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Home > Forum > Triathlon Forum > Time to see a doctor?

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Time to see a doctor?
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ironron2b
Nov 9, 05 19:51
Post #1 of 11 (1599 views)
I have what I'm pretty sure is a tibial stress fracture. Started having pain in late september, ran Portland marathon October 2 and had to stop at mile 21 due to excruciating shin pain. Localized on medial (inside) shin, pretty low on the leg. Notice a lump when I rub it, hurts when I push on it, etc.
I haven't run in 6 weeks now, but still have pain - I can feel it throughout the day. Doesnt bother me cycling or swimming though :)
Like I said, pretty sure it's a stress fracture.
Question is will going to a doctor do anything for me? I assume they'll do a bone scan or something similar, tell me it's a stress fracture/healing, and tell me to stay off it.
Is there anything a doc could do to help me get going again sooner than if I just rest, ice, and wait?
Thanks
Ron
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Re: Time to see a doctor? [rfarkash] [ In reply to ]
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h2ofun
Nov 9, 05 19:52
Post #2 of 11 (1594 views)
GO TO THE DOCTOR!!


Dave
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Re: Time to see a doctor? [rfarkash] [ In reply to ]
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kittycat
Nov 9, 05 19:54
Post #3 of 11 (1589 views)
maybe get you into physical therapy to fix whatever reason for it happening? or, maybe physical therapy that has an underwater treadmill?

in any case, i would go just to confirm the problem. it's not worth the stress (lol--sorry) of guessing at it. confirm it, then you know you're giving it the proper treatment.

good luck, let us know,

kittycat
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Re: Time to see a doctor? [rfarkash] [ In reply to ]
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rroof
Nov 9, 05 20:08
Post #4 of 11 (1566 views)
You do need to confirm your likely stress fracture. The fact that you can feel a "lump" likely indicates external bone callus and fracture healing that a simple X-ray can confirm. However, the other possibilities must be excluded (like a primary bone tumor that can feel like this or possibly causing a pathologic stress fracture).
____________________________________
Fatigue is biochemical, not biomechanical.
- Andrew Coggan, PhD
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Re: Time to see a doctor? [rroof] [ In reply to ]
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....
Nov 9, 05 20:09
Post #5 of 11 (1562 views)
btw...would you mind sending over again the bone growth stim?
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Re: Time to see a doctor? [rroof] [ In reply to ]
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Meebo
Nov 9, 05 21:23
Post #6 of 11 (1498 views)
In Reply To:
The fact that you can feel a "lump" likely indicates external bone callus and fracture healing that a simple X-ray can confirm. However, the other possibilities must be excluded (like a primary bone tumor that can feel like this or possibly causing a pathologic stress fracture).
Really?! You don't think a "lump" can be just an inflammation of the periostium, for example?
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Re: Time to see a doctor? [Diablo-Advocato] [ In reply to ]
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rroof
Nov 10, 05 18:28
Post #7 of 11 (1415 views)
Really?! You don't think a "lump" can be just an inflammation of the periostium, for example?[/reply]

No - inflammation of the periosteum (correct spelling) is not palpable as a "lump" (i.e. kick yourself in the shin real hard - bone contusion).

Periosteal thickening from a healing stress fracture IS palpable.

Either way, his question was "should I see a doctor". My suggestion (for an active triathlete) is yes. Easy sitting here behind my screen :)
____________________________________
Fatigue is biochemical, not biomechanical.
- Andrew Coggan, PhD
Quote Reply
Re: Time to see a doctor? [rroof] [ In reply to ]
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ironron2b
Nov 10, 05 19:06
Post #8 of 11 (1374 views)
thanks for the insight. I'm comfortable taking a few more weeks off, just not sure I want to spend the time and aggrevation of seeing my primary, then a specialist, then a bone scan, then a follow up, etc, just to be told, yup, stress fracture, take a few weeks off.
Anybody aware of any ways to get a stress fracture to heal quicker? If so, I would definitely be interested.
Thanks
Ron
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Re: Time to see a doctor? [rfarkash] [ In reply to ]
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rrfr
Nov 10, 05 19:53
Post #9 of 11 (1345 views)
Ron,

Nobody hates the dr. process more than me, but you ought to go thru it just to know for sure. also, not the encouragemnt you want to hear, but i had a stress f. in the tibia a few years ago, didn't rest like i was supposed to, and ended up not running for 10 months. may want to look at calcium supplements. take care.


what means this word 'change'? .....
Rappstar
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Re: Time to see a doctor? [rfarkash] [ In reply to ]
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Niles Standish
Nov 10, 05 19:57
Post #10 of 11 (1336 views)
wanna save 800.00?...take 6 weeks off of running then start back easy
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Re: Time to see a doctor? [rfarkash] [ In reply to ]
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JM
Nov 10, 05 19:57
Post #11 of 11 (1333 views)
Yup, go to the doctor. The symptoms could point to a stress fracture, and hopefully some time off does the trick, but...you might want to be sure it isn't something more serious. Know someone who self diagnosed a stress fracture that turned out to be bone cancer. Didn't kill her, but she did lose her leg.
"Maybe you should just run faster..." TM
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