X-rays were negative, and an MRI is scheduled for next week. If it turns out to be a stress fracture, which I fear, what is the average recovery time, and will the doctor prohibit me from cycling. I have no pain during or after riding, but running is another story. I’m sure my doctor will tell me next week, but I was just curious as to what others have experienced
Thanks
I just finished my recovery from a fractured pelvis. X-rays were negative for me but a Catscan showed a hairline fracture. Could not walk or put any weight on it for 5 weeks, then progressed to crutches then to a cane. There are no shortcuts, for me it simply needed time to heal (which I was told from the beginning). I was able to stationary cyle with light tension from the beginning, and did swim with a pull bouy (although the twisting from swimming did cause some discomfort). My crash took place on May 27 and I have been running for 4.5 weeks. I found once I was on crutches, alternating a day of physiotherapy and massage helped dramatically. The massage was painful, but no doubt it helped. I am doing a 1/2 IM Saturday and IM Florida in November. My running will be slower than usual, but I am just glad to be back participating again. Good luck with your recovery and PLEASE do not try and rush back. It will not work (if in fact you have a stress fracture).
Barry,
Thanks - You stated that you had to stay off it and then use crutches. When I stop running for a week or two the pain almost completely goes away. Will it still be necessary for me to stay off it and use crutches if I don’t run, and have no pain?
Thanks
I had a small stress fracture in my tibia last year and the basic advice was that if I did something that caused pain, stop. Running caused pain immediately and cycling after a few minutes. I backed way off of anything that might make it worse and then just started back verrrry slow. After that initial period of being very angry, I took it as a sign that I was pushing myself too hard too quickly while I was too fat.
Mine did not show up on xray either, had to get the MRI. Good luck.
I didn’t have a stress fracture, but a real fracture of the hip requiring some metal. So my experience isn’t directly applicable. However, cycling is not a load bearing exercise, so light cycling won’t be much of an impact. My ortho gave me the green light to get on an exercise bike 3 weeks after surgery (I was in the hospital and rehab facility for the first 1.5 weeks). I would test my leg strength by seeing how much weight I could to put on my bad leg. I measured this with a digital scale. I could hardly put any weight on it but I could cycle pain free.
I actually think I had a stress fracture from running (had unbearable pain in the hip area after a run, took a week off, started to run again and the pain was back). I had a bike crash a few weeks later and crack! So if you cycle, keep it indoors or solo rides.
i think you’re talking about the femoral neck, right?
if so, it depends where the fracture is and how severe it is. there is a tension side and a compression side to the femur. i can’t remember right now which side is which, but the last time i fractured mine, the crack was on the medial side of the bone. this is the ‘good’ side to fracture on because it is less likely to break completely. my other 2 fractures started on the other side of the bone and one ended up breaking completely.
you would probably be non-weight bearing or partially assisted with crutches for 4-8 weeks. my doctor allowed me to be weight bearing with my last fracture, and it took forever to heal (12 weeks+). I wish I would have stayed off it b/c I think it would have healed faster.
it is not worth rushing or defying your doc’s orders. you will put yourself at risk for a complete fracture. i ran through my first stress fracture until it broke, and they wanted to put me in a body cast with a metal rod between the 2 legs. so… don’t go there.
Sorry to hear about your possible fracture. Here’s what I know, with the disclaimer that this information is what I’ve learned after four fractures, but I don’t have much of a medical background (yet!)
Xrays may show a fracture once it starts to heal; sometimes the fx is so small that you can’t see it on the xray initially, which is what may be happening with yours. When they heal it forms a callus on the bone - a thickened spot (I’ve fractured both fibulae, one tibia, and a metatarsal - I can feel the calluses on all but the tibia). They’re a little stronger after they’ve healed.
You can help it along by ensuring adequate calcium intake (no more than 500mg at a time, and 2000mg/day) and vitamins D and K (I forget the recommendations on those). Viactiv is a good supplement if you’re not getting enough from foods, though they have a wierd aftertaste. FYI, Ca binds with iron… and phosphorus leaches Ca right from bones (no soda!)
If something hurts, don’t do it. If you run on something that’s fractured, it fractures worse, and you start that 6-8wks of healing time alllll over again.
When it is healed and you start running again, it seems like it will be so great to run again. The truth is that first run (and the second, and third…) are pretty miserable, and your legs feel horrible and your whole body feels heavy, and you wonder how you used to move so fast and gracefully. (It comes back. But don’t imagine that first run to be fun, because it sucks. When you do finally get your legs back, that is a nice feeling!)
You said cycling doesn’t cause pain, check with your doctor - swimming and water running might be other options for you.
sending ((((((hugs)))))
tc.
The instructions I received from the doctor was nothing weight bearing. That is why the cycling was good. I was told putting weight on it will impair the healing process and drag it out longer than it has to be. Barry
I had a femoral neck stress fracture too. After I was first diagnosed (MRI) the doc said I could keep biking and swimming. It just wouldn’t heal so he had to get drastic - no weight bearing at all. I was on crutches for 4 months! No running or biking, and no pushing off the wall during swimming. It sucked big time!
Hope yours isn’t so drastic! 
mine’s ok now… so far!
sorry, that was for the OP.