Cathartic Thread For Injured Runners, er support for managing injuries. ;-)
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I got my vitamin D results back yesterday- level was 32 so juuust in the "normal" range. Dr would like to see it 45-50+ though given my age and activity level, so I gotta stop by the pharmacy today to get the supplement prescription filled.
Still struggling with motivation to exercise. Also starting to have some depression symptoms, which I think are at least somewhat tied to this injury. I'm kind of worried that my foot isn't healing. It's been over two weeks since I ran last, and it is still swollen and sore when I walk. By the end of the day it is often throbbing very slightly. I've limited walking as much as possible, but I have no car or bike and walk a mile to/from the lab each day. The gym is ~3/4 mile from my lab so I'm also walking there and back most days during lunch. There is a bus I could take to/from the gym, but unfortunately no public transit that would help in my work commute. I don't want to be in the boot again, but I'm worried that by continuing to walk around I'm delaying healing. I also know that bone takes a really really long time to heal, so I'm not sure if 2 weeks of swelling/mild pain is normal. I'm just super super confused about what to do.
Do you think it could be worth trying to call my doctor to ask about it?
I don't want to be that patient (you know, the annoying hypochondriac runner), but I'd also hate to go back in three weeks for my follow up and for it to not have healed. Or worse yet, be put in the boot then and have to wait another 4+ weeks until I can run again
I leave Monday and will be out of town for two weeks, so I really need to either call today/tomorrow (he's only in the office Tue-Thur) or wait until I'm back in town. 0 -
@ariceroni In my experience, I've learned to phone the doc when i had concerns. If I get a few days of concern and mental complaining, I know its time to call.0
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Yep, so x-rays were fine although apparently I have bone spurs. But they don't bother me.
I am supposed to take 2 weeks off running, wear orthotics, stay off my feet as much as possible, and if it isn't showing improvement by then, go in for a bone scan.2 -
@ariceroni - thanks for all the tips. The podiatrist actually mentioned making sure my other shoe was high enough. I think they are good but both of my hips were hurting this afternoon doing our shopping at Costco. I think it is just the change in gait because the boot thing makes my step awkward.
I was planning to find the exercises someone (maybe you?) posted for @7lenny7 right after his surgery but I will also try the theraband ankle strengthening exercises. The towel scrunching I can't do as that is a movement that hurts significantly.
I agree with @elise4270 - call your doctor if you have concerns and especially since you will be going out of town. I seriously wish I could have seen the podiatrist before we went to Orlando and Boise. Having the boot then probably would have helped speed up my recovery too...
I think I over did it today. I didn't wear the boot thing to the gym and even though I wasn't walking a bunch my foot was sore when I got home. Next time I will try doing the cycling with it on. It isn't a full boot so I think it may be small enough to stay on the pedal. I am planning to wear it during my strength training session tomorrow if for no other reason so I don't try and do things that put too much pressure on my forefoot.
@sarahthes - dontcha love it when they tell you to stay off your feet as mochas possible? How exactly does that work when you have a family to help take care of and a job to go to!1 -
@sarahthes Did they offer you a boot? Even those inexpensive inflexible shoe type braces might help. They dont offer the height discrepancy the big walking boot does. I hated that boot. My hips couldn't take it. But wearing it even part of the day helped. So maybe it could help you?
I suppose you still need to consider a stress reaction or fracture as a possibility.
Y'all hang tough here.
I may spring for a massage this week. I've been so achey. I figure its the lack of movement. Run and i hurt and ache, don't run and i hurt and ache... pthhhhht.0 -
Thanks @Elise4270 and @shanaber for the encouragement to call!
Phoned the Dr this afternoon; he was also concerned by the swelling and said to pull my boot out of the closet and start wearing it
Now he wants me to go in for an MRI too so he can get a better idea of what we're dealing with, which is kind of annoying because I'm going out of town in a few days and MRIs are so dang expensive! I'm just a poor broke graduate student haha. Oh well, anything to speed up the recovery and get back in my running shoes faster. I scheduled the MRI for Saturday morning, and with any luck my Dr will receive the results by Monday and phone them over before I get on the plane. My birthday is in a few days; maybe I'll just ask for MRI donations in lieu of presents 
@7lenny7 @shanaber looks like the "boot buddy" club just got a bit bigger3 -
@ariceroni Depending on the size of the facility, you may be able to get the radiologist report the same day. You might ask.0
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@ariceroni oh yikes!
