Runner’s blog (update) – Anji Close

One of the club’s most popular members finally get’s answers to her recent injury problems.

Finally getting answers

Anji

So I bet you thought YOUR Monday was bad?!

Mine had been fairly average and uneventful until I was requested to go to see my GP following the MRI that was done on my “mangled healing foot” last Wednesday the 9^th. I was reassured on the phone that it was just routine and there was nothing to worry about. I was however worried when I was immediately sent by the GP to South Tyneside casualty with a note from him, the read-out of the MRI and the words “Double acute stress fractures” ringing in my ears.

“But I’m racing in Manchester on Sunday!” was my initial response.

As I sat in A&E reading the MRI report over and over again, it sunk in pretty quick that I WASN’T going to be doing Manchester after all. Anyone that knows me knows how important Manchester was, I always referred to it as “The One” after having a place and having to pull out, ironically with a stress fracture in the cuboid, in 2011. I had made my peace with the fact that as my ankle and heel were still painful with what I still thought was a ligament sprain, it wasn’t going to be a fast one. I had accepted that I would probably have to run/jog/walk and while it wasn’t ideal it was better than not doing it at all. I had only attempted to run twice in the last two weeks and both attempts had lasted less than 20 seconds. This was suddenly all making sense.

The MRI was pretty clear: a vertical stress fracture to third talus (posterior), and an acute linear stress fracture in the calcaneum. Or plainly: a cracked knackered heel. Both the fractures showed fluid in the joints and extensive marrow and bone bruising. Huge flashbacks to the NT10k which I finished in extreme pain and said to a few people that I felt like something in my heel and my ankle had “gone”. It had indeed gone! I have now seen the images from the MRI and the cracks are pretty perfect little lines that hopefully won’t stick around for long. I have requested the images which I will share proudly with the TBH facebook community when I get them!

I’ve spent a lot of time in hospital waiting rooms and seeing various doctors this week and weirdly the worst thing has been the reaction to Tramadol that I was given for the pain that I have had since my ankle was immobilised. The doctor called this the “fusing” pain as the bone begins to bind again.  It’s ok if that makes you want to throw up. Being on crutches again has been a shock to the system but I have been to the pool at least once a day and hopefully will begin some aqua jogging next week. I’m determined not to lose anything from my usually-clever legs. Most stress fractures take 4-6 weeks to start to heal but I will know more when I see the orthopaedic specialist in a few weeks. Manchester is gone from the plan as has the Potters Half marathon in Stoke in June, but I feel ok with those decisions as they are no longer in my control. I am still travelling down to Manchester for the weekend as it was all already booked and paid for, and I’m hoping that with some sympathy for the moon-boot and crutches, I might get a decent place in the crowd to see Haile coming in.

So, yeah, this week sucked but I finally have answers and although the focus of the season has now changed, I can’t help thinking that I’ve hit the bottom and this is now the way back up. The future is bright, as always it’s black and white.