For easy linking, I created this page to compile all the misadventures I had with the discovery and recovery of my never-ending tibial stress fracture saga:
It all began with my 3rd marathon training cycle, I was training for the 2011 Cleveland Marathon and attempting to BQ. Things were going great, paces were spot on, and I was feeling confident. I started experiencing weird shooting pains in my right leg but managed a confidence building 18 miler on March 5th. That following week I was frustrated when things continued to feel off during my weekly workouts. I consulted my chiropractor who suspected I had a pinched nerve in my right fibula, was adjusted, and did the whole R.I.C.E/xtrain thing so I'd be ready to rock my first 20 miler of the cycle on March 12th.
I made it just over 10 miles when I knew I was Not #Winning. Only it wasn't my right leg that was the culprit but rather my LEFT! WTH!?!? I immediately headed to a sport's injury clinic where I was advised to take a week off, xtraining only, and then attempt a test run. It was a very frustrating week stuck in Limboland and finally, on March 23, after two botched attempts to run I admitted defeat and headed to the Playmakers Injury Clinic where I was informed that a stress fracture was suspected in my left tibia. The next day I went in to the sports medicine doc's clinic for x-rays and it was confirmed. I was given an optimistic plan of action and sent on my way.
The first two weeks I was to do the whole stay off my foot, use crutches thing. The Crutch Life proved to be interesting; in that I hated it but did my best to stay positive and prayed that the time would fly by. In the meantime I spectated the first of many races I had planned for the season, the Martian Half Marathon on April 2. I had planned it as a tune-up race and also to finally get that sub-2 half marathon monkey off my back. That didn't happen, but an awesome blogger meet-up did.
Two weeks came and went and things were still not feeling right. I was nowhere near getting off crutches but was able to get some xtraining done in the form of aqua slogging. As our impending trip to Boston loomed the whole injury thing really started to get to me and I opened up about the Truth About Being Injured. Boston was soon upon us and I had no choice but to crutch my way around Beantown. I gave my BAA 5k bib to a friend, spectating the race instead, and then made myself able to *slowly* walk without crutches so I could spectate Spike on his second running of the marathon.
April turned in to May and my aqua slogging adventures continued while my injury lingered and my patience grew thin. After spectating friends at the race that wasn't, on May 17th I returned to the sports doc for a second opinion and was devastated to learn that things had gotten worse.
And to add insult to injury I was put in Das Boot for 4 weeks.
Over the course of the next 4 weeks I learned to exist dragging Das Boot around and searched deep within for a way to Let Go of all my frustrations. I also did a lot of investigating of my health as a whole. By my next follow-up appointment on June 14th I was armed with info, hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst. My x-ray would reveal that while I was healing, I was not healed and would have to remain in Das Boot for 3 more weeks. The good news was that my investigative measures turned up some very real reasons why this occurred and persisted in the first place and I left finally seeing A Light at the End of the Tunnel.
When I next hobbled in to the office on July 5th, I was finally rewarded with the removal of Das Boot and given a script to physical therapy! Third Times a Charm!
My PT adventures would consume the next four weeks of my life, as documented (with detailed exercise diagrams) here:
PT Extravaganza Begins (and I address my "Dumb Butt")
PT Extravaganza Continues (and I get
PT EXtravaganza Gets Serious (where I graduate to light plyometrics)
My next appointment to my sports doc was August 4th. Because of a not-so-pep talk with my PT earlier in the week I went in with zero expectations and forced indifference. Thankfully my x-rays came back clean, BUT because I was experiencing pain the last couple of days, he ordered a CT scan for further review.
Almost, but not quite healed.
8/5 CT results are in, the scans still show a slight fracture line that has not quite filled in yet and there's inflammation of the bone, both of which could be contributing to the pain I'm experiencing. So I am not being cleared yet to begin my R2R. Phone consultation in two weeks.
As of 8/12 my PT suggested I take the next week off of xtraining, and the pain subsided, but not entirely. They have also discharged me until further notice, as they are unable to progress further with my treatment until my leg is healed. My phone consultation with the doc on 8/23 produced frustrating news in that, after further review of my x-rays and ct scan, it's suggested I seek a second opinion with a surgeon to rule out a need for surgery as the fracture actually traveled around towards the front of my bone and there is a nonunion issue. Surgeon appointment is Sept 6th, no xtraining until then.
9/6: And then there was my second opinion. In short, I am to begin bone stimulation daily for the next three months. If at the end of that three months the bone still has not fused together surgery will be my only option. I am allowed little to no xtraining during this time, with approved xtraining being swimming and stationary bike with no resistance only, no more than a few days a week at most. I will have a follow up appointment the beginning of December to determine where we go from there. Determined not to let this stupid injury get me down any longer, I dropped down from the Capital City River Run Half to the 5k and walked it: Cooley Law 5k Walk - 55:50.
After a whole lot of unnecessary b.s., which angered Morgana the Red, I was finally approved by insurance for the bone stimulator and received it on 10/3. You can read how the first week went HERE.
It's now been over a month since I've been on the stimulator and I'm happy to report things are going great! For the first time in, I actually can't remember when, I am no longer in pain doing anything!!! I can walk, I can bike (flat road, no resistance), and even use the elliptical! I have high hopes for my next appointment. December 1st I go in for an MRI in preparation for my December 8th appointment with the surgeon. *Fingers Crossed* I finally, finally, FINALLY get the green light to get back out there...
*Drum Roll Please*
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF!
As of 8/12 my PT suggested I take the next week off of xtraining, and the pain subsided, but not entirely. They have also discharged me until further notice, as they are unable to progress further with my treatment until my leg is healed. My phone consultation with the doc on 8/23 produced frustrating news in that, after further review of my x-rays and ct scan, it's suggested I seek a second opinion with a surgeon to rule out a need for surgery as the fracture actually traveled around towards the front of my bone and there is a nonunion issue. Surgeon appointment is Sept 6th, no xtraining until then.
9/6: And then there was my second opinion. In short, I am to begin bone stimulation daily for the next three months. If at the end of that three months the bone still has not fused together surgery will be my only option. I am allowed little to no xtraining during this time, with approved xtraining being swimming and stationary bike with no resistance only, no more than a few days a week at most. I will have a follow up appointment the beginning of December to determine where we go from there. Determined not to let this stupid injury get me down any longer, I dropped down from the Capital City River Run Half to the 5k and walked it: Cooley Law 5k Walk - 55:50.
After a whole lot of unnecessary b.s., which angered Morgana the Red, I was finally approved by insurance for the bone stimulator and received it on 10/3. You can read how the first week went HERE.
It's now been over a month since I've been on the stimulator and I'm happy to report things are going great! For the first time in, I actually can't remember when, I am no longer in pain doing anything!!! I can walk, I can bike (flat road, no resistance), and even use the elliptical! I have high hopes for my next appointment. December 1st I go in for an MRI in preparation for my December 8th appointment with the surgeon. *Fingers Crossed* I finally, finally, FINALLY get the green light to get back out there...
*Drum Roll Please*
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF!
Page Last Updated: 12/08/11
2 comments:
Oh my. I am so sorry. I know that does nothing for you but still, I empathize with you and feel for you. 9/6 is coming up...fingers crossed for an answer!
The most important question... how did you get a BLACK boot? My old ugly gray one.... :( Thanks for the post.. you are helping me get through a broken 5th metarsal + boot.! :)
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