April 09, 2015

It's back :(

This morning, it was thunder storming, so I had to do my run on the treadmill. I had five miles to run and a dentist appointment later in the morning, so I wanted to get the run done before I had to go to the dentist. I was feeling pretty good this morning, and knew I'd be happy to get my run done early.

I turned Criminal Minds on Netflix, set the treadmill at 6.2 mph, and started running. About 20 steps in, I felt a sharp twinge shoot through my lower leg, right where my stress fracture had been. For the first week or two after I started running again, I'd gotten little twinges here and there, but from everything I've read, that is normal. So today, even though it was sharper than before, I didn't think too much of it. After about 10 steps, it went away, and I felt normal for the rest of the run.

I was feeling so good that I even increased my speed incrementally throughout the last mile, ending at 7.0 mph. For some reason, whenever I run on the treadmill, I feel it as more of a "workout" than when I run outside. Outside, it feels more like "training", where on the treadmill, it feels like "exercise"--even though it's the same thing, essentially. Both feel good for different reasons. Anyway, I felt sweaty and good when I was done!



When I hopped off the treadmill, I realized something was wrong. I had a sharp pain in my lower left leg (same spot where my stress fracture was). I started walking around the living room and maneuvering my foot to see what was going on, and discovered that it feels identical to when it was fractured. It doesn't hurt to walk, but it hurts to jump or bounce on that leg, and it hurts when I press on it. So, I'm pretty sure the stress fracture is back (either it's the same fracture, or a new one close to the same spot).

I could feel panic rising in my chest. I felt like I was going to explode with frustration. I didn't run for SEVEN WEEKS. I went six weeks without any issues once I returned to running. I'm three weeks out from a race that I've been looking forward to SO much. I'm on a marathon relay team in two weeks. I have to start marathon training a couple of months.

I immediately called to make an appointment with a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon. I was told I could get in April 27, which made me want to cry. When I told her that I had a confirmed stress fracture recently, she said she'd see if she could get me in sooner. After some calling back and forth, she was able to squeeze me in on Monday morning! I have to drive pretty far--an hour and fifteen minutes--but I told her I'd make myself available whenever/wherever she could get me in.

Until then, I'm obviously not going to run. I was supposed to do 11 miles tomorrow. I'm not going to get ahead of myself by saying that I won't be running for 8-ish weeks, but if this is, in fact, a stress fracture, that's very likely. Right now, I'm just going to pray that it's tendinitis or something. Regardless, I'm hoping that this doctor will be much more understanding than the podiatrist I went to (who, by the way, sent me a bill in the mail for $120 for "treatment of stress fracture"... what the hell? His "treatment" was to tell me not to run. I called to dispute the charge, but apparently, it's legit. His advice to stop running was considered "treatment".)

Anyway, I spent the afternoon feeling sorry for myself, but I'm really glad that I'm able to get in to see the ortho doctor on Monday. At least I'll have some answers then, and I can come up with a new plan. I will be super bummed if I can't run Indy, but I'm not going to worry about that until after I talk to the doctor.

Jerry's off all weekend, so tomorrow, we're going to take the kids to the Henry Ford Museum. Noah's been asking to go for several weeks now, and he got all A's on his report card, so we promised to take him this week. Jerry's been working so much lately, I'm excited to spend the whole weekend with him!

20 comments:

  1. Aww, I'm sorry to hear the fracture is giving you trouble again. Hopefully it won't throw too big of a wrench into long term plans. I know it's frustrating but taking care of it now will save you a lot more problems later.

    Amazing the things doctors can charge as "treatment" these days. *rolling eyes*

    Feel better soon!

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  2. Get well soon, hope you recover pretty well and can get back on track!

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  3. I had two stress fractures in 2014. My first, which was my first ever significant running injury, was in March. I took 6 weeks off and spent the whole summer slowly rebuilding my fitness. I even did strength training two times per week. I took about two weeks off at the end of the summer, gradually built up again for ~4 weeks... and then got a second stress fracture in my other foot during a 10k race in September.

