Stress fracture diagnosis - NHS?

