Help, I'm injured on crutches!

[WaDiWo]

I'm so sad...

My running had been going so great ... I'm training for the January Walt Disney World full marathon!!

but yesterday the orthopedic surgeon says I have a femoral stress fracture and I have to be on crutches now. and no running for a while. could be weeks or more.

What hurts is not being able to run. I guess I should have listened to my body and not run while my hip was hurting. duh. but running feels so great.

Well, now I have get motivated to cross train, and somehow keep my cardiovascular up. any suggestions on how to get through this? and how to get back into running? (when I get the ok from the doctor of course )

 

[cewait]

The location makes most x-training difficult. Some will say pool run, but please get clearance from the doc PRIOR to doing anything that puts any load across the SF. Swimming should be OK as long as you do not push off. Likewise a hand cycle should be good.

Once healed, start slowly. Let your body be your guide as you restart. Expect to be on crutches for 6-8 weeks. You will not lose a lot of cardio but may lose muscle tone.

[ADDED] - I meant to say do not beat yourself up too much. A SF can feel like a nagging ache that does not feel bad enough to say stop running. I ran the 06 Goofy on what I though was a high ankle sprain... Found out a few weeks later it was a tibia SF It would only feel bad just after I started running and then the ache would go away 10 minutes or so later.

Good luck on healing.

 

[WaDiWo]

Thanks cewait!!

I'm trying to stay positive about this whole experience somehow.
There's a great article by Meghan Rabbitt from Runner's World which explains how to deal with injury ...

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7120,s6-241-286--13490-0,00.html

I see the doctor again on Tuesday, so hopefully it will be getting better!

 

[tinkerbye]

I totally get what you're going through! I ended up on crutches my second week of triathlon training due to a sprain and wasn't even allowed to swim. I'm back to walking on but have another two to three weeks before I can run. I did a lot of shadow boxing while on the sticks of death and that helped a lot. I also did leg raises while laying down. Hope that helps!

 

[cewait]

Thanks cewait!!

I'm trying to stay positive about this whole experience somehow.
There's a great article by Meghan Rabbitt from Runner's World which explains how to deal with injury ...

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7120,s6-241-286--13490-0,00.html

I see the doctor again on Tuesday, so hopefully it will be getting better!

I read that article and agree with the attitude part for sure. One other thing that occurred to me as I thought about the more than a handful of times I have been in a sling, boot or crutches. Make sure to allow you body energy to heal, also. The healing process will take some of your energy supply to feed the injury.

 

[Qltrgrl2]

I also think that eating well is an important part of recovery. Keep positive and before you know it, you will be putting on your running shoes.
Good luck.

 

[WaDiWo]

I also think that eating well is an important part of recovery. Keep positive and before you know it, you will be putting on your running shoes.
Good luck.

Thank you so much for your support! I have a followup doctors appointment today to find out when I can bear any weight on the leg and start walking. Then running! But I know, one step at a time. I learned my lesson.