    That said, stress fractures are kind of funny. Obviously if you're experiencing pain it's a good idea to not run, but just because there's pain there doesn't necessarily mean the fracture has returned. I know how heartbreaking it is to get injured right when you're starting to feel good again, but don't give up until you can be sure of anything. You may find that after a few days off the pain completely goes away and doesn't come back. That's happened to me before.

    Also, if you're going to the same doctor who said running was horrible for people... I don't know how feasible it is for you to see someone else, but having a doctor who understands runners and running injuries can be invaluable.

    I hope that you are not injured and that you can still do your race :)

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    1. Not only is this great advice, it's really uplifting :)

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    2. Thank you! You gave me some hope :) And no, I'm definitely not going back to that podiatrist who told me not to run! This time, I chose a sports medicine orthopedist.

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  4. Oh no! Hoping it isn't a stress fracture again. ((HUGS))

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  5. That stinks!! Hope you can relax and enjoy your time at the museum with your guys. And come Monday hopefully you will get a good report from the doctor. Be brave :)

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  6. Oh, no! So sorry. Fingers crossed that it is nothing!

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  7. Sorry to hear that. Last July I tore my hamstring playing a game with some middle school kids. The hamstring tear kept me out of running until early December. At that time I registered for a half-marathon (early May), and began a slow process of training for the half, making sure that strength training was part of my training. About six weeks ago I slipped on a piece of ice just as I took my last step of a run, and now have a torn meniscus. I'm heartbroken as it means no half-marathon for me, and, for a time again, no running. All that is a way to say I'm sorry and because I know the pain of not being able to run when you want to, I hope it's not another stress fracture.

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    1. Oh no!! That sounds absolutely horrible. I hope the healing time flies by for you, and you come back stronger than ever!

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  8. I'd be more inclined to think tendon irritation. Stress fractures don't generally come back in the same spot, the bone there heals with a big bone "callus" which makes it stronger in that spot (eventually). However, the callus can rub and irritate surrounding structures. When I returned from a stress fracture, I felt pain on and off there for 4 months or so, sometimes it was shooting and sharp. It gradually went away, but I had some nervous moments with it. There was never any re-fracture, just irritation from the callus, ongoing bone remodelling (sometimes aching at rest) and scarring around the initial injury. Good luck!

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  9. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO frustrating! Sorry Katie. I know how hard it was to NOT run for so long and you made so many concessions, running in water, etc. Now to have it happen again, right before the race you were so looking forward to--must be just awful. Hang in there girl.....

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  10. Oh no! Hopefully a bit of rest is all it needs and it's not anything major. Sending positive vibes your way!

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  11. No, no, no, no!! Keeping my fingers crossed for you that you won't be out of commission for 8 weeks. Hang in there.

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  12. AHHHH I am SO sorry to hear about this :( How frustrating. I will be thinking of you on this one!! (Have fun at the Henry Ford museum, I hear that it's really awesome!)

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  13. For whatever it's worth, you look great!!!

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  14. Sending you good vibes and ((HUGS)). So sorry you're experiencing pain again. Know that you have a whole community of people behind you, wishing you the best. We all want to see you fully heal. And your story of recovery and pushing through these hard times--even if it means not running--is so inspiring. Thinking of you...

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  15. I'm so very sorry - I hope it gets better much more quickly this time.
    I don't want to be one of those annoying people who offer advice when you haven't asked for it... but I will relay my own experience that, as much as I loved the feel and philosophy of Altra, the shoes were just an injury factory for me. I returned to my Asics and had no problems again. I seem to remember you running injury free for ages in your Adrenalines.

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  16. I am sorry your foot hurts again. The doc can tell you a lot more, but make sure you stay off it for now. You can ride your bike, though :)

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  17. Hello, I just started reading (suggested to me by a good friend, Emily) and I'm loving it so far! ( not this post, obviously, this post is sad). But I just started running (again) and its nice to think of myself as something other than a big giant mom. Thanks for the relatability and all the awesome info. i hope its not a fracture and you can get out there again soon!

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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