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Femoral Stress Fracture

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Femoral Stress Fracture

Old 01-21-12, 10:55 AM
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Femoral Stress Fracture

Well, I finally got my first big injury. I was diagnosed yesterday with a femoral stress fracture. So apparently, I have 6 weeks of down time on my hands. The injury actually came from running, but I was told that I cannot cycle either. So my question for you guys; is there any way to maintain my cycling ability (although mediocre anyway) while resting my leg? Any sort of exercises that I can do to keep myself in relatively good shape? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am extremely bummed out that I will be off the saddle for such a long time, but I guess it is better now than mid-summer or spring.
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Old 01-21-12, 10:56 AM
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are you going to quit running forever
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Old 01-21-12, 11:29 AM
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At this point, I'm pretty bitter at running.
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Old 01-21-12, 11:53 AM
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Gotta be careful with stress fractures, as they often can be trickier to recover from than a completed fracture. Most important is to bear as little weight as possible on the fracture at first [3 weeks] and then over the next several weeks very gradually increase weight-bearing [first in duration, then in intensity] to encourage proper bone recovery. Light cycling at 4 weeks will probably be alright, depending on severity. Definitely don't rush back into running.
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Old 01-21-12, 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Doin Work son
Any sort of exercises that I can do to keep myself in relatively good shape?
In short, not really. Having been in a similar situation, your best plan of action is:

- be extra vigilant with your diet. You don't want to gain too much weight and maintaining a quality diet will also help your healing.

- If you're doing physical therapy, stick to it religiously, including any "homework". A PT can also help gauge when you can start exercising again and what you can do.
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Old 01-21-12, 12:27 PM
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follow your doctor's order so you can recover the first time...and not delay the process by too much too soon (my normal mistake)
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Old 01-21-12, 01:13 PM
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Thanks guys. I guess i was just hoping i could go do some easy spinning. I think I may have to pick up a new hobby and diet for the next 6 weeks.
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Old 01-21-12, 01:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Doin Work son
Thanks guys. I guess i was just hoping i could go do some easy spinning. I think I may have to pick up a new hobby and diet for the next 6 weeks.
I would think core and flexibility work might be a good plan.

I don't want to bum you out but my friend's wife had a stress fracture that has taken more than a year to heal to the point where she do some very light running...although she was able to start cycling after six months. I think she ran in pain for quite a while before it was diagnosed.
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Old 01-21-12, 01:25 PM
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Ouch. I ran only once after the pain started and the doctor didn't think it was too severe. Hopefully I can be back to normal in 6 weeks. I'm getting a lot of mixed advice from md friends and coaches.
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Old 01-21-12, 02:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Pug
- If you're doing physical therapy, stick to it religiously, including any "homework". A PT can also help gauge when you can start exercising again and what you can do.
+1.

I always emphasize this to folks who ask for advice regarding fractured/broken bones. It was key for me, but I also was fortunate to have been given that advice right after my accident.

Just work very hard at PT with a good physical therapist. (And ask for a physical therapy plan that has homework galore)

Good luck.
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Old 01-21-12, 02:54 PM
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How much did u run to get that? Femur is unusual for stress injury.

And how was it diagnosed?
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Old 01-21-12, 02:59 PM
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Definitely consult with your doc and a PT specializing in rehabbing sports injuries. They might give you the greenlight to swim or do aqua/pool running. Luckily, I've never been injured to that extent, but friends tell me you can do intervals, lactate threshold, and long endurance workouts in the pool to maintain a decent level of fitness.

Last edited by milkbaby; 01-21-12 at 11:10 PM.
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Old 01-21-12, 03:14 PM
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Well, my wife and I traveled over the holidays, so i was out of commission for about 2.5 weeks. Finally, when I got back, I had a day off and decided to do a half-marathon. I was running 17 miles or so prior to the 2 weeks off. Stretched and everything, and around mile 10 I started feeling a slight pain above my left knee. Slowed and began to walk home, pain got worse. Relaxed for a day, went cycling for 30 miles and was pretty fine. then went jogging the next day for 5 miles and the pain began gradual and began to really hurt. when not exercising, I feel fine. As far as diagnosis, I went to a gathering of residents and two attending doctors. Both of the attendings said that it was more than likely a stress fracture if it does't hurt all of the time (muscle pull). My wife, a resident, is doubtful of the diagnosis, but I want to play it safe. I have an appointment with my primary care physician this week, so we will see.
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Old 01-21-12, 03:26 PM
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Uggghhh... Unless you've had the SFX for a few weeks, it probably will not show on an x-ray, then you have to spend time and money on a bone scan... Good luck, hopefully it's simple and resolved by a little rest!
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Old 01-21-12, 04:03 PM
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As a long long time runner I have had 2 pelvic stress fractures over 20 years ago. They were in the ring of the pelvis and one I actually took only a week off from running and returned slow. The Dr said this was only possible because the pelvis is a double ring and found out after it had already healed. The other keep me from running for 3 months. A femolar stress fx is rare and you really would have had to over-do it. I was still able to cycle and I would do what the Dr says but most stress fxs are weight issues and cycling does not present this problem. Being completely inactive is not always the best because of blood flow and the healing that promotes. Do not listen to me but I wonder if you could simply spin very easy in on a trainer and no standing.