I am bummed. Saturday on the trails is gonna be great... and I will be at home. Sigh.
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@ariceroni - I too wish you weren't joining our club... not because you aren't sweet and nice or anything but really didn't want to see you back in a boot! On the other hand maybe it can get you preferential treatment getting on the plane and even for your seat!
@7lenny7 - searched back and found them but yes, thanks! I also told my trainer about them and he thought it was a great idea. Wants me to come up with a workout plan for now as well as a detailed plan for re-entering running and doing it gradually.
@sarahthes - isn't it the worst that the best weather hits now when we can't run?! It is cooling off here and all I can think about is it would be SO nice to be running!0 -
My cast is off, progress!
Unfortunately my incision hurts quite a bit. It only hurt occasionally over the last 3 weeks but it's stinging about a third of the time now. The nurse who took the sutures out says there's a major nerve there and between getting the sutures out and the swelling I still have, it's probably inflamed. I did not expect to feel this much pain 3 weeks out, particularly after being essentially pain free once the initial pain went away.
I'm also concerned about the pain on the bottom of my foot when I press it on the floor (which I'm not supposed to do yet).
I'm anxious to see how this goes over the next week,when I can start to walk in the boot.1 -
Hey @Elise4270, I've been good and plan on continuing to be good. Normally I'd push it but haven't this time. I haven't even tried to drive yet. Last time I had a boot on my right foot I still drove.
Good news this morning is that the sharp pain is gone. I took off my boot and gently rubbed where the scars were and still no pain. I almost took an oxycodone last night. I hadn't had one of those since the day of the surgery.1 -
@7lenny7 - congratulations on getting the cast off! I had similar pain when I got the cast off my hand when I had my surgery. I think it has to do with the pressure put by the cast suddenly being relieved. I am so glad the pain is gone now! Are you allowed to walk on it now with the boot?
I have to take mine off and put a sandal on to drive. It is illegal here to drive with it on because you have no real feel for the pedals and pressure. I would still consider it for driving short distances like to the gym but I can't fit the boot onto just the gas pedal, it hits the brake too.0 -
@7lenny7 very glad to hear you got the cast off! I remember a friend of mine in elementary school had a cast on, and kept losing pen caps in there because he was constantly trying to scratch itches! I hope you didn't have the same problem
I went in for my MRI this morning. I had no idea those things were so loud or took so long! TV shows definitely don't do them justice haha. They gave me a CD with all the pictures on it, and I'm absolutely dying to look through them. Only problem is that neither my laptop nor my work computer have CD-ROM drives! I even went to the library, but their computers don't have them either. I know my mom's computer has one though, so I guess I'll just have to wait until Tuesday when I go home
The doctor is supposed to call on Monday with the results, and then I assume we'll schedule a follow up appointment for as soon as I'm back in town. I just want to know already, the suspense is killing me!
In other news, the Space Coast half marathon is next Sunday and I still don't know what I'm going to do. It is very very important to me to complete this race; this will be our 6th year in a row doing it and I'd hate to break the streak! It shares part of the course with the marathon route so the cut off is a very generous 7 hours. My mom also offered to walk it with me instead of running it. Only thing is, I'm not sure if 13.1 miles in the boot is a good idea; I'm a little worried this could mess up my hips or knees. Also am not sure if 13.1 miles sans boot is a good idea either. I guess I'll have to wait to see what the MRI shows, and go from there. Would be very devastated to not complete it this year
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GAH I need to stay off google until I hear from the Doctor! I've been obsessively researching proximal 5th metatarsal stress fractures, and it is seriously stressing me out. Apparently there is a small region of the 5th metatarsal, very close to the base, that has low blood supply. A fx/stress fx in that area (called a Jones fracture) often requires 8-12+ weeks of non weight bearing! And in many cases it doesn't heal without surgical intervention
Someone please take the keyboard away from me! 0 -
@ariceroni - so funny about the CD rom player. Do you have a DVD player for the TV that could read it? My PC also doesn't have one. I have a Florence and the Machine CD from a concert and no way to get the music off... I have thought about buying an external one but I rarely ever need one.
In the meantime - move away from the keyboard....
