6 replies to this topic

[bjr90]

Hey guys, Woke up about 2 weeks ago with my left leg hurting just above my ankle about 2 inches up. Over the last 2 weeks its got gradually worse. I can always feels this slight ache/pain when resting, and when I walk the pain gets worse , and again even worse when I run and eventually forces me to stop. I went to the doctors about it today and he didn't seem to worried and thought it could just be some soft tissue damage and just gave me some pain killers. But I'm more convinced its the bone that hurts and not muscles or ligaments. When I push the area affected with my fingers I would say rate the pain about 7/10 and I would say I cope with pain quite well. My left leg is quite tender and slightly more swollen than my right. Does anyone have any ideas to what the problem could be? Because I dont belive it is a soft tissue injury.

Thanks it advance,

Ben.

[NeillS]

Hey Ben. Could be a few things mate, the three more likely are tibialis posterior injury/periostial inflammation, retinaculum or sheath injury, or the big daddy of them all - a stress fracture. Best get someone a bit more interested in fixing it to look at it, might I (biased) suggest a physio? Hard to say what it is over the net without looking so you're best off getting it looked at one-on-one. Tib. post problems often feel exactly like the bone is sore - hopefully you haven't ripped it too bad! If the physio suspects it's injured fairly badly, they should request an ultrasound to visualise the extent of the damage.

[sportsphysio]

Ben

The pain location that you've mentioned is a common site for bone stress injuries including stress fracture and some of the symptoms that you've mentioned may be consistent with a stress fracture.
http://www.sydneyrun...ibialstress.htm

But a proper diagnosis from hands on assessment is needed to get you heading in the right direction. I'd suggest you find a sports doc or sports physio familiar with runners to get some answers. Not saying that the GP has missed the diagnosis but a second opinion is wise if you have your doubts about the current approach.

SP

[bjr90]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'm going to definatley get a second opinion as I feel theres more to it than the doctor thought. I have researched symptoms for stress fractures and my symptoms match those on various web pages I've looked on. Should I carry on training to see if it gets worse? Or should i just rest up for a while?

[sportsphysio]

bjr90, on Sep 21 2010, 10:10 PM, said:

Should I carry on training to see if it gets worse? Or should i just rest up for a while?

I'd go with option c) get a second opinion

[NeillS]

Yep get it checked by a pro, if in doubt about the pathology they will likely refer you for an ultrasound or bone scan depending on if they think it's a muscle tear or a bony issue.

I certainly wouldn't keep training on it until you have a diagnosis - if it's a large tib.post. tear for example with fluid collection and fibre retraction, it could be seriously problematic if you don't get it fixed properly. Likewise, if it's a stressy then you will make it worse and your recovery will be longer.

Edited by NeillS, 22 September 2010 - 02:10 PM.

[bjr90]

I have tried all the tests that are on the sports clinic website.Putting pressure on the area, the heel test and the hop test. I attempted  the hop test and after doing just one hop the pain was there straight away so I have my suspicions that it could well be a stress fracture. Just have to wait for that second opinion now and hope it is nothing serious.