I heal as fast as I run!

I have the boot to thank for a 6 week recovery on a grade 4 tibia stress fracture. I had my follow up appt with my Ortho today:

Door opens:

Me: I swear, I wore the boot. Check my blog. How are my x-rays???

Ortho: You are laying out some serious bone. 

Me: (uhhh that sounds odd) ok, that's good right?

Ortho: YES, this is way better than expected. There is new bone growth all over the fracture. Your bone scan results are normal as well.

Me: YES!! I schlepped that boot everywhere. I am stoked. I am the most compliant patient ever. What's next? Can I run?

I can run next week!! Yeehawww! He wants another week of walking and then gave me an "advanced" return to running schedule. Basically, don't run too hard, too fast and build up slowly. I expected that. 

I'm still weaker in my right leg from wearing the boot for 3 weeks so I don't mind waiting a few more days. Every step makes my leg stronger.

I can only run in the dirt or grass as well. No pavement. Yes, yes...

He said we are definitely winning this one. It could be so much worse. I will take that to Umstead next week!

Party on peeps! Thanks for caring!

XOXO

Laura

Is this a bad joke?

I'm not trying to milk any more pity out of you guys, I swear! This is just getting ridiculous.

I finally had my appointment with my Ortho. He says I have a grade 4 tibial stress fracture (the worst). I am on crutches and a special compression type of aircast was ordered and should arrive Tuesday. I have to wear the cast for a month 24/7 unless I'm swimming or in the shower. 

He said he couldn't give me a time frame of healing because it may never heal. It may require a metal rod in my shin. Is this a bad dream??? Am I being punked here? 

In the mean time I am getting a bone density test and doing PT to make sure my legs and hips are not causing this.

It is very important that I don't walk through ANY pain. When I looked at the MRI with him it looks like my leg is shattered. He said if I would have pushed it one more run with pain it would have broken completely.

The leg on the far left (my right leg) shows the fx. The white part is the fx and the surrounding swelling in the bone.

  This picture doesn't show it as well as in the drs office. Seeing the fracture line is freaky. I'm happy I have 2 legs at the moment.  But CRUTCHES??? CAST??? I don't have any tears left but I seriously wanted to puke upon hearing this. I went from:


1. being upset I was missing my marathon
2. being upset I had to reduce my training
3. VERY upset I couldn't run
4. Mad I had a stress fracture
5. Now afraid my damn leg is gonna break off and/or I'll never heal and need a fucking rod...

As crazy as it is I'll be in the pool by 7am tomorrow. I am not going down. I am obsessed with getting this healed. But still wow....

Run one for me friends!! Down but never out!
XOXO
Laura

Here we go again.

Well, in true Honey Badger style I was clearly oblivious to my broken leg. Dragging it around and referring to the pain as swim related.

I have a Grade 3 Tibial Stress Fracture. A microfracture. This is per the radiologist who reviewed my MRI. I haven't talked to my Orthro yet so I'm not sure what he wants me to do. Of course no running. I'm praying I don't get put in a boot. Well, it's not a complete break. That's about the only good news. I have no idea how in one run I go from fine to almost breaking my leg in half....shit.....

+/-11 weeks off from Running.....

So of course I'm a googling fool until I see my Ortho. I tried to see what grade 3 is all about. This is what's out there:

- progression of stress fractures:
           - stage I - crack initiation: areas of stress concentration
           - stage II - crack propagation: no repair or more damage than repair
           - stage III - final fracture: cracks coalesce, enlarge, ultimate failure 




Well, I'll just wait and see. I've got plenty of time for that in my schedule. Looks like I will be in the pool a lot.  I plan of getting some pedals for my sister's extra tri bike. I'm not going out just like that! I'm taking today off to mope but tomorrow I have work to do...


Laura