Pre stress fracture

TriathLynne

Hi all.  After training injury free for Ironman Wisconsin, I developed pain in the top of my foot about 2 weeks before the race.  I immediately stopped running and saw my podiatrist/sports med doc.  We were thinking possible stress fracture.  No running until the big race, finished it with tolerable discomfort, rested it a couple weeks after the race, and resumed running.  My foot hurt a little bit, but not enough to bother me, but the discomfort has been increasing.  We finally did an X-ray, no stress fracture, but I have periostitis of the second metatarsal, basically a pre stress fracture.  Unfortunately I'm to stop running for at least 3 weeks.  I'm concerned because the out season is starting, plus worried that when I start running again, the same thing will happen.  Any advice or similar experiences?  

rlh2000

Lynne- what are you doing besides rest? Have you done PT? While stress fractures (pre or not) are often just due to too much pounding, muscular imbalances often contribute as well. Strengthening your feet, hips, and core can often help make sure your feet are loaded the correct way. I'd highly recommend seeking PT if you haven't already.

As for being worried about the OS- yes, the OS is great, but it is really bonus. You can be totally prepared for a race without it, any gains made in the OS are great, but they aren't a be-all-end-all. Much better to get healthy now and be ready to rock the season later.

Make sure you getting totally healed. None of the "well it feels tolerable"- get all the way healthy now so you don't have to keep battling this!

Carrie Chavez

I would question the diagnosis. Seems fishy. Might be something else also.

I think not running and letting it heal is smart but I would do it in an active way. I would start the OutSeason and do the bikes if they don't hurt and I would pool run 3-4 x a week and work my core and balance and stability.

You should go to a PT for an assessment. Not any schmo PT but one worth their salt in assessment of your movement and ability to give you a functional home program.

Injuries are not always a bad thing but can be good because they allow you to focus on your limiters. Maybe your balance and coordination is off and your foot is doing way too much work to balance you. Just me thinking out loud.

Carrie Chavez

If X-ray is negative I would request an MRI. If that is negative it is not a bone thing. It may be something else.

Paul Hough

I feel your pain, literally. I destroyed myself at Zofingen Sep 7...then completed the job a couple of weeks later when I collapsed on the road just 1.5 miles out from the house. I imposed a no-run regimen on myself and replaced it with the elliptical, ARC trainer, and water running. Progress was too slow so I saw the doc and found out I had picked up a stress fracture in my 3rd metatarsal of my left foot, another stress fracture in my left tibia, and a torn popliteus muscle (behind my left knee). Anyway, I am in PT and started running again just this week, 3 miles Mon, 5 miles Wed, 7 miles Friday and shooting for 10 tomorrow. Apart from the machine work, that will be the extent of my run training going into IMFL next week.

Point being you can come back from this. And you can still bike your butt off and use no impact machines to keep up your fitness. But I also agree with Carrie. I have had continual problems with left leg weakness for the past DECADE...a constant struggle to maintain left hip strength to keep everything below working right.

TriathLynne

I hadn't thought about PT, good idea.  Carrie, I saw the X-ray and it did show the periostitis.  I have a great foot doc, she's a top Ironman age grouper, fellowship trained in foot and ankle, etc.

robin sarner

Lots of pool running.