How stupid am I? UPDATE in replies

[katandkevin]

I wouldn't do it. Having had a stress fracture that completed the break and that was with rest, don't. You may end up injuring yourself way worse and putting yourself out of running commission permanently. I wouldn't risk even trying. Sorry.

[G22]

I don't want to continue the pile on, but I agree you shouldn't do it. Not anywhere close to the same this, but I hurt my foot 5 weeks out from my marathon last fall. Nothing major, but I know the feeling of not wanting to give up and DNS after al the training and money sunk into your race. But at some point you have to listen to your body. So if its not ready in 4 weeks, please listen to it and don't force it.

[ktzmoh]

I'm coming back to this thread with one more thought. Can you go for a second opinion? Are you certain it's a stress fracture and not just a tendonitis? How solid is the diagnosis? Earlier this year I thought I might have a problem with My navicular because I had a ton of pain in one specific spot, right on that bone. I went to see two orthopedics and mine wound up being just a tendinitis that resolved with some new shoe inserts, lots of icing and an anti-inflammatory cream. If you don't want to pay $500 for the MRI, maybe go see a second ortho and just make sure this is what's happening.

I'm just trying to think of ways to make your decision easier and put your mind at ease. If it's actually a stress fracture, I think you probably know you can't do this race. But I sense that in the back of your head you are still hopeful it's not a stress fracture.

[reginaphalange72]

Thanks all.  I know it seems like a pile on, but I also know all of your concern and suggestions come from a good place because we genuinely care about each other's well-being here.  (heart)

Aug 24, 2015 11:13:47 GMT -5 ktzmoh said:

I'm coming back to this thread with one more thought. Can you go for a second opinion? Are you certain it's a stress fracture and not just a tendonitis? How solid is the diagnosis? Earlier this year I thought I might have a problem with My navicular because I had a ton of pain in one specific spot, right on that bone. I went to see two orthopedics and mine wound up being just a tendinitis that resolved with some new shoe inserts, lots of icing and an anti-inflammatory cream. If you don't want to pay $500 for the MRI, maybe go see a second ortho and just make sure this is what's happening.

I'm just trying to think of ways to make your decision easier and put your mind at ease. If it's actually a stress fracture, I think you probably know you can't do this race. But I sense that in the back of your head you are still hopeful it's not a stress fracture.

This is definitely a thought I've had.  I promise I will not run if it's problematic, or still painful.  But since I didn't get the MRI, we don't know 100% for sure.  And if it is indeed a stress fracture, we also don't know for sure that it's in the navicular.  It may also be in the 1st cuneiform.  Which is, admittedly, still sucky.  But slightly less sucky than a navicular.  There is a part of me that's hoping it's just some sort of tendonitis or inflammation that will go away with rest and ice.  I'm planning on going back to my doctor before race day, to have her look at it again, and I may go get a second opinion elsewhere (except that I'm on school insurance, so they generally don't like when you go anywhere other than the campus health center - which is, fortunately, quite good).

I promise I'm not going to do anything stupid.  Promise promise promise.  I'm just not ready to give up on it yet.  I understand that I may have to, and I'm capable of saying so, if that's the case.  But I'm just not ready to do that yet.

[joenali]

We do care for you!!

[reginaphalange72]

Update:

Went to PT today and she manhandled me for an hour. After a couple days in the boot, things are looking (maybe???) slightly more positive. She was able to push quite hard on the spot without me climbing up the wall in pain. It was uncomfortable, but not PAIN. So... MAYBE there's a shot that it's something with a tendon instead of a stress fracture. Maybe. It also felt more uncomfortable whenever she was working on a soft tissue spot and not the bone, so that's also hopeful.

I'm going to see her several more times over the next couple weeks, and we'll re-assess come race week. She didn't say it wasn't possible. But I am definitely supposed to stay in the boot between then and now to give it as much rest as possible.

Again, I PROMISE I won't do anything that would risk long-term injury. I'm just not ready to rule anything out yet. But I promise I will be smart about it. There is a certain level of risk I'm willing to accept, but I also know what I'm not willing to accept, and I will be cognizant of that.

[shorewife]

I think that sounds promising? I don't know anything about stress fractures or tendon injuries so I'm just throwing it out there - is there a way you can get taped up real good or something like that so you can be able to do the race without risk of permanent damage?

[reginaphalange72]

Aug 25, 2015 15:32:20 GMT -5 shorewife said:

I think that sounds promising? I don't know anything about stress fractures or tendon injuries so I'm just throwing it out there - is there a way you can get taped up real good or something like that so you can be able to do the race without risk of permanent damage?

No idea.  Assuming it is muscular/a tendon, I'll be looking into it and asking my PT about it.




(Disclaimer:  I am not assuming it's muscular)

[arch01]

Yeah, don't do it.

On a totally different note, have I missed an update on the dentist? I know I missed the picture, but what is going on with the dentist??!!

[clseale]

I'm happy to hear that you are taking to your PT & that your appointment went well. With that said, stress fracture, tendonitis, they're both overuse injuries, so I really have a hard time seeing how this still isn't a disastrous idea.

However, I know this is something you really want & I definitely feel for you. I'm going to choose to believe you when you say you will stop at the first sign of pain (or not start if you're still in pain) & wish you the best between now & then. Hang in there!

[fuckyourcouch]

I AM SO UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THIS ON YOUR BEHALF!!!

i feel like your mom. wringing my hands.