Home› General Training Discussions

Tibia Stress Fracture-That is actually a Tumor-Or NOT!

manninj1manninj1
in General Training Discussions

 What I thought was a calf strain initially turns out to be a stress fracture in my L tibia. I was just diagnosed after my 5k run test got shut down by the shooting pain in my calf after laying off running since Sat. Got in to see my PCP this afternoon and she just broke the news about an hour ago. I've got a referral to our ortho docs tomorrow for more detailed imaging. 

Anyone have any experience with this type of injury?  Thoughts on typical healing time?   The fast majority of my previous injuries have been trauma related do to crashes etc, so While I've got plenty of experience in that realm, this type of injury is new to me. 

I'm really bummed because my runs have been great and I really felt like I was getting much faster with the NOS workouts. 

Comments

  • CarlCarl
    Joe-
    No experience but better now then race season. The usual ortho injury is around 4-6 weeks of healing if ou are compliant. Best of luck and relax. Plenty of time to get back into it!!!
  • Peter WickPeter Wick
    You can keep your fitness with water running - and you can start up with that in a week or less. As long as you start out in the deep end with no impact. Either use some short fins (so you don't need a float belt) or a float belt for proper positioning.
  • Carrie ChavezCarrie Chavez
    So your injury happened Saturday? And the MD diagnosed you with a stress fracture today? What tests did the MD do? Stress fractures don't show up on X-ray until about 2-3 weeks post injury. They require an MRI or bone scan if diagnoses is needed sooner than that. The sudden onset of your pain could definitely be a stress fracture but you say you felt it in your calf? Usually a tibial fracture you will feel exactly in one spot on the bone.

    I had a tibial stress fracture before. It took 6 weeks to heal.

  • Michael JohnsonMichael Johnson
    A Bone Scan will not likely be helpful this soon after onset of pain. MRI is the best test early on. Question: Do you have pin point tenderness ON the bone? Not sure we have an exact diagnosis yet......Just in case I hope you're not running.
  • Jason BaldomirJason Baldomir
    Been there, done that. X100 on the aqua running. Stick to it diligently and you'll lose no run fitness, you won't gain much, but definitely won't lose what you've gained to this point. I will even use a HR monitor and adjust accordingly to keep the run honest. Being prome to such an injury again, it doesn't hurt to work aqua running into your weekly bag of tricks for running even when not injured. Just helps take some of the stress load off, but maintain precious run fitness.
  • manninj1manninj1

     PCP and Ortho doc say they both see a bone edema on the x-ray (right where I have the pinpoint calf pain), but the ortho said it looks like it's already 6 weeks oldish so it could have happened a while ago and recently reaggravated it.  Also looks like a possible crack behind the edema, but the x-ray is inconclusive. My PCP is pretty convinced.

    MRI next week.  Couldn't get in yesterday as it was a total zoo with everyone trying to use up their end of year funds I guess.  Sounds like I can swim, deep water run, and bike so long as I stay in the saddle and don't have pain.  Really hope I can get in the scanner on Wed to get a conclusive answer.

  • manninj1manninj1

     Got my MRI result on Friday.  It's not a stress fracture (YEAH!). . .it's a tumor (WTF?!?!?).  So the radiologist says I have an osteochondroma (benign bone tumor that is supposed to stop growing when your bones stop growing).  My ortho doc is out till the 7th and I've got a follow-up on the 10th.

    Naturally I've got way more questions than I have answers at this point.  My biggest question is why is this presenting itself now (not like I just started running a couple of months ago) and what does that mean?  There are about 100 other questions that I have, but they'll have to wait till my follow-up.  I'm hoping my PCP can give me a few thoughts next week while I wait for my appt with the ortho doc.

    I realize this is a long shot, but anyone else ever have one of these pop up?

  • Michael JohnsonMichael Johnson

    An osteochondroma is the most common benign bone tumor. It is a stalk or bump to normal bone with a cartilage cap. Most of the time it is an incidental finding on an xray for another problem or a cosmetic bump of hard bone. The life cycle is that it will grow until skeletal maturity then stop growing. I agree, it's only when they start growing later in life that it is something to worry about. "IF" the MRI showed that the cartilage cap is larger than expected you then worry about conversion to a chondrosarcoma (a cancerous bone tumor). IF there is concern for this chondrosarcoma conversion, then agressive treatment is performed. IF it has to be removed, then best to be done by an orthopedist who does musculoskeletal orthopedic tumor work. These people are generally in urban areas. There aren't many of them but would have it done by someone who only operated on musculoskeletal tumors, not a general orthopedist. (of note, Im a general orthopedist and refer this type of thing to full time orthopedist who do tumor work only). Fell free to PM me if you have questions.

  • Brenda RossBrenda Ross
    Joe, looks like Michael gave you some great advice. Reach out to him like he offers if you need further direction. I hope it is benign, and it is a short down time. Please keep us posted on your progress.
  • cpaineruncpainerun
    Joe, I had a large benign bone tumor removed from my upper/mid tibia when I was 18-19 and a second reoccuring/ resolving/ reoccuring so on and so on.... one in the same region, just a little lower (non-surgical) since about a year after the removal. Michael has given you great advice-- I just wanted to let you know that at least in my case, I have had 10+ yrs of running and added triathlon training last 1.5yrs and don't have too many problems, just have to listen when I get edema and pain and back off. Good luck!
  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    Wow, Joe! That's a head scratcher. I wish you the best! I am sure this thing will work out!
  • manninj1manninj1

     @Michael-thank you for the information and insight. It was very helpful.

    @christy-it helps so much to hear that there's someone else who has gotten through it 

    @Brenda and Dino-thanks for the encouragement. 

    I've got my follow-up with my ortho doc a week from today. Laying off the run till then and sticking with the bike and the pool until I sit down with him and figure out what this thing is and what my options are. 

    Thanks again!

    Joe

  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    Keep us posted! I was at the orthopedic doc's today doing my 3 week follow up and was thinking about you....
  • Mark CardinaleMark Cardinale

    Joe, sending postive thoughts your way.....i hope the appointment with your ortho gives you some answers. 

  • manninj1manninj1
    Saw my actual ortho doc today and turns out it's not a tumor. My doc was on vacation when I got the MRI result and his partner made the osteochondroma call which my doc can't seem to find. YEAH! Although I'm a little pissed that they told me I had a tumor when I didn't.

    It does look like I had a bit of a calf tear that pulled away from the tibia so I'm easing back into the running and not hitting the TP intervals for a couple more weeks, but the tibia looks good to go. Lots of calf stretching and massage for me going forward.

    Thanks for all of the support and encouragement.
  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    Such a relief, man! Thats great!
  • Mark CardinaleMark Cardinale

    Great news, Joe.  A calf tear, while not great, is certainly much better than a tumor! 

Sign In or Register to comment.