Stress fracture experiences

gerard_65

I'm not looking for medical advice just anyone's experience with a stress fracture.
When and how did you suspect it?. Was it a dull ache or a sharp pain?
Did it come on slowly or all of a sudden? Was the pain only when you ran on it or was it there all the time? etc.
I know it can only be diagnosed by a scan, or x-ray when it begins to heal, but what eventually made you go for medical treatment.
And who did you go to, a doctor or physio?
Why do you think it happen to you - mileage, speed work - too much too soon, or something else like life stress or diet?
Please don't quote medical advice, treatment etc or this thread will get locked. Just your own experience before confirmed diagnosis.

nerraw1111

gerard_65 wrote: »

I'm not looking for medical advice just anyone's experience with a stress fracture.
When and how did you suspect it?. Was it a dull ache or a sharp pain?
Did it come on slowly or all of a sudden? Was the pain only when you ran on it or was it there all the time? etc.
I know it can only be diagnosed by a scan, or x-ray when it begins to heal, but what eventually made you go for medical treatment.
And who did you go to, a doctor or physio?
Why do you think it happen to you - mileage, speed work - too much too soon, or something else like life stress or diet?
Please don't quote medical advice, treatment etc or this thread will get locked. Just your own experience before confirmed diagnosis.

My experience is that it came on suddenly with a sharp pain. Prior to that, I was overloading the shin after injuring the other leg.

Went to the physio. Never got an x ray but it was v sore to touch in a small area on the shin and physio was confident it was a stress fracture.

Had a dull ache just walking around that never seemed to go away.

Prescribed lots of leg strengthening exercises over the next few weeks, gradually increasing reps/introducing new exercises.

Started back running with a 10 min run, adding on 2 mins each run. Got up to 20 when shin got sore again so took more time off.

I reckon I was off for about 8 weeks. Incredibly frustrating as there's not a lot you can do other than wait.

What I think happened to me was that after injuring one leg (stitches) I was limping heavily on the good leg for a few weeks. That causes a stress reaction. I then stupidly did a session shortly afterward which finally put a halt to everything.

racheljev

Happened me in August 2010. I initially thought it was shin splints and kept running for another few weeks. Pain was there most of the time, on one part of my shin. It was low level most of the time, easier in the morning and got worse as day/run went on. Then one day, pain got very bad very quickly during a run and I had to get a taxi home. Went to physio who told me to get X-ray. X-ray inconclusive, doc sent me for MRI which diagnosed tibial stress fracture. No running for 7 weeks.

Kept myself from going nuts by swimming at first. Then graduated to cycling and cross trainer in gym. Started to jog slowly around mid-November. One of the worst things about coming back was worrying that every twinge was another stress fracture.

What happened was totally my own fault - I tried to step up my program too quickly and ignored the pain. I kept telling myself, I'll run it off, it'll be grand, ice and deep heat will do wonders. And I missed DCM '10 because of it :mad:

nolinejudge

Similar to above a dull ache in my foot thought I'd run it off. It seemed to be okay when running.
Then while busting some moves at a wedding it became to sore to walk.

Diagnosed by a doctor friend, confirmed with scan.

Kept trying to go back to quickly and really doing. All told off for 8 months. In my case ended up walking before I ran to build up the miles. Again the worst thing was and still is thinking every twinge or ache is the same issue.

gerard_65

nolinejudge wrote: »

Similar to above a dull ache in my foot thought I'd run it off. It seemed to be okay when running.
Then while busting some moves at a wedding it became to sore to walk.

Diagnosed by a doctor friend, confirmed with scan.

Kept trying to go back to quickly and really doing. All told off for 8 months. In my case ended up walking before I ran to build up the miles. Again the worst thing was and still is thinking every twinge or ache is the same issue.

8 months?:( Do you mean 8 weeks?

cianc

gerard_65 wrote: »

8 months?:( Do you mean 8 weeks?

I've heard similar times (maybe not quite as long) for hip stress fractures. Think it's a function of how much you can rest the area.

gerard_65

cianc wrote: »

I've heard similar times (maybe not quite as long) for hip stress fractures. Think it's a function of how much you can rest the area.

Yep, I could understand that for a large bone structure. A former poster here was out for over a year with a pelvis stress fracture. But 8 months is a scary time for a foot.

Pharma

I've had two terrible stress fractures. First one came on all of a sudden. Cause stupidity, was running really well, got greedy started doing more and more without a day off, topped off at about 100miles/week in singles all below 640 pace. No warning, about 7 miles into a run felt a terrible electrical pain down my shin, barely got back to the car. Later there was a huge swelling on the inside of my shin. Took four months to heal. Cycling kept me sane.

