Reaction to Stress

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Raven

Yesterday I went to my doc to get the results of my foot MRI. Unfortunately they were running behind, so I had extra time to sit in the waiting room to wonder about what the results would be. Time can be an enemy!

Finally after about 40 minutes I was taken back to the exam room – to wait some more. Yay. The nurse was kind enough to give me some literature to read – the MRI report. Man there was some confusing terminology in this report! I had to continually look up things on my iPhone.

Yo tengo BING!

Finally the doctor came in to sum everything up and to talk to me on how to get back on track again.

The MRI showed joint-centered marrow edema within the distal, medial navicular and middle cuneiform bones. There was no evidence of an actual fracture in the navicular bone.

The diagnosis is a stress reaction of the navicular bone. A stress reaction is the stage just before an actual stress fracture. A bullet has been dodged in that sense, but it still requires using a walking boot and no running for at least three weeks. The doctor explained that I would need to be completely pain-free for three weeks before getting back to running again.

When I do return to running, I will have to cut my mileage back at least 50%, and then add on no more than 10% per week after the first couple of weeks. He also thought it to be a wise idea to not plan on running the full 26.2 marathon in December.

BUMMER!!

There is a possibility that I would be able to run the Half Marathon, however this is going to depend on how my foot reacts to training. I will have to play it save, so not to risk more injuries.

I already had come to terms that I may not make the full marathon. I had some bouts of disappointment, in thinking this would be the case, but then I had to realize that I was in this for the long haul. I could not push my body to the breaking point again, and risk more severe damage. That would risk me not being able to run, walk, or even bike for a longer period of time; it could even risk me not being able to swim, if surgery were needed. Being around someone like myself without a physical outlet such as exercise is not fun for anyone. So the risks outweighed the benefits. I’m waving my white 26.2 surrender flag….for now.

MRI results – let’s talk?

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Raven

Yesterday I called my doctor’s office to check and see if the results came back for the MRI of my foot. It has been pretty achy recently, and it has me a little concerned. The MRI technician informed me the day of my test, that I could call as early as Tuesday for the results, even if I had an appointment for a couple of days after that. Not knowing what was going on, or what the plan of action was, I was starting to get a little antsy. I left a message for a callback, and waited for the word.

My doc stays pretty busy, so I figured that it would probably be a 24 hour turn around on the phone call. Sure enough there was a missed call this morning and a voice mail notification. I immediately checked the message, in hope of knowing at least what was found; instead I get a voicemail stating that the doctor would like to just discuss what was found on the MRI, when I go to my appointment tomorrow morning.

Discuss.

Now I am really anxious! A slew of scenarios are going through my mind. It could be nothing but inflammation. It could be tendonitis. It could be a soft tissue tear. I could be a stress fracture. It could also be something needing surgery or more time off of my running schedule. It could require me to use crutches, with zero wait baring on the floor and NO cycling!

I’m just going to have to chill, and trust this process. It may be nothing or may be something that I do not like at all. Either way it is out of my control, and I’m just going to have to roll with it.

Does this boot make me look fat?

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Raven

My bootie!

Thursday I was fitted for a walking boot. It is looking more and more like I have a stress fracture on my navicular bone, so to be safe the doctor and I both agreed that my foot needed to be immobilized.

This boot is MUCH lighter than the old one I ha, which was loaned to me a few years back. I’m guessing that it is at least seven pounds lighter! It is much easier to walk in, and I don’t rattle the floors and walls, nor do I startle my roommate or scare my pets when I walk around the house!!

I went and got an MRI on Friday, so I’m going to know more about what the issue is; unfortunately I won’t get the results until Tuesday. More waiting!

At least I can ride my bike. Saturday, I put in a substantial amount of miles on my mountain bike; a little over 37 miles. It felt great to be able to put in that kind of effort!

Later that day, I ended up buying a triathlon suit. I like the styling of it. I’ve never been much of a one-piece swimsuit kind of girl; I prefer bikinis. The look of the triathlon suits are freaking cool to me, and who knows, maybe I’ll participate in one a little down the road! Since it is looking more like I will have extended pool time, I am now looking to invest in a good underwater mp3 player. I can’t seem to put my full trust in a case, such as the H2O Amphibx armband to protect my iPhone; after all if that case fails I will have no working phone! I may have to get an iPod Shuffle and their Interval 3G case, or maybe the Speedo Aquabeat. I’m still shopping this.

Spin the wheel – Tendinitis or stess fracture?

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Raven

Today I had my appointment at the Sports Medicine Clinic. I’ve had two treatments at Metrocrest Sports Medicine, and both times it was a good experience. They quickly got me back to my exam room, and interviewed me; asking what was hurting and how it happened. Truth is, I have no real idea what did this too my foot. I was a little embarrassed because well when you get hurt, unless you get knocked out, you know what it is that caused it. Maybe I pushed it too far by going a full 10 mile run. My mileage has been increasing quicker than the plan, but I didn’t feel as if I was over-extending myself, in order to go this distance. I paid attention to my body, and I seriously felt zero pain on Saturday’s run. To be honest it was like Zen feeling while out there.

Could it have been the sprint I had to do to get back out to the Jeep, from the restaurant, to retrieve my forgotten camera bag, before the skies opened up? Maybe. I was wearing some Sketchers work shoes, with an orthotic in them, that pushes my foot way out of the depth of the shoe. Maybe that free movement with the sprinting did it? No idea.

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Day three of achy foot

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Raven

Well this bites. I’m still experiencing the ache in my left foot, alongside the instep. Now through much digging around on the Interwebs, I have narrowed down what it is that is injured; it’s my Posterior Tibial Tendon. Usually this tendon, when stressed, will cause shin splints.

Posterior Tibial Tendonitis
Symptoms may include:

Pain and swelling near the arch of the foot and on the medial side of the ankle
Pain that increases when standing on the ball of the foot or if the foot is flexed
Pain that increases with activity
Tiredness in the foot after little activity
Pain that becomes more disabling

Tomorrow I have a doctor’s appointment, to find out how bad this is, and what treatment plan will need to be followed.