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Femoral shaft stress fracture?
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Jk80
Nov 14, 22 1:12
Post #1 of 14 (1558 views)
Pre-tensing this with the fact I have booked into see a physio, but would like some advice before I cause myself to have a panic attack
So, after having a scare last week with a potential metatarsal stress fracture which (touch wood) seems to be subsiding - I stupidly decided to pull a double after a having done a fast tempo the previous day, making my mileage stupidly high for the week considering I was supposed to be taking it easy.
Anyway - I went for a run today and had anterior thigh pain/femur shaft pain throughout the run which feels extremely 'deep' and not like a pulled muscle - if I had to describe it, it feels exactly the same as my metatarsal stress reaction, which has me extremely worried.
I can successfully hop on the leg without pain but I work a waitress job and throughout the day it had been aching and getting random sharp pains. Also when I stand from a low chair or toilet it hurts, and its aching at rest.
Also I am a 22 year old female - had REDs/anorexia for a good 4 years so my bone density it pretty much non existent ... any chance this isn't a stress fracture ? (I'm not holding out much hope)
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Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [Jk80] [ In reply to ]
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Dr. Tigerchik
Nov 14, 22 7:12
Post #2 of 14 (1492 views)
I'm sorry you're in pain. I have a similar medical history. I'm 35; I was diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 17. My bone density became normal after 12 years of maintaining a healthy weight (it might have taken a little less time but I went 6 yrs or so between DEXAs). I can offer you that for hope for the long-term future. I can also tell you that I had a bunch of fractures in college (was severely underweight off and on ages 13-17, with a good year+ ages 16- near 18) even at a healthy weight, some from doing stupid stuff and some because it just took my body some time to build back the bone to support the 25 lbs I gained in 2004/2005 to get to that healthy weight. The repercussions of REDs/anorexia are long and cruel even after one recovers.

I wish you the best, message me any time I can be helpful.
maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD
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Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [Jk80] [ In reply to ]
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theyellowcarguy
Nov 14, 22 9:47
Post #3 of 14 (1445 views)
If you can stand or walk at all without pain then I (not a Dr) don't think it's bone related unless it's still extremely minor at this point (caught it early). All of my fractures have been extremely obvious because weight bearing hurts like a mofo (in addition to the aching while idle).
My Strava | My Instagram | Summerville, SC | 35-39 AG | 4:41 (70.3), 10:05 (140.6) | 3x70.3, 1x140.6 | Cat 2 Cyclist
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Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [theyellowcarguy] [ In reply to ]
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Amnesia
Nov 14, 22 19:11
Post #4 of 14 (1375 views)
theyellowcarguy wrote:
If you can stand or walk at all without pain then I (not a Dr) don't think it's bone related unless it's still extremely minor at this point (caught it early). All of my fractures have been extremely obvious because weight bearing hurts like a mofo (in addition to the aching while idle).

I will disagree, I walked on all four of my stress fractures, some with discomfort. Tried to get through them. Ended up with a nasty op and narrowly avoided a nasty op for another one.
Intuition is important.
The physio can only do so much. You really need imaging if you want a semi-definitive answer. Granted, even if minor, treatment is likely to be the same anyway. Sometimes just helps to know though. \
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Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [Amnesia] [ In reply to ]
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Dr. Tigerchik
Nov 15, 22 7:29
Post #5 of 14 (1315 views)
theyellowcarguy wrote:
Quote:
If you can stand or walk at all without pain then I (not a Dr) don't think it's bone related unless it's still extremely minor at this point (caught it early). All of my fractures have been extremely obvious because weight bearing hurts like a mofo (in addition to the aching while idle).
I will disagree, I walked on all four of my stress fractures, some with discomfort. Tried to get through them. Ended up with a nasty op and narrowly avoided a nasty op for another one.
Intuition is important.
The physio can only do so much. You really need imaging if you want a semi-definitive answer. Granted, even if minor, treatment is likely to be the same anyway. Sometimes just helps to know though. \

I agree with amnesia. It's also possible to have a stress reaction - the stage before fracture. And a stress reaction is NOT extremely minor.
maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD
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Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [Jk80] [ In reply to ]
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RowToTri
Nov 15, 22 8:21
Post #6 of 14 (1298 views)
I do not know if you have a stress fracture or not. But if there is any possibility, you need to get it x-rayed. If it turns into a full-on femoral fracture from waitressing or hopping or running, that's a serious, possibly life-threatening injury. You can lose a liter and a half of blood from a femur fracture. I'm not trying to be alarmist, just to emphasize that you REALLY want to avoid a femur fracture. Go get an x-ray and talk to a Dr. About the results.
-------------
Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
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Last edited by: RowToTri: Nov 15, 22 8:24
Quote Reply
Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [RowToTri] [ In reply to ]
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Amnesia
Nov 15, 22 21:10
Post #7 of 14 (1256 views)
RowToTri wrote:
I do not know if you have a stress fracture or not. But if there is any possibility, you need to get it x-rayed. If it turns into a full-on femoral fracture from waitressing or hopping or running, that's a serious, possibly life-threatening injury. You can lose a liter and a half of blood from a femur fracture. I'm not trying to be alarmist, just to emphasize that you REALLY want to avoid a femur fracture. Go get an x-ray and talk to a Dr. About the results.

