On the couch

[drl212]

I'm new to the couch. Completed C25K in April and have been running 5K's since May. Trained up for my first 10K race - Vitality 10000 but won't be running as I have a fracture of the proximal R 2nd metatarsal. And the don't have a virtual option, sadly.

Awaiting my fracture clinic appointment later this week for news on exactly how I did this - no real acute trauma.

Volunteered at a parkrun on Saturday - gorgeous day for running. And I'm going to volunteer for Chase the Sun in Hyde Park this Wednesday. So still keeping active in the 'running' world.

I see a personal trainer once a week and we are going to continue working leg strength, as we are able, as well as others.

Would love to have recommendations that you might have for anything you might recommend. I am in air cast boot.

Thanks very much!

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold]

Welcome to S&F!!! I was wondering how you and your metatarsals were faring!

But so great to hear that you are keeping active. Just make sure that at least for two weeks keep those toes as static and not weight bearing as possible (I was advised) , as the first two weeks seem to be the most crucial ones for healing.

We do have quite a few seated workouts posted to our dedicated injury (and targeted) workout folder, so click on this link healthunlocked.com/strength... and browse through these posts. There will probably be some inspirations for workouts.

And do post how you are getting on! And yes, you are still a runner, just one who adds the experience of being on the IC and then experiencing recovery to your arsenal of running tools!

Sending healing wishes to your metatarsals!

[drl212 in reply to CBDB]

Thanks very much!

Yes, it took me a while to mentally put myself on the couch...

I've been taking it relatively easy since the break. A few days off work. I'm really looking forward to getting some answers from fracture clinic.

Thanks for the link. I'll have a look...

[linda9389]

Arrgh. That's no fun. I ended up with a metatarsal stress fracture a few years ago and was also booted. I'm afraid it took me out for 4 months. I volunteered at races and at my local parkrun and I kept posting on the running forums.I did take up cycling as an approximation of running though, and discovered a whole new pleasure.

I also found Caroline Jordan online; having suffered from a foot injury herself she has made lots of youtube videos. I particularly liked a 20 minute one for foot and ankle strength and mobility which was great rehab. When I asked for physio after it healed the hospital response was that, because I ran, I knew my body well enough to sort myself out! I was so shocked I didn't even argue!!!

Good luck. Dig deep for patience. It's so frustrating. Spoiler alert: that first run post healing, however tentative and short, is just amazing! This was back in 2019 and (touch wood) I haven't had any problem with it since.

[drl212 in reply to linda9389]

Morning l9389! Oh goodness. I didn't want to hear 4 months...YIKES!! Were you in the boot for that long?

I will see the fracture clinic on Thursday - so I hope that they can give me some insight into whether this is a stress fracture or not. It's been so frustrating that it's taking so long to be seen.

Did you have pain in the foot over time? This just came on so quickly. I didn't have any clue.

I will take a look for those videos. Many thanks for that tip. That physio should be barred from practice. Wow...

I've got a really good private physio as I got tired of waiting for the NHS physio for a shoulder issue. So I will probably use him for guidance once I'm ready.

Thanks for your kind wishes! I can't wait for that first run!!!

[linda9389 in reply to drl212]

It took a few weeks - and an MRI scan - to get the proper diagnosis so I didn't have a boot til almost a month after. The first NHs physio I saw told me it was PF and to do calf raises! Utter madness. I soon stopped that as it was so painful.I'm also of an age where healing has slowed!!!

I had some mild discomfort about a week leading up to my half marathon. I took painkillers and the discomfort was becoming more pronounced in the last 5k of the run. I crossed the start line and walked to the results tent and then boom, from nowhere, it was suddenly agony to weight bear!

I rode in the boot, and spent several weeks walking during that 4 months, but I needed that long before running unfortunately. That doesn't mean you will. Just be guided by the fracture clinic (although with a stress fracture it is harder to see concrete signs of healing on an xray than it is for a trauma fracture, just as it's harder to see the fracture in the first place).

I wrote lots of posts at the time. If you get totally bored, scroll back and see what you can find 🤣

[drl212 in reply to linda9389]

I will do...goodness...I'm sorry that it took so long to get a diagnosis...I wonder if that contributed to the longer recovery time.

I've read that the first couple of weeks are critical...

I will do some scrolling...

[linda9389 in reply to drl212]

I can honestly say that, looking back it now just seems like a bump in the journey that made me appreciate running all the more. At the time it was awful - I really feel for you.

[drl212 in reply to linda9389]

Thank you!! I look forward to the time when I can look back!

I am so missing the running. Especially as the parkrun I've recently volunteered for had wonderful weather - sunny but cool!