Anybody have any experience with stress fractures?

[AngryOldDem]

I'm set to run my first 5K in about four weeks, and I'm becomning more and more afraid that I might have a stress fracture in my lower left leg. It started bothering me late last week to the point where I went to an ortho walk-in clinic on Saturday. They put me in a boot cast and mentioned possibly doing an MRI. The leg has been feeling pretty good for most of the week -- I iced it and took Advil and was able to get around pretty well -- but today was a no-go with any kind of activity, so here I sit in this boot, practically immobile, and yes, feeling kind of sorry for myself. I'm really looking forward to that 5K, and now it may be off the table.

I have an appointment Monday with my regular orthopedist. I hope it's nothing more than tendinitis or something else that rest and meds can cure. But something is telling me that won't be the case. Damn. Just damn.

[ZenLefty]

1. Yeah, I used to get them bad.

That sucks you might have to miss a race because of an injury. I feel your pain; it's really frustrating.

I had really bad compression fractures in both shins. It was probably a combination of bad running shoes and poor running form. They were very painful, to the point I could not walk without limping. Only time and rest allowed them to heal up right; it was too painful to apply ice but that may have helped.

Nowadays I don't do any high impact cardio more than once or twice a week. I run on softer surfaces with better shoes and I've worked on my form as I run, and it has helped considerably. I also think working on calf strength has helped me. I do a lot of these:


http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Gastrocnemius/BBStandingCalfRaise.html

Basically, do what it takes to heal up your compression fractures, and let them take whatever time they need. With some training they'll come back stronger than they were before and you'll won't be missing the next 5K.

[ZenLefty]

2. A couple good articles

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/offduty/health/offduty-body-shop-dont-take-shinsplints-in-stride-030711w/

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/offduty/health/offduty-bodyshop-compression-gear-for-runners-033111/

I think the runner-lederhosen look a little silly but some runners think they help.

Rest up and get better, Angry Ol' Dem! You'll come back stronger.

[AngryOldDem]

3. Thanks to both of you.

I wore the boot cast for most of the day until it just got too uncomfortable. Then I switched to a cold compress, and that helped.

I am thinking that my shoes may have something to do with this -- my feet aren't the best as it is. The shoes will be a year old pretty soon, so I'm going to ask the doctor about that, plus about socks or braces that I can wear. I am hoping against hope that I still have time to make this race.

Last summer when I first started running, I ran into some knee issues. Now the knee is strong but the ankle is for crap.