Thursday, August 12, 2010

My Running Injury (MRI)


I've been meaning to bring you up to date on my knee. As I mentioned in my last blog post, I had an appointment with the orthopedic specialist on Thursday, August 5th. It didn't take him long to figure out that my jacked up knee was caused by a stress fracture. He put me on crutches and scheduled me for an MRI on Monday, August 9th and a follow-up appointment with him today.

I got to see the MRI images today. Here is one of them...



You are looking straight at the front of my knee, but beyond the knee cap. The red arrow is pointing to the problem. You see that dark area inside the bone? Well, it's supposed to be the same gray color as the rest of the inside of the bone.

If you could see the other "slices" of the MRI, you could see that it's at least as deep as it is wide or tall. It's just below the growth plate of the tibia and is called a proximal medial tibial stress fracture. And it will heal... over the course of 6-8 weeks.

There is also cartilage damage inside the knee joint, but I already knew that. It's an old injury but now I know a little more about it, thanks to the MRI. The good news is the cartilage damage isn't in a place that is likely to be be aggravated by running. It's in the groove that the knee cap slides over. It mainly hurts when I'm on my knees.

I have another appointment in three weeks. At that time, he will take a regular x-ray and assess my progress. He will then decide whether I can start working on the eliptical or bike riding to strengthen the surrounding muscles and tendons. It will be weeks later before I can do any high impact exercising like running. And even then I will have to ease into it very gradually.

But over the next three weeks, he just wants me to get to the point where I can walk normally without pain. Baby steps.


10 comments:

KCSherri said...

Ouch! That looks painful!

I'm sorry you aren't going to get to run in the race on the 15th - but you have to take care of you, first!

Don't injuries suck? I have a recurring shoulder injury that is just...annoying. Sigh.

I refuse to say it's because I'm getting old(er); I'm sure its just because I live life on the edge and I'm an adventurer. :)

darlin said...

David, it's unreal what MRI's can show us! I hope that you're up and literally running in no time at all, this too shall pass even though from here to there can seem like forever. I feel that everything in life happens for a reason, maybe it's time for you to just slow down a tad and spend some time focusing on other things in life... I don't know but I'm sure it's happened for a reason nonetheless. Wishing you a speedy recovery, take care and thanks for visiting my blog where I have fun! :-) It's the comments which keep me inspired!

Mya said...

This is good news indeed. Knee/leg exercises can be amazingly helpful, and I hope your excercises will fall into that category. A friend was given exercises to build up the support for her knees before she was to have surgery (knee replacement) - after regligously following the therapists orders, she went in for a checkup and the doctor said she improved so much that she no longer needs the surgery.

trash talk said...

David, I guess this would be considered a bad news/good news scenario. Bad news...you have to take it easy for a period of time (knowing you...that's enough to drive YOU crazy!)...Good news is no surgery hopefully!
There's a reason they are called trick kness. Oh the tricks our knees will pull on us!
Seriously...follow doctor's orders and let that thing heal. That's an ugly looking so and so!
Debbie

Debra@CommonGround said...

Hey David, glad it's nothing worse, although I know this isn't fun. take care and follow the doctors orders! Sending prayers for a quick recovery!
Debra

Anonymous said...

David, I seriously feel bad for you, but that MRI picture is way cool. I should have been a doctor. :-)

I do hope you continue to heal quickly. I'm praying when it's all healed that you'll be able to get back to running or elliptical or whatever you want without pain.

Take it easy!
-FringeGirl

The Vintage Husband said...

Sorry to read about the knee, I was looking forward to hearing about you running the marathon.

Good Luck on your recovery!!

Brett

The Flying Bee said...

Hi David,

Just catching up....so sorry to hear about your knee. Tommy and I are sending prayers your way.

Adrienne

Unknown said...

You and Jack are recovering together! I'm sorry about your injury, you need to do just as the doctor says. At least you will sit when needed, Jack doesn't!
Enjoy your day,
KarenSue

slc said...

I'm really sorry to learn of your knee injury. :(

But let me welcome you to the world of bicycle nuts.