Just to clarify this comment.
A standard plain x-ray will only show relatively well advanced stress fractures and injuries.
An MRI is generally the go-to scan as you can see marrow oedema etc which you will not see on a plain x-ray.
Sometimes, you also then need a CT scan as the resolution is such that you can more accurate delineate a fracture line, but this is not always needed.
Sometimes, a bone scan is also needed to look for "hot spots".
Depending on where you are, these days a plain x-ray will rarely be used.
You can lose a lot of blood from a femur fracture but to be honest, this tends to occur from a more traumatic femur fracture like getting hit by a car etc. It would be highly unusual for a stress related fracture to fracture and displace in such a way to lose that amount of blood (granted there was the story on here of the chap whose lower shaft of his femur snapped off, but that is a unicorn!).
Quote Reply
Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [Jk80] [ In reply to ]
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Th4ddy
Nov 16, 22 8:34
Post #8 of 14 (1224 views)
The pain you're describing is exactly what I remember when I had my femoral stress fracture. A bone scan confirmed the diagnosis. In the beginning it wasn't so bad, and I could walk without pain. But as it progressed it would become achy all the time, to the point where it hurt just laying in bed, and I could feel my heart beating in my femur. I was on crutches for 4-6 weeks and then eased back into load bearing exercise. Swimming and the elliptical were great for keeping my cardio in good shape.
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Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [Jk80] [ In reply to ]
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Dr. Tigerchik
Nov 17, 22 7:28
Post #9 of 14 (1165 views)
How are you doing?
maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD
Quote Reply
Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [Dr. Tigerchik] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Jk80
Nov 17, 22 16:57
Post #10 of 14 (1131 views)
Hey Tigerchik! not so great, it definitely seems to be a stress fracture - tried biking this morning and it even hurt while doing that so it seems I'm going to be in the pool for a while. Not dealing with it so great mentally, but can't do anything about it. Did you have a femoral shaft stress fracture? if so do you mind me asking what your recovery looked like/how long it took you to get back to running?
Thanks.
Quote Reply
Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [Jk80] [ In reply to ]
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theyellowcarguy
Nov 17, 22 19:42
Post #11 of 14 (1109 views)
Jk80 wrote:
Hey Tigerchik! not so great, it definitely seems to be a stress fracture - tried biking this morning and it even hurt while doing that so it seems I'm going to be in the pool for a while. Not dealing with it so great mentally, but can't do anything about it. Did you have a femoral shaft stress fracture? if so do you mind me asking what your recovery looked like/how long it took you to get back to running?
Thanks.

I’d recommend getting a MRI if you can (or can afford it). I think have a diagnosis will really help set some stress aside, at least it has for me in the past.
My Strava | My Instagram | Summerville, SC | 35-39 AG | 4:41 (70.3), 10:05 (140.6) | 3x70.3, 1x140.6 | Cat 2 Cyclist
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Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [Jk80] [ In reply to ]
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Dr. Tigerchik
Nov 18, 22 8:09
Post #12 of 14 (1082 views)
I'll double the recommendation for x ray, bone scan and mri if needed.

I had some serious hip pain 10 ish years ago that may or may not have been a FN stress fracture; it probably was. It took so long to get an MRI and see a specialist that the only thing that showed on the MRI was a very inflamed tendon. If there was a fracture, it had healed at that point. The specialist did a cortisone shot and I was able to run again. But looking back on it, the mileage - and the amount of pain - points to both tendonitis and a fracture. I think between the two I didn't run for 3-4 months. It was so long ago that I don't entirely remember. I do recall swimming and biking.

REDS sucks. Fractures suck. Keep us updated as to how you are.
maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD
Quote Reply
Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [Jk80] [ In reply to ]
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Dr. Tigerchik
Nov 25, 22 12:57
Post #13 of 14 (973 views)
checking in. How are you?
maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD
Quote Reply
Re: Femoral shaft stress fracture? [Jk80] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Dr. Tigerchik
Dec 9, 22 6:36
Post #14 of 14 (865 views)
Checking in again and hoping you are ok
maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD
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