Pain is the body's indicator and just how bad is the pain. I ran through the discomfort of my first stress fxs after taking a week off running. I went to the the ortho doc who did not do any xrays or test other than hands on with movement. I could run with discomfort but the second one was pain.......I could barely walk the dog for a week and then it gradually got better. I can run with probably major discomfort but pain was impossible. Remember, God heals and the doctor sends the bill. If you can cycle/spin easy with no pain then personally that might be fine. Even a week of rest then go back spinning slow.

I also ask the doctor at the time if I took nsaids could they mask the pain so much that I would do damage. He said no. Taking something like prox/sodium helps and if you have no stomach issue that is the normal treatment with rest. THe dr had me taking them and then tapering them down as pain got better over time.

BTW, don't stop running when it heals but if you need distance for a marathon you can run shorter and add long bike rides. I have not run over 13 miles in the past year but could do a marathon without too much issue. You can simulate a 20 mile training run by running 12 miles then biking 50 miles right after the run.
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Old 01-21-12, 04:25 PM
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Thanks Mark. What really baffles me is that everything I am reading about femoral stress fractures is that it is in the hip region. My pain is about 2 inches above my knee cap, so I am wondering if I am all wrong about this. I cannot tell if it is bone or muscle, but I tried the fulcrum test and hop test and had no difficulty. As i sit right now, I am fine, with an ever so slight dull pain.
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Old 01-21-12, 04:29 PM
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inquire about yoga, ems (electronic muscle stimulation) rubber bands, swiming, water areobics
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Old 01-21-12, 05:05 PM
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Let me tell you about what I felt although not the same fxs as yours. This is all explained in the Tim Noakes Book THE LORE OF RUNNING..........get it. The book is the master of all running books Noakes is a medical doctor, exercise physiologist, and long distance/ultra runner. His section on injury is what explained my symptoms. In a pelvic stress fx I could not hop on one leg it was pain.... and quite a bit. Went up in my lower back too and hurt more at night in bed. In fact once I could hop on both legs pain free then is was healed. There also can be residual pain that really is not serious once healed. The new bone under normal conditions is actually stronger and once the matrix of bone is completed you are ok to go.

Pain in the up high on the femor is more serious due to femoral neck displacement that can happen if you don't let it heal. Pain 2 inchs below the hip on the top of the thigh is probably more serious than yours. Need to remember that pain can be referred so it may be coming from some other place. When my 2 pelvis fx happen that stopped me running it caused pain all the way down and even in the knee area. This due to other parts of the body taking on the load to compensate.

Personally if it were me I would ask another doctor's opinion on spinning as long as there is no pain. I also want to tell you I have ignored doctors at times because I thought things were ok concerning some things. I might add for instance I had the routine colonosopy 3 months ago the benefits of turning 50. Well after the deal ( it was normal thank you Lord) they told me no driving go home and rest. That was at 10 am. I then went out for a huge breakfast since I had no food the day before going on 36 hours of nothing. I came home and about 1 hour later went on a 40 mile bike ride at about 18-19 mph, not off a typical ride pace for me unless I am trying to really press the pace.

I have also ignored doctors and should made mistakes or at least not help the cause so be careful. Let me know how things progress since this thread will probably be out the door soon.
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Old 01-23-12, 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Doin Work son
Thanks Mark. What really baffles me is that everything I am reading about femoral stress fractures is that it is in the hip region. My pain is about 2 inches above my knee cap, so I am wondering if I am all wrong about this. I cannot tell if it is bone or muscle, but I tried the fulcrum test and hop test and had no difficulty. As i sit right now, I am fine, with an ever so slight dull pain.

Did you have this thing MRId or is it just a guess at the sfx? Makes a big difference.
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Old 01-23-12, 09:27 PM
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Hey, where on your femur is the stress fracture located?
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Old 01-23-12, 10:27 PM
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I had a stress fx on my right tibia from running. Pain was VERY sharp and I was not able to run for nine weeks. I limped for about 2 weeks. Was able to maintain some aerobic conditioning cycling, but lost a lot of my "running legs". Know ppl that have had stress fx and cycling just hurt them more. Good luck...
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