Repeat stress fractures!!

[TLTinAtl]

I had a stress fracture in the spring as a result of overzealous training for a half marathon. Since then, I've lost about twenty pounds and the only running that I've done is very conservative training for a 5K over the course of about six weeks. I ran the 5K about a month ago and in the last two weeks, I've had the same pain in my foot that I had before the first stress fracture was diagnosed. I feel about 98% percent certain that I have another stress fracture in the same bone in the same foot as I had before. Has this happened to anyone else?

I'm SO SO SO furious because I'll likely be off all standing leg work and cardio for three weeks in order for the stress fracture to heal. I've just gotten my fitness level back to where I wanted it and was ready to go onward and upward. I don't want this to happen a third time. I replace my shoes every six to nine months. I do very little high-impact cardio - mostly spinning, rebounding, walking, a little running, a tiny bit of step, elliptical trainer, and some Firm- and Fitprime-type four-limb and high/low. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?;(

 

[Aquajock]

At the risk of sounding like an Old Testament Broad, it could very well be that you didn't give yourself enough recovery time after the first stress fracture ("conservative training for a 5K" being an exceedingly relative thing), and you didn't give yourself enough recovery time after the 5K. It's my understanding six weeks is the MINIMUM recovery time needed for a stress fracture, especially if it's a repeat fracture.

The club system where I teach aqua has a Club Run program at several of its facilities, and when I instructed aqua at one of these I lost count of the number of runners who kept burning themselves out training, and returning to the pool grudgingly to train out of the injury, and jump back into running at the first pain-free day. Does not bode well for long-term health.

Give yourself enough time to recover! And consider aqua jogging as a recovery mode, AND as part of your ongoing cross-training, to keep yourself in running form while protecting against the stresses of high-impact running.

Just a little tough love on a Tuesday morning -

A-Jock

 

[rmrmr]

I have had a repeat stress fracture in my left foot, 3 times. It still bothers me somewhat still. For me, I gave up running about 3 years ago. I do enjoy running and in the spring or fall when the weather is just right, I like to run 5 or 6 miles a couple times a week. But that's it. Even though I continue to work out to Cathe, and do elliptical, stepper, bike, nothing compares with the benefits I received from running. Part of my problem too could have been doing aerobics on my cement basement floor as well. Not to worry, I now have mats and they have made a world of difference. When my stress fracture was healing, I was able to do weight work and cardio machines (except for the treadmill). As a final suggestion, you may want to have a professional fit you for your running shoes. Go to one the shops where you run on a treadmill and they check out how your foot rolls and can provide you with a well fitting running shoe.

Good Luck