stress fracture or shin slpints?

I had a stress fracture in my tibia.  If it's a stress fracture, there is usually one spot along the bone that hurts a lot more when you touch it.

I got put in a boot for 8 weeks while it healed.  Also had bone density tests done to make sure I wouldn't continue to get them.

Whether you get it checked or not, you need to stop.  It sucks, but that's the best option. 

Sorry this is happening to you.  I am in week 6 of recovery from a calcaneous sxf in my right heel.  It occurred during an 18 mile training run just before the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon.  Needless to say, I did not run the marathon.

The only way to conclusively diagnose a stress fracture is to have an MRI.  Once it has been diagnosed, time off is a requirement for it to heal completely. You might be put in a boot or an air cast.  My orthopedic doc said I could spin and swim which is how I got thrown into this crazy world of multi-sports (my main sport was running).   I am also using a bone stimulator for 30 mins a day and I could be doing that for up to 4 months.  My doc thinks I'll be out of the boot around the 12 week mark and starting run/walk program after that.  He seems to think I'll be fine to run the San Antonio 1/2 Rock and Roll Marathon (I'm currently registered for the full) in Nov.

I hate to say what all the previous posters said, but it is true.  The only way for a stress fracture to heal is to give it time.  I'm of the mind that I'd rather give it all the time it needs the first time around so I don't spend any more time off my feet than I have to.  I've had friends who did not do this and ended up injuring themselves more seriously than the initial sfx.

Good luck to you.

Actually you have other options.  The dogma is that increasing your mileage or intensity by greater than 10% per week, will lead to stress fractures.  If you truly have a stress fracture either diagnosed by bone scan or MRI, then you PCP or your Orthopedic doc may tell you take time off.  Try this....Water runnning or even better yet, try to find a G-trainer by Alter-G.  This is a treadmill that will unweight you and allow you to run on anywhere from 20-100% of your body weight using air pressure.  Running on a lower percentage of your body weight allows to you run pain free and still maintain your fitness.  The key is to find on in your area.  We just got one at our office and it has allowed our stress fracture patients to continue to train, pain free and heal without losing fitness.

just a thought,

Teresa 

I have a stress fracture that was misdiagnosed as MTSS.  The saga has lasted for over a year.  The docs missed it on two x-rays and a bone scan also came up negative.

 On a visit to another Doc, here in Richmond, he located the fracture on one of my earlier x-rays.  The subsequent bone scan turned up positive.  The x-rays revealed "the dreaded black line", which apparently means it will not heal on its own and will require surgery. 

 My advice is, if it still hurts, get the bone scan.  Go running the night before the scan to get it nice and inflammed or you risk the bone scan not picking it up.  Also, get second opinions.  Stress fractures are tough to diagnose. One doc thought mine was a vain running through the bone.

 I am very upset that it could have been diagnosed properly at the outset, but glad that a resolution is near.  Living with this pain for a year and a half has really taken it's toll on my fitness.

I agree with the above posts.  Get checked.  It could be shin splints, stress reaction of bone, or a true stress fracture.  Early stages are difficult to diagnose and don't always show on the xrays/imaging.  The mainstay of treatment is relative rest from weightbearing activity, and I agree that is difficult to tell a triathlete.  But there are other adjuncts, such as physical therapy, pneumatic splints (long air cast), walking boots, and activity substitution so you don't completely decondition.  You do not want "the dreaded black line."  Having a metal rod placed down your leg is not fun.

When you are healed, you also need to determine why this happened.  Was it over training/increasing mileage too quickly?  Or is it mechanics?  You need to be pro-active to prevent another one.  Have someone look at your mechanics/gait, kinetic chain, core/lower extremity muscle imbalances, and diet.  Correct what needs to be corrected to prevent recurrences - orthotics, strengthening or flexibilty, diet/caloric intake, female athlete triad screening.

Brian