At the beginning of the year I set the goal to run at least 50 miles per month. I've done great so far (except January when for some reason I was a slack-ass and only ran 30) and started out June with a bang. The first week I ran 21 miles and then last week I got in 16. Of course in all my enthusiasm for making up some mileage and creating a buffer I decided to ignore the somewhat dull ache in my right foot.
As of last Friday I could no longer ignore it and it was no longer just a dull ache.
I finished up my 5 mile run with a noticeable limp. By the time I got home there was no denying that something was wrong. I spent the rest of Friday night limping around trying not to put much pressure on it. I had some trouble sleeping that night because it hurt, but I'm a glutton for punishment and still got up and did a 21 mile bike ride with some friends on Saturday morning (the only reason I did was because I could pedal without pressing down with the sore part of my foot). I spent the rest of the weekend (and this week) trying not to hurt it any further all the while taking ibuprofen and crossing my fingers that it would heal itself.
Now here we are almost a week later and it hasn't gotten any better. I've been wearing flip flops at work when I'm upstairs in the office. If I have to go downstairs where people will see me I put on real shoes, but when I'm walking around upstairs I don't want to be walking around in heels.
I haven't been to the doctor yet because I'm not sure what they can do for me besides tell me to rest and stay off of it as much as possible. Of course I've been seeking the advice of Dr. Google and I'm about 85% certain that I have a stress fracture in my foot. Awesome.
According to this I should rest for 6-8 weeks to let it heal. I am, in a word, bummed. I had been doing so well with my mileage and was ahead of where I needed to be and now I can't do anything. I can't even go to the gym and do the elliptical because it hurts too damn much. I feel like an absolute slug from not getting to do any cardio and it's killing me. I am going to try to ride a stationary bike today and see if that feels ok.
I know I need to let it heal and then ease myself back in, but I know that once it does feel better I am going to be so tempted to go right back to running (and running hard).
So yeah - I pushed too hard and now I'm paying for it. This sucks.
Ouch! Another blogger I read had this happen while training for her marathon and she let it go tooo long and it was much worse than if she would have taken care of it right away. I think she ended up seeing a chiropractor. But this might have been from a different injury. But I do know she was given / stretches whatever for the stress fracture.
ReplyDeleteI've probably already let it go too long. I plan on going to the doctor tomorrow morning just to get it checked out and see what they say. The top of my foot above my middle toe is very tender to the touch but there's no swelling or anything. All I know is I better not need crutches - how am I supposed to carry the munchkin then?!
ReplyDeleteYike! take it from me go see your dr and soon, I broke a tiny bone in my foot from over running years ago and because I have a super high pain tolerance I didn't see the dr for a few months, it got worse and worse and I had to see him before I went on my Cairo/Egypt trip. He said the worst thing I can do for my feet is wear flip-flops. But please go see him.
ReplyDeleteHope it isn't anything serious!
ReplyDelete