Foot Injury Diagnosis
I was pretty devastated to be told a couple of weeks ago that I have arthritis in my left foot and should discontinue running immediately. This was the diagnosis that I received after 3 weeks of rest, anti-inflammatories and physio didn't seem to have any positive effect on some minor pain in my foot and I was sent in for bone scans to rule out a stress fracture.
The bone scans didn't show a stress fracture, but did indicate arthritis (talonavicular joint), and these scans were followed up by x-rays, apparently confirming the diagnosis.
It's been a pretty tough couple of weeks as I've waited between test results, hoping and praying for a better outcome. When I first went in for the bone scan, the worst case scenario in my head was a stress fracture and six weeks off running. In hindsight, that would have been a welcome prognosis.
I am waiting on an appointment with a specialist who I will see early January. I am hoping to find out a little more information on just how limiting arthritis is going to be to me as a runner - basically if it's in my best interest to stop running completely or if I can get away with minimal amounts. I've been cycling still and that's been fine. I'm told cycling, swimming and any other sports where the joint is fairly stable should be fine.
From what I've been told so far, if I continue to run the pain will become unmanageable and at some stage I will likely need to get my foot fused. My greatest fear is that in 20 years time I will be immobile or find it hard to walk, that would be a worse sentence than never running again, so I am mindful of this before I shoot myself up with cortisone injections and hit the pavements again.
I still hold hope there's been a mis-diagnosis or prognosis. I really can't imagine my life without running. It's funny the things I now realise I've taken for granted and planned around. I've already chosen the dog I will own one day based on it's ability to keep up with me when we're out jogging.
I've already planned the new trail runs I want to do when I go home for Christmas. I've just dropped my working hours to part time to pursue triathlon and Ironman. Running's a big part of my life now and my running has also become a big part of the lives of those around me. I've had family and friends in tears at the news (that is touching - I had to comfort them!) and there have been some sleepless nights pondering the 'what ifs'. I know it sounds ridiculous (put it into perspective Nina - I still have my limbs and my livelihood!) but I think any other runner would empathise and allow me a moment of self pity. Why can't this happen to a couch potato who has no desire to run? It doesn't really seem fair.
So from here, I'll certainly be talking to more professionals and getting as many opinions as I can on how to manage this. January 7th is the Specialist appointment and I think that will be telling. I'd also really like to hear from anyone who has arthritis and is still active, especially runners. How do you manage pain? Has it progressed? Were you also told not to continue running? I'm sure there are a lot of people out there dealing with similar issues.
I feel your frustration not being able to run, especially if like me you aren't seeing any positive results from the rest! It's a tough gig.
I hope the rest does you good and you manage to work out what's going on. Try and talk to as many professionals as you can. I'll be interested to hear how you get on.