Doc On The Run Podcast

Will 3 weeks of bed rest heal a stress fracture?

Today's question comes from someone who watched the YouTube video on the Doc On The Run YouTube channel called “How long before I can run with a stress fracture.”

The comment was:

“Thank you so much for this video. I want to ask if resting for three weeks, complete bed rest and I can afford to do this because I am a student, and it is summer holiday then I can walk to my college to do daily normal tasks. I do not do any physical training or running and my college is about a kilometer away.”

Will three weeks of bed rest heal a stress fracture? 

Well, that is a great question and that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

Top 3 questions to ask your doctor when you are told to stop running because of a metatarsal stress fracture

There is nothing worse than being told to stop running, especially when you have no idea how long you're not going to be able to run. 

You like your doctor. She is nice. She is smart and helpful. She seems to really care about your running, and even listens to you talk about your last run. 

But when she tells you, that you cannot run, there are three questions that you need to ask.

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about the top three questions to ask your doctor when she tells you, you have to stop running because you have a metatarsal stress fracture. 

2 real reasons doctors tell you not to run your race with a stress fracture

When you get a stress fracture, the main thing you are trying to do is figure out how bad it is.

How much does it hurt?

How can you get it to heal as quickly as possible?

Although inflammation is an important part of the healing process, it can be very disruptive to two parts of your process of getting back to running. 
 
What are the two worst things about inflammation when you have a stress fracture? 

Well, that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

The 2 worst things about inflammation with a stress fracture

When you get a stress fracture, the main thing you are trying to do is figure out how bad it is.

How much does it hurt?

How can you get it to heal as quickly as possible?

Although inflammation is an important part of the healing process, it can be very disruptive to two parts of your process of getting back to running. 
 
What are the two worst things about inflammation when you have a stress fracture? 

Well, that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

2 questions that prove your stress fracture grading is useless

One of the most useless obsessions I witness in runners is to focus on the grade a doctor uses to label the stress fracture. 

You should care if you can run, you should care if you can work out, you should care if you have to sit around in a fracture walking boot and do nothing.

Most of the time runners call me and they are trying to get an answer from me on what they can do, I know their stress fracture grading is useless. 

The reason for that is because I just asked two questions based on it and if you ask your doctor these same two questions, it will help you figure out whether or not you can start working out sooner.

Today on the Doc On The Run podcast, we're talking about two questions that prove to me your stress fracture grading is useless. 

The only time a runner with a stress fracture should take ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is a very popular medication among runners. I have seen ibuprofen tablets scattered on the course at every marathon and triathlon I have ever done. 

Runners take it when they have aches and pains, or to get through races, but I can tell you that there is only one valid reason to take ibuprofen.

To me, the only time a runner with a stress fracture should take ibuprofen is when you have what I call a non-skippable race.

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast we're talking about the only time a runner with a stress fracture should take ibuprofen. 

6 step stress fracture framework simplified

If you are a runner, it is critical that you do not lose your running fitness while waiting for a stress fracture to heal. Because that puts you at risk of getting another stress fracture once you have recovered and start running again. 

I am always trying to think about a way that I can simplify the explanations of what I do with runners when they call me because they are not getting better after a period of being in a fracture walking boot for way too long. 

There are really six steps that I follow. 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about my six-step stress fracture framework. 

2 most dangerous parts of a run with a stress fracture

After you recover from a stress fracture and you are getting back to running, there really are some details you have to pay attention to if you want to avoid a re-injury. 

The name of the game is increasing your activity to the point that your metatarsal stress fracture can withstand the stresses you are applying to it. 

What are the two most dangerous parts of a run when you have a stress fracture? 

Well, that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

 

MRI or X-Ray for large stress fracture callus remodeling?

When you get a metatarsal stress fracture from running, if you get a crack in the bone, it will eventually start to heal.

If you keep exercising, walking, running, doing elliptical training, and you are aggravating the fracture at all, the bone callus will get larger. 

Over time, the bone callus will remodel, and that lump will get thinner. The lump of bone will get smaller.

But if you are having pain because you have a huge lump of bone in your foot, at some point you might want to take a look at it with medical imaging.
 
Should I get an MRI or an X-ray when I have a large bone callus after a stress fracture, and I want to assess the callus remodeling? 

Well, great question and that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

What is plastic deformation of a metatarsal stress fracture in a runner?

Metatarsal stress fractures are something I talk about a lot because they are one of the most common reasons a runner has to stop running. 

One of the reasons you would stop running is that you do not want something called "plastic deformation" of the healing metatarsal. 

What is plastic deformation of a metatarsal stress fracture in a runner?

Well, that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.