coping with 2 pubic ramus stress fractures

On March 19, 2009 I experienced a life changing event. I am an avid runner--used to run in college but then switched to running after kids and working out/yoga. Finally went back to running at age 51 back in September 2008. I became passionate about running and had to run every day. I would run even if I had been out all day and got home after 10p.m. I found running late at night was calming and I could usually run longer distances. Usually I ran 4-6 miles per day. I ran on concrete trails mostly but a few times a week I would run on the Ravenel bridge in Charleston SC. This has a grade 4 incline. I also started running on the beach. On March 18 I ran the bridge and then decided to run it again with my son and friends on the 19th. I wore a GPS to keep my distance and pace. I made the decision to beat my pace time and ran very hard down the bridge (4 1/2 miles into my run). While going down I felt my legs slapping the pavement hard and suddenly felt a bad pain in my left leg from the knee through my groin to my right knee. I kept going since I was almost done. When I stopped I was able to walk but it was painful. The next day I described it as feeling like I had ridden a bull. The next 2 days I gently walked a couple miles per night on a flat surface. By the 22nd I felt a bit better and ran 1 mile on a track then felt some pain. I also ran up and down a dirt hill twice that night. The next evening I felt fine so decided to run 4 miles on the hard sand at the beach. I went with a running buddy and remember never feeling pain, feeling great and commenting on what a great evening to run the beach. The temperature was mild and the sunset was great. I felt refreshed when the run was completed. We then walked to the car and the same pain resurfaced. By the time I drove home I had trouble walking and getting out of the car. I thought I pulled my groin tendon. I sat home for 2 days then went to the doctors. The doctor placed me on crutches, ice to the groin and a 30 day regimen of a steroid. After 10 days on crutches and an ace wrap with a chi treatment I was able to walk and decided to run in the Charleston cooper bridge (Ravenel Bridge) run. I wrapped my leg in chi and the ace wrap, took an advil and ran to the bridge. When I got to the bridge I walked since I promised my ortho doc I would not "run" the bridge. When I reached near the end of the bridge I ,once again, ran to the finish line. The adrenaline rush was fantastic and I only felt pain while walking--not running. After the run I got severe chills and pain and had trouble walking. This went away with a few days rest and I did power walking daily for the next 2 weeks. Then the steroid regimen was completed and OMG--the pain within 1 day after the steroids was SEVERE. I could no longer walk and needed to return to crutches. I went the first week of May to the ortho doc and had an MRI. The MRI showed an superior pubic ramus stress fracture, multiple tendon tears and gluteus tears and tendonitis down both legs.

I was devastated and spent another 6 weeks on 2 crutches, getting PT for e-stem therapy, gentle stretching and arm cycling. By mid-June I could stand on my left foot for 2 seconds so it was decided I could aqua-jog. I did not aqua-jog daily--only 3 times a week for 2 weeks and I went to 1 crutch. I felt minimal pain but still couldn't stand on my left foot longer than 2 seconds. After another 2 weeks I graduated to cycling my new road bike. This I only went 2-4 miles on flat surfaces. After 2 weeks of doing this I also decided to aqua-jog in the ocean. The waves went I was getting out of the water were very resistant and I felt pain. That same day I decided to do the food shopping with the crutch under one arm and the cart used to support the other side. As the cart filled up and became heavier it became difficult for me to turn the cart around corners and walk. I basically re-injured myself. The doctor had also told me at my next visit that I also had a posterior pubic ramus stress fracture. He saw it on an earlier x-ray but hadn't mentioned it since this is all so frustrating. He said the pelvis is like a life-saver. Once you crack one side the movement usually makes the other side crack. As of the beginning of July I was back to NO activity except 2 crutches and going to work 4 -5 days a week. I work as a nurse manager in a hospital. I was also started on an external bone growth stimulator and stopped PT.

At the end of August I became more frustrated with my lack of healing. After another x-ray that showed very slow healing we decided on 10 days of "couch arrest." That 10 days went fast and the pain is less. The doc has now decided on 4 more weeks of house arrest. I go once a week to PT for e-stem and gentle stretching to prevent blood clots and get to stay at work for that day if I mostly sit. Otherwise I sit at home and watch the world pass me by.

I also started fosomax 13 weeks ago for osteopenia. For the past 2 years I have been taking calcium and vitamin D for osteopenia.

My first frustrations were with not running since I love it and can't imagine giving it up. I realize when I heal I need to cross-train and cycle 3-4 days a week. I am hoping for 1 crutch by October and no crutches by Halloween. Hoping for a very gradual return to running. I am frustrated that spring and summer came and went but don't want to decorate these crutches for Christmas. I will do nothing until I feel NO pain for 2 weeks then I will switch to 1 crutch. I hope the "couch arrest" will heal me soon. The most depressing thing is watching others run, walk, skateboard, walk their dog, dance, cycle, go to football games, etc. I am too young to porch sit much longer without losing my mind. I am trying to stay positive and trying to eat pretty healthy. I also have 5 pound barbells that I do arm exercises with daily.

I have told many a crotch joke but it isn't even funny by now. Not only that but the lortab makes me itch and I can't sit, stand or lay down for a long space of time. I can't clean or take the dog out and the family is getting tired of coping also. Would love to hear others experiencing the same thing--or that have experienced it and now are back on their feet. 2009 is obviously not my year.