A Bit Of A Scare
It was another perfect weekend in South Western Ontario. I think the summer days in July have got to be my absolute favourite.
It was the 5 Peaks Albion Hills race this weekend and I headed to Caledon with one of my trail running buddies, Leanne. I wasn’t racing so I paced her on the sport course. It was a gorgeous day for a jaunt in the woods.
It was so much fun to get caught up with everyone and to see my Christina as well.
I seriously love the 5 Peaks race series. It is such a relaxed atmosphere to spent time with trail friends and to eat some nutella and watermelon in the sunshine. Nothing feels more like summer.
You may have noticed that I am back to running! It felt like forever, but in actuality, it was only three weeks. I had a big, long post explaining everything for you and then the diagnostic changed on me and I waited to get it sorted out.
The low down?
Three weeks ago, I felt a pain in my shin and I instantly stopped running. It was the same pain I felt with my old stress fracture and I didn’t want to be reckless. My coach was on vacation that week, but assured me that it was probably nothing. I still decided to take a week of complete rest so I could be a little more sure of what it was when he returned.
Roller blading is NOT better than running
When he returned, he speculated that it could be a stress fracture and I absolutely despaired. I had done everything correctly and we both agreed there is absolutely no reason for me to get the injury, but I went for a bone scan.
It came back that there was not a fracture but a stress reaction which can be a healing fracture site, shin splints or a developing fracture so it needs to be treated as a fracture. The weirdest part? It is in the opposite leg! The leg where I am experiencing pain shows nothing.
I had two different professionals weigh in and there is now zero pain in either leg so we are proceeding cautiously with this week being my first full return to running. I have not missed a beat in my training as I have been doing long miles on the bike, intervals in the pool and tempos on the elliptical. I feel ready to tackle Transrockies and am feeling hugely relieved that there is not a fracture.
You can read about my stress fracture experiences here. Please note I took a definitive test to show that I do not have a fracture and have the full blessing of my coach, physiotherapist and sports doctor to run again or else I would not chance it. A fracture is not something you should ever run through.
I do not regret taking the month off to make sure everything is clear. It is better to be overly cautious than reckless and I have learned this the hard way! Running is something I want to be able to do forever, so a month or two of cross training here and there is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Now, it is onwards and upwards!
When was the last time you were injured or had an injury scare?
I still have to head to my doctor – something is wacky with my left leg. When it first started, I started getting that familiar pain on my shin where last year’s stress fracture was – after rest and PT it went away. I think we tackled one strained muscle, but have one more to work on? Hard to get to my doctor when my son is at home (husband is away) – can’t imagine getting a bone scan done with him around, lol.
Glad you are getting back to training!
Honestly, bone scares are THE WORSTTT!
I think you did the right thing. Injuries are scary and it’s better to take the time to rest. Maybe it wasn’t a fracture but you body was still telling you something.
I know! And now that I am back, I feel so much stronger! Lesson = learned.
I so often second guess myself when it comes to aches and pains. Is it the real deal, or is it just a niggle I’m over-blowing?
I’ve been dealing with peroneal tendonitis for nearly a year and it’s just plain old annoying and I’d like for it to go away.
I have heard that shin pain, is very painful. I have been very fortunate myself in regards to this injury. Glad the cross training on the bike, pool and elliptical has worked to keep you conditioned.
Take care,
~Carl~
That’s really strange about the opposite leg! Maybe it was like whenever twins experience the same pains lol… Yeah, I’ve started to use the elliptical machine now, as I want to keep the training up but just give my legs a chance to recover. Glad to hear you are now back running!
RIGHT?! Isn’t it seriously the weirdest thing you have ever heard? Cross training is so important.
I’m so glad it all turned out okay, and I think you made the right call taking some time off and being cautious. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you so it makes sense to treat your body wisely.
Aghhhh – I have so much to ask! I’ve been out of running for 9 days now and my injury doesn’t seem to be improving. I’ve had on/off hip pain for many months last (I was diagnosed with a glute med tendinopathy & bursitis last year). I rehabbed it last year and it improved but since the spring it keeps coming back. I correlated it to the wear of my running shoes (which seem to be wearing out a hell of a lot faster with increased mileage…duh). Anyways, I keep running on worn-out shoes and started to feel pain again in the hip and tibia. I stopped when I started limping (terrified I had a stress fracture). The tibia pain is now gone – but the hip is not. I’m also worried about a bone scenario. I had a physio check it yesterday, she thinks it’s the piriformis…which I agree is tight, but I don’t feel it’s the only issue…something feels ‘wrong’.
I unfortunately have NOT been dedicated to x-training like you. I HATE the gym – being inside on summer days kill me. But I don’t own a bike and our swimming pool is also closed. So the spin bike and elliptical are my only options…and then I want out after a measly 40 minutes. I woke up today hoping to feel better…but the pain is still there…and it’s a gorgeous day.
I feel like I’ve lost SO much fitness and I’m angry that I didn’t take x-training more seriously. I am re-committing to it now, whether I want to be inside or not, the work needs to be done. Maybe I” check on getting a scan next week. Resources are extremely limited where I live though so it may not be an immediate option. You are SO impressive – the way you handled a 3-week break and rocked your x-training. How long were your x-training sessions?…and how do you keep your butt from getting sore on the spin-bike/bike? :0
Oh man, Jenn! I am so sorry to hear this! Not running is so hard and as you can see, I totally feel your pain. It sounds like you are doing everything correctly – getting new running shoes and seeing professionals. The best thing you can do is REST and keep cross training.
Being in the gym on a beautiful summer day is SO disheartening – in fact, I feel as if I should write a post on this because I have a few tricks up my sleeve in terms of what to do to keep it interesting.
You can see all of my training here: https://www.strava.com/athletes/4484078 and my average training session was an hour – an hour and a half.