Friday, May 31, 2013

The Best $632.54 I Ever Spent

If you recall this post about how the doctor thought maybe I had a stress fracture?  The idea just gnawed at me.  My symptoms were the same throughout the last 6 months and yet she thought I had one which had healed up (because I could hop one one leg with no pain).  She wanted me to try PT for 5 weeks and then we'd image if nothing improved.  The idea of a current stress fracture made sense to me, though, because I have been trying to loosen up my right adductor for SIX MONTHS and nothing had worked.  I had taken six weeks off at a time with little improvement.  So I decided to get imaged now instead of waiting another 5 weeks which I knew would improve nothing.

I had an x-ray which didn't show anything.  So then I went in for an MRI.

To be clear, my sports medicine doctor did not think I currently had a stress fracture.  My massage therapist did not think I had a stress fracture.  My chiropractor did not think I had a stress fracture. My physical therapist did not think I had a stress fracture.  My personal trainer did not think I had a stress fracture.

Everyone kept telling me they didn't think I had a fracture which made me feel that the $632.54 I spent on the MRI was another huge down-the-drain expense in this seemingly never ending saga from November.  They had me so brainwashed into thinking this, that I felt a little stupid for jumping the gun on imaging, I mourned my $632.54 and had planned to go for a short walk-run after my sports medicine appointment today.

It turns out, I do have a stress fracture of my right pubic ramus.

I'm really glad I decided on my own to stop running while I waited for my results because I already have 4 weeks of not running in the recovery bank.  However, my doctor thinks this will take a long time to heal.  She said typically they say 6-8 weeks but I've had this since November and have been running off and on the whole time.  I mean, holy jeepers, I did Goofy on a broken pelvis.

She asked if I had any plans the rest of the year.  I only had the New York City Marathon in November on my calendar.  Quite frankly, even if I didn't have a stress fracture I was thinking I might have to defer so when she told me I should scrap it, that wasn't hard to take.  What was hard to take was what she said after that, "I'm hoping we'll even have you running again by November."  I think I died a little.

As I left the office, I have to say I was vacillating between depression and relief.  It sucks that I cannot run for at least another 6 weeks (and the way she's thinking quite possibly longer).  But quite frankly, I've been operating on that mode the last three months.  On the other hand, I have an answer.  If I rest and give it time, it will heal.  I've spent 6 months trying this and that with no gains and that was just mentally fatiguing.  I was beginning to think I would never run at a high-quality level ever again.  In a way all of that was far more depressing than just having to give up running for a bit knowing that I'll come out of it whole again.

So there you have it.  The S-word and the F-word.  Stress. Fracture.

8 comments:

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Wow, that sucks but I'm glad you finally have an answer. What are you allowed to do instead to maintain fitness?

Layla said...

You poor thing! I am so sad for you! But you've got a very good head on your shoulders, and you WILL run freely and happily again. Patience is a hard, but you will be rewarded for it.

My foot (metatarsal) stress fracture took two months to heal, and my leg (tibia) stress fracture took four months. Unlike tendons and other soft tissues, the bones DO heal, and running IS completely doable again. I've PRed multiple times since the last stress fracture in 2010, and it felt that much sweeter each time.

Hang in there. You'll get through this.

RG said...

OUCH! Good luck working through it. Go volunteer at finish lines!

dawn @ running the dawn said...

hug hug hug.

i am totally with you. mri results are in and i have a herniated disc. i'll be not running for an additional 6 weeks on top of the 14 that i have already not been running.

lets just hold each other and cry mmmmkay?

Alisa said...

So sorry you're part of the F-word club too. It's not much fun BUT now you know and can start your healing process.

I too, wish we closer, a swimming buddy would be awesome.

Good luck with recovery, let's both be smart about it and we'll both be back out there!

Runner Leana said...

I'm really sorry to hear that. Thank goodness you went for the MRI anyway! At least you have an answer and can really work towards recovery now.

Sammie's Mom said...

Good for you for taking matters into your own hands! Sucks you're broken and have to stop running but now you get to give Mario more lovin' and isn't that what it's ALL ABOUT anyway?! Rest up, my friend and speedy recovery!

Anonymous said...

slow progress is still progress. -cliff (from th)