Probably came back too quickly, did no corrective or strength work, lasted about 8 months before got the next stress fracture. Jumped straight back to 70 miles a week, got up to 100 before the same leg started to give trouble, began with a dull ache which would ease after 2 miles. I ran through this for about three weeks, ignoring the worsening pain. Then the leg started giving way randomly during runs, I could almost feel the break sliding, still kept running in horrific pain, god only knows why, totally addicted. Decided to get MRI scan, this showed a 2cm fracture line at the top of my tibia near the knee. Read the scan report, and decided to still try and run. Got two miles before I could not bear the pain. (At this point I should have been put in a mental asylum). Paid money to a consultant who basically told me I was an idiot and about 2 or three days from the leg breaking fully and needing nailing back in place.

This stress fracture took 9 months to heal, cycling again kept me moderately sane.

Next comeback was even less successful, straight back to big mileage, no strength work, leg with stress fractures was ridiculously weak, ended up getting compartment syndrome in the opposite leg from overcompensation, full year to recover. This time I did seven months of specific strength work, I'm now much stronger and pain free, back running regularly, but not back to racing.

Lesson is cop on, rest occasionally, strength work is vital, listen to doctors and don't run when your MRI says your leg is broken.

Recovery to being able to run is about 2-3months, but about 6 months before the strength is anyway sufficient to take mileage. The quoted recovery times are nonsense, takes at least double. You would have to be a pro able to dedicate yourself to rehab to comeback in eight weeks.

heffsarmy

I got a stress fracture at the start of the year in my sacrum, it was building up over time but there was one cross country session that broke me, pain was'nt too bad, but I could'nt run. I went to sports surgery clinic Santry were I got an MRI, I was told it would take 6 - 8 weeks to heal. First 2 weeks I done nothing then started to build back up with strength exercises. I done exactly what they told me but 16 weeks later I was still not right, they reviewed my MRI and they suspected that I might have another stress fracture in my pubic bone, this was ruled out with the second MRI, but at least I could see my sacrum had healed. I have been able to cycle the last 2 months and only started back running the last 3 wks, every second day. Currently doing rehab exercises to improve my imbalances. It will take me at least another 3 - 4 months to get back to the level of training I was doing. No matter what the consultants tell you, the only person that can tell you when your fit and able for training is yourself.

nolinejudge

heffsarmy wrote: »

I got a stress fracture at the start of the year in my sacrum, it was building up over time but there was one cross country session that broke me, pain was'nt too bad, but I could'nt run. I went to sports surgery clinic Santry were I got an MRI, I was told it would take 6 - 8 weeks to heal. First 2 weeks I done nothing then started to build back up with strength exercises. I done exactly what they told me but 16 weeks later I was still not right, they reviewed my MRI and they suspected that I might have another stress fracture in my pubic bone, this was ruled out with the second MRI, but at least I could see my sacrum had healed. I have been able to cycle the last 2 months and only started back running the last 3 wks, every second day. Currently doing rehab exercises to improve my imbalances. It will take me at least another 3 - 4 months to get back to the level of training I was doing. No matter what the consultants tell you, the only person that can tell you when your fit and able for training is yourself.

Nope 8 months I tried to rush back twice and just kept making it worse. 5weeks no running then might get 2 weeks before it would just go again. It was more annoying as it wouldn't go when running it could be on a rest day. Best bit of advice I got was treat it like a couch to 5k. It's not about how fit you are but what your foot can handle.

I also started former scratch first 3 weeks just built up to walking 5k.. Then run walk real slow real easy.

Pharma

I would recommend a scan if you have electrical pain while running plus pain that doesn't go away after running. The pain of a stress fracture is not bearable to run on. The hop test is also diagnostic. If you can't hop on the leg without pain it's bad news. The pain is shockingly bad.

I'd also recommend getting an MRI and X-Ray once you think it's healed. This will reassure you that it's healed, plus it gives you a target date. MRIs are covered by VHI so don't skimp, X-Ray is €80.

While you are out I'd recommend going to a strength and conditioning coach or sports scientist, there are more and more around who will do a specific program for you. I used this to fill the time when not training. Don't bother with physios, much better to spend on a good S+C coach. There is no Physio therapy for a stree fracture. Someone rubbing your leg will not help.

Going to a sports medicine consultant helps as they will set dates for you. This is the hardest part. I found it easy when I knew that I had three months where I was just simply not allowed to run. Targets and discipline are the key. If it isn't healed and you run on it, it can put you back to square one.