I too have a legacy HM in December and one in early February that I haven't signed up for but really want to do. The one in December would be my 6th for it too - I have run it every year since its first. It falls though right in the middle of my 'no running' period and I don't think the doctor will approve my walking it. With a 3 hour cutoff I would have to be 'walking' pretty fast. I did get my Legacy jacket last year so there is that.1 -
GAH I need to stay off google until I hear from the Doctor! I've been obsessively researching proximal 5th metatarsal stress fractures, and it is seriously stressing me out. Apparently there is a small region of the 5th metatarsal, very close to the base, that has low blood supply. A fx/stress fx in that area (called a Jones fracture) often requires 8-12+ weeks of non weight bearing! And in many cases it doesn't heal without surgical intervention Someone please take the keyboard away from me!
You'll also need a DCIM program (i think thats right) to see the images. Unless its imbedded on the disk. They are free online, but without a cd drive, looks like Monday.
At least when its time to have that conversation with the doc, you'll be up to speed.
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@mrswhitehog Did you find us? How are you doing?
I think this is my permanent residence. I'm just going to post my running goal here from now on.. the gimpy miles club.1 -
LOL - Gimpy miles club GMC!
I went to agility class with the pup tonight. Did mostly walking and sending - really tried not to run or even move to fast. Very hard when you have a very fast dog. He was frustrated so I finally had the trainer just run the course with him and he was SO happy! It helps that he loves/adores her. Foot isn't sore or hurting but is... I guess tired. I dunno something. Hopefully it will be fine in the morning.0 -
Hi all, im doing well with recovery, i have successfully completed c25K since i broke my 5th metatarsal March 5th this year. My foot has its days, good and some bad but im running again and my bone has healed!
For those of you looking to stay active Caroline Jordan was a staple for me while i was in my boot recovering, here stretching workouts and all hurt fit videos helped me stay fit mentally and physically so yes try her on for size!! All i can recommend for recovering from a fracture is tons of vitamin d which i got from tanning beds, every other day while i recovered. SUn fully exposed on bare skin is the only absorbtion for vit d so get it in you!!
Thanks Elise for tagging me so i could find you all!3 -
@mrswhitehog I'm glad your recovery is going well! I had found a couple of Caroline Jordan's hurt foot videos and had been doing those fairly regularly until a massive cold hit me a week ago. I still have it but I think I might finally be getting out of it. I only woke up twice in a fit of coughing last night.
I should look through more of her stuff to see what else I can do. So far it's just been 2 if her hurt foot core work vids and upper body dumbbell work.1 -
Welcome @mrswhitehog! It is encouraging to hear that you are recovered and back running! I have a 2nd metatarsal stress fracture and just starting the recovery process. Did you use a specific plan to start running again? I have been looking at some online but they look a bit aggressive to me - essentially going from walk run intervals to 30 mins of running in 3 weeks...
Has anyone heard from @ariceroni? I hope she got good news from her doctor!1 -
My feet are feeling okay this week. I'm planning to try running next Tuesday if I continue to feel good. It's been too icy to run these past few days anyway. It's dark when I get to work and dark when I get home, so any daytime thaw has re-frozen by the time I am able to get out.
Black ice the entire drive to work today.0 -
I maybe past the left ITB issue. The last 2 mile run produced no pain. I just have to figure out how to proceed from here.
My right hip is still grumpy, but that's due for a follow up in January. So, i may try to tolerate some pain with it as long as i dont have continued issues with the weak left.
With any luck I'll be back to running this time next year.1 -
@elise4270 - I saw this on FB and thought of you. It is a pretty interesting. I was surprised by some things that I never equated with my migraines. I haven't had many since college and none now since I stopped working (yay no more stress!)
I did have issues with it not displaying correctly on my Mac but was able to page through it.
https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/interact-migraine-affects-body?mn=0?ecd=socpd_fb_nosp_1826_spns_cm1197&fbclid=IwAR2I8JwSI-AfOH0WqKwDsim7Czhh-boKaDo0hrNnqi2zk9TuCna659D5wXo0 -
@sarahthes - so glad your feet are not hurting! Hopefully that means no stress fracture! Ugg for black ice - be careful!
@elise4270 - do you think running on the treadmill is easier/better for your hips since they tend to be more cushioned than running outside?0
https://youtu.be/rCDRf7bEFNA
https://youtu.be/s-nTG_3OFWs