Got back from my ortho doc a bit ago…the diagnosis: pubic ramus stress fracture.  The good news, it isn’t my hip and there isn’t anything surgical that needs to be done. The bad news, I’ll be on the cane for at least another 4-6 weeks.  I’m seriously considering crutches once Capt. UberHusband is back home for good and can help out, because I’m not sure now that the cane is doing a good enough job of keeping all the weight off my left side. But, we’ll have to see.

In terms of running…I won’t be able to even think about running for another three months. Isn’t that crazy? I just started running eight months ago, and here I am…almost four weeks since my last run with another 3 months ahead of me. But, I’m more interested now in being able to walk unassisted at more than a snail’s pace!

I found a couple of personal blogs that mentioned this particular malady, so I’ll provide my presenting symptoms for anyone who happens upon this post as well:

• Running approximately 10-13 miles/week, began in May of ‘09.  Began increasing my weekly mileage in November of ‘09, but in very small increments (~ 1 mile/week).
• Pain began 12/21/09 after a 3-mile run. Felt like a groin pull on both legs. Uncomfortable, but I could walk.
• Waited for groin pain to subside, went out and ran again on 12/28 ~ 4 miles, no groin pain until post-run, after I’d cooled down. More uncomfortable than painful, slowed down my walking but wasn’t significant.
• Ran on 1/1, 1/2, 1/4 – slight pain before the run, greater pain post-run. Little pain actually during the run after I’d warmed up.
• 1/6 ~ ran 4 miles, a couple hours after I’d finished the groin pain was so bad that I couldn’t walk. Haven’t been able to walk at a normal pace since.
• Tried ice, heat, NSAIDs, topical pain creams, and yoga stretching to try to loosen the muscles up. No dice.
• About 10 days ago, the pain got so bad after about an hour of walking (I was in NYC) that I couldn’t walk at all. Excruciating pain when putting any pressure on the left leg.
• Pain no longer confined to the groin area, also now pain in left lower back, hip, and thigh. Putting any weight on the left leg sends shooting pains up my pelvic area and underneath my buttocks. Also pain along the crease of my leg/torso.
• Started walking with a cane this past Monday (1/25) so I could at least get around.  After staying off it for awhile (at least a couple of hours), I can get up and walk slowly for about ten steps before the shooting pain begins again.
• Over the last week, it has become painful to lay on my left side. Uncomfortable to lay on my back or left side, but not painful

My first visit to an ortho for this issue was a disaster.  It was a doctor I’d seen before for other issues, and he completely blew off all my symptoms and recommended physical therapy. I *knew* when I went in to see him that this wasn’t an issue of tight hip flexors, or my IT band, or my SI joint.  I had read enough horror stories of people who had my exact symptoms and were misdiagnosed and mistreated for weeks, and even months.

I had to literally, beg him to do an MRI order. He said we could do one, but it would probably be negative, and then we’d be back to PT. When I asked him what the diagnosis was, he said he didn’t know. “Vague symptoms give you a vague diagnosis.”  As you can see from my list above, my symptoms were anything but vague. Plus, how on Earth could he recommend a PT treatment plan without a diagnosis?  Yeah, I was annoyed.

I did get an MRI order from him (and he brusquely left the exam room, med student in tow, without even saying goodbye), but came home and instead went looking for another doctor.  I’m sorry, but that was a total bullshit treatment by my now-former doctor, and I didn’t trust him at all.  He ran off so fast he didn’t even see that it took a full three minutes for me to hobble to the end of the hallway to check out.  Asshole.

So…last Friday I went to a new ortho, a sports medicine specialist. The visit went well.  I even brought CU with to make sure my medical interests were being served. I had some x-rays done, which were kinda-sorta inconclusive…but he did say he was a bit concerned about my pelvic area. Sure enough, when he examined the abdominal area I had a good deal of tenderness…and then he recommended an MRI to either rule in or rule out a stress fracture.

When I went in, I figured it was a hip stress fracture.  I’m glad it’s not, because that’s much more dangerous and from what I understand, has the potential to have a significantly longer rehab period.

And so, there we have it. No half-marathons for me anytime soon. I’m now hoping to run White Rock in December. For now though, I’d be content just being able to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

I’m trying to stay positive, though. It’s difficult. I’m used to being mobile and self-sufficient, and this is a serious dent in my lifestyle. But, when my doctor looked me in the eye and said, “Stacy, you will run again”, I knew that I’d be okay giving up a few months for the greater reward.

I’ll keep ya’ll updated!