Full recovery from any stress fracture, by which I mean full fitness is almost a year. It's a terrible injury.

wideball

My experiences was of getting a stress fracture in my left forefoot. I had increased my mileage in prep for a spring marathon, when in a tough session I felt a soreness, throbbing pain in the foot. For a week continued to run on it, including a 20 mile run. Knew I had a problem but head in the sand at the time. Pain was always worse when I stopped running. The extra week running on it delayed my recovery.
Was told no running for 6 weeks but could x-train which kept me sane. Water running and cycling kept me fit, with rehab exercises and long walks later in the program to get the muscles used to the idea of running again.
Managed to do my spring marathon in the end with 1st run 3 weeks before the race. Was pleasantly surprised how the x-training made me fitter although it was harder than if I was just running instead.
Everyone is different but be cautious with a stress fracture. Best of luck

JohnnyDun

I picked up a stress fracture in the fourth metatarsal of my right foot back in early 2012. I don't really know why it happened but the pain at first was only there sometimes.
Sometimes while running I'd get a twinge of pain but it would pass and other times when I finished it would be sore for a little while. I stupidly carried on running including running Ballycotton that year and it was after this that it really flared up. I stopped running and did some spinning and cross training for a few weeks then tried running again but the pain was there immediately.I tried no running for a longer period but the pain was always there when I started to run again. I went to the doctor eventually and was sent for an MRI which showed clearly that the bone was severely inflamed. I was advised to stop all exercising for at least two weeks and to wear a protective boot on my foot. I did this for around three weeks then slowly began running again and thankfully without pain. The protective boot was a great help as it kept the foot completely immobile. I suppose that in total I couldn't run for about 4 months.
If you suspect one get it checked sooner rather than later.

meathrunner

I developed stress fracture to neck of my femur three years ago from running. Took a while to diagnose & I would say it was probably caused by doing too much too soon, was trying to increase speed & distance at same time. I wasn't too sore when I warmed up but when I stopped running it was very painful & I was limping. Also when I got up from seated position (especially after driving) my leg would not support me. Had it diagnosed on MRI & was advised by orthopaedic surgeon to stay out for 6 months. I wasn't on crutches & could go for easy walk, once it wasn't causing any pain, I could also cycle & swim no problem. I did what I was told & then built up my mileage again very very slowly.

Developed same pain in other leg few months ago & was sick at thoughts of being out again but thankfully scan was negative. I've been attending Pilates over winter & also do strengthening / conditioning exercises I was shown by physio about 3 times per week. I think it's just a weakness I have & will always have to work on that area.

gerard_65

Thanks for all the replies. Some interesting insights and some scary stories. It turned out I didn't have a stress fracture, instead its a tendon problem in the calf. I can do some running but I've being warned to keep it easy, no hill or speed work for a while. So not too bad;).

EmcD123

Stress fractures are nasty. You're lucky that its not what you got

I got one but I competed in 8 races on it. I would have so much adrenaline in the races that I wouldn't feel any of the pain until about the last 100m of the 400m race.
It was caused from training regularly on concrete which was a pretty bad idea

Went to the chiropractor then,was because my big toe wasnt flexible so the small bones on my toes were taking all my weight and they eventually cracked. Did a lot of core and gymnastics training while I was injured

Battery Kinzie

Apologies for bumping old thread, hope it's OK.

Again, not looking for medical advice or anything, I'll be going to a physio during the week. However, I'm worried and have a few questions about what I'm afraid could possibly be a stress fracture of my tibia.

It's not sore to touch at all, but sore enough when walking. I can still walk pretty much fine, it's just that I feel the bone being a bit sore. If it was a stress fracture would it be really painful to touch? I'm hoping that it's just a problem with the calf as it(the calf) was a bit sore the other day before the pain became localised to the shin. Could it just be that it's a deep knot in the calf that feels like it's my shin bone?

Cheers.

Pharma

I had three stress fractures. It's often hard to distinguish from a calf tear but in general bone pain when walking around is a bad sign. It may not hurt too much to touch.

My advice, insist on a scan MRI and X-Ray as soon as possible, worst case it's 6 weeks recovery if you take care of it. Don't waste money going to quacks, stress fractures only heal with time and reduced load.

If you do what I did ignore it and keep running on it, it could take 9months.

Stress fractures are no big deal if nipped in the bud, they only become problematic if ignored and run on to the point of getting a full break.

Battery Kinzie

Thanks. Would I better off going to a hospital or specialist straightaway rather than going to my physio?

Pharma

Physio should be fine, but a GP will need to refer you for the scan.

GP is probably your best bet, no need for hospital, MRIs are in Affidea.

Battery Kinzie

I'll give the physio a go first so. Affidea is handy for me, so that's good. Here's hoping that I'm overreacting.