Any professional advice out there??? I was just diagnosed (MRI) with a 2nd metatarsal stress fracture, exactly 3 weeks prior to IM CDA. Any chance this could be just a bone bruise/ stress reaction? I am no longer experiencing the very sensitive pain on top of my foot anymore, and pain during flexion has improved dramatically. I have been wearing a walking cast, but have not tried to run or ride at all in 1.5 weeks. Water running only. Obviously a huge disappointment 3 weeks out from the race!! Could this be healed in time to race?
If this is who I think it is, go see Dr. Levandowski in Lawerenceville. He is a sports medicine doctor who does a lot of work with US Track and Field. If there is a way you can run, he will find it for you.
Neal
I had a 3rd metatarsal SF last year but that was 8 weeks out from a half IM. I avoided running for 6 full weeks. My best advice is to continue the water running right up until the race. The danger is running on it just because you think it’s feeling better. When you get to that point, it probably still needs another two weeks. Worse comes to worse, you can always “walk” the marathon and still finish without permanently injuring your foot. That’s my personal opinion though.
For professional advice, wait to rroof sees this in the morning and he will probably suggest something.
It is indeed. Thanks Neal, I will go see him. I am afraid of an overly conservative diagnosis. I know my Doc has an excellent reputation and is an accomplished runner himself; second opinions never hurt. May have to ship my bike out tomorrow just in case…
I’m still up - damn Cavalier’s ;(
2nd met stress fx is likely that (not a “bone bruise” or stress reaction in that area, sorry). How was this diagnosed? Bone scan I assume or can you see anything on plain films now?
I did a female marathoner about 4 weeks into a stress fx that was going to run a marathon no matter. I fabricated a steel plate to limit forefoot flexion for her shoe/orthotic, performed a 2nd ray block prior to the race, and off she went (to BQ too). The metatarsal was worse on X-ray after, but eventually healed. She knew what she was risking, etc.
This, however, would not work for an IM well. The problem is if the metatarsal fractures, it could displace and require open surgery to repair. Or, more commonly, the bone heals poorly (usually dorsiflexed) making the 3rd metatarsal more prominent and then that metatarsal develops a stress fx, and so on.
The easiest recommendation is to not do IM CDA, as hard as it is for me to say that to an athlete - go, volunteer, spectate, perhaps even swim (or bike?) Sign up for Silverman later and have a go there!
Good luck!
Thanks rroof, I am in a heavy state of denial and that was a reality check. Diagnosis via MRI, no fracture line visible, but bone marrow edema etc…consistent with Stress FX. This happened during a long flat bike ride, then worsened on my next run, so I was hoping perhaps it was inflammation from my bike shoes or something (anything!!) other than FX. I guess I will be on the sidelines cheering on the rest of the CDA’ers out there. I will be the one with the stupid boot on her foot.
Two weeks before the Florida 70.3 race my foot started bothering me so I decided not to run for the 12 days before the race. On race day I was feeling good until about 6.5 miles into the run, when I felt a sharp pain in my foot. I limped/ran the second half of the run, but did finish the race - which I now know was stupid. The day after the race, I went to an orthopedist and was ex-rayed. I broke the 3rd metatarsal. The Dr. said I likely had a stress fracture before the race and fractured the bone during the race. I have now been in an air cast for the last three weeks and I still have pain (although I can now swim (no pushing off) and bike. You will likely end up injuring your foot worse than I did. It is NOT worth it.
I am signed up for IMFL and hope to be ready.
rroof, do you think the biking is a bad idea? It doesn’t really hurt while actually biking, but does for a while after I put my foot back on the ground.
For what it’s worth…
I was in that state of denial last year preparing for IMLP… I had my Doc’s who would give me my cortisone shots and allowed me to train through any pain… I changed my gait to run on the outside of my foot… I ran 18 miles of the IMLP course in 2:40 and was on my way to a great great 2nd IM… then it was all done.
11 months later I’m still dealing with the after effects of training on an undiagnosed stress fracture of the 2nd metahead.
You could probably figure out a way to complete the race… but if I knew what I knew now, it wasn’t worth it.
PS- I second Dr. Levandowski, if he thinks you can run safely, he’ll let you run. (Dr. Lev was not the Doc who was shooting me up with cortisone because that’s what I wanted… That Dr. did me a disservice.)