Question:
Went to a Podiatrist today after 8 weeks of pain and no running.
The x-ray showed a two month old stress fracture in the tibia,
about 2 inches above the ankle. Suggested treatment was rest for the
next several months, with a prognosis of healing within 4 months.
Too late to cast. There has been a lot of swelling around the entire foot
and somewhat along the shin during this period and it continues today.
This bothers me to a point of wondering if the diagnosis was on target.
Is this normal with a fairly severe stress fracture or should I see an
orthopedist for another opinion?
Answer:
It's not clear whether you're questioning the diagnosis or the
treatment. 4 months seems a bit long - maybe the doc is being
conservative.
However, it sounds like it's a pretty significant fracture - you
haven't run for 8 weeks - and it's still swollen? (None of us will
make things worse by asking why it took you so long to go to the
doctor, will we?)
Most MD's would agree that if you have any doubts at all, get a
second opinion.
I agree with the above although it took me 6 weeks to heal my Tibia
stress fracture. I came back with some mild running. During the time
I was off my feet I was biking 16 miles a day six days a week. Lost
little in way of endurance.
From my experience with a stress fracture of the femur, I'd go
see a doctor who specializes in sports medicine. Four months
sounds like far too long to heal up to me. I was out of the
run for only about eight weeks until I was able to run lightly
without pain. Stress fractures are nothing to fool around with,
and the extra money spent on a specialist is well worth it.
Had I not gone to my doctor, I would have wound up with a steel
pin in my hip, and not a great future in running.
