trying to work out.  The advice from both my doctors on what exercises to do - If it hurts don't do it...yeah, thanks alot.  I can sort of handle the bike or elliptical and can finally do yoga.  But I still can't do anything that involves impact because it still hurts so bad when my foot comes down and the weight transfers to that hip.  I can't even walk on the treadmill unless its extremely slow.  It kills me watching other people run while I wonder if I'll ever be able to run 8 or 9 miles again... or even 5 miles..or 2...

So, moral of the story - PLEASE listen to your body.  I knew deep down that I should be doing more cross training and strength work, but I love running so I always found a reason to run instead of doing anything else.  And I continually shoved the thoughts that I wasn't training properly to the back of my mind.  I never let my injuries fully heal, only enough so that I could get back to running.  And people were always telling me I'd end up weriously hurt and owuld be sorry but I thought something like this could never happen to me because I was so fit and athletic.  I was very, very wrong. 

Runner_au

Good for you that you are able to start some activity. I would love to just be able to get rid of the crutches. Take it slow and easy so you don't go backward. Good luck with your continuing recovery. 

Minie13,

I am so sorry to hear that you are still continuing your recovery at this point. Have they mentioned that the calcification process is slower in your case than typical? Apparently, that is what is happeing in my case and they are suggesting a DEXA scan after it has healed to detirmine the strength of my bones. 

In the meantime, I am scouring the internet trying to find any treatment/recovery information I can find. I have noticed that caffiene intake could cause a problem. I am seeing anywhere from 4 weeks to 16 weeks of non weight bearing activity. It sounds as though you were somewhere in the middle of that timeline during your first go 'round with this fracture. Right?

I hope that the news is not too bad next week. I would be interested in hearing what they say, if you are willing to share.

Good luck!

I've had a scan about 6 months ago and I'm right at the cut off of not having osteopenia.  I'm pretty sure I'm healing so slowly because of all the over exercising I did... I pretty much screwed myself.  Even a year after cutting back and 6 months with barely any exercise my body is still effected by the excessive running.  Two of my doctors have not so subtly suggested that there will be life long effects from it.  My bones and joints will never be as healthy as they should be.

I a big ? im cryin as i right this but i have a stress fracture on mi tibia and i love to runn also is the thrill of mi life but i have a fracture in mi tibia and i cant runn and it hurts so bad to c all these people in class playin all mi sports and i cant even stand up and i cant play football basketballl baseball tennis r soccer r nothing and mi one ? is can u ever run the same i ave got it where i can walk know but i can jog r runn and it makes me sad soo who ever can answer please do before i get mi MRI done on Sptember 14, 2009  ill b back in 2 morrow night

Original Post by coreylobes:

I a big ? im cryin as i right this but i have a stress fracture on mi tibia and i love to runn also is the thrill of mi life but i have a fracture in mi tibia and i cant runn and it hurts so bad to c all these people in class playin all mi sports and i cant even stand up and i cant play football basketballl baseball tennis r soccer r nothing and mi one ? is can u ever run the same i ave got it where i can walk know but i can jog r runn and it makes me sad soo who ever can answer please do before i get mi MRI done on Sptember 14, 2009  ill b back in 2 morrow night

 

Please tell me English is not your first language before I lost all faith in U.S. school system.

UD

thank u all im really scared but im doing to the doctor tomorrow at 12 so  tomorrow night ill let ya'll know ever thing im prole going 2 basketball practice and  watch even tho it will kill me to watch everyone so ill talk 2 u tomorrow

Original Post by coreylobes:

thank u all im really scared but im doing to the doctor tomorrow at 12 so  tomorrow night ill let ya'll know ever thing im prole going 2 basketball practice and  watch even tho it will kill me to watch everyone so ill talk 2 u tomorrow

 

good luck corey. dont be scared. you will find out whats what. knowing is better than not knowing yes?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.. I WOULD NEVER THOUGH THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO CARED SO MUCH AND I THANK YOU MI DOCTOR SAID THAT MI FRACTURE IS OMOST BETTER JUST ANOTHER WEEK AND I CAN START WALKING AGAIN AND 3 WEEKS I CAN START PLAYIN BASKETBALL AGAIN AND THATS JUST IN TIME FOR MI FIRST GAME SO IM SO EXCITED..... THANK YOU

WELL IT KINDA IS  BUT ITS NOT MI FAULT I WAS BORN A RED NECK IN LOUISIANA  ITS MI PARENTS SOOO CHYA SORRY AND Y DID U GIVE UP FAITH NEVER GIVE UP FAITH GODS ALWAYS RIGHT BEHIND U IN EVERTHING

Original Post by umneydurak:

Original Post by coreylobes:

I a big ? im cryin as i right this but i have a stress fracture on mi tibia and i love to runn also is the thrill of mi life but i have a fracture in mi tibia and i cant runn and it hurts so bad to c all these people in class playin all mi sports and i cant even stand up and i cant play football basketballl baseball tennis r soccer r nothing and mi one ? is can u ever run the same i ave got it where i can walk know but i can jog r runn and it makes me sad soo who ever can answer please do before i get mi MRI done on Sptember 14, 2009  ill b back in 2 morrow night

 

Please tell me English is not your first language before I lose all faith in the U.S. school system.

UD

Fixed it for you, buddy. I lost faith a while ago, with public schools that is.

Original Post by bmx419:

Please tell me English is not your first language before I lose all faith in the U.S. school system.

UD

Fixed it for you, buddy. I lost faith a while ago, with public schools that is.

Good catch. Me no speaky Engles very well. ha ha

UD

awww well  i can speak spanish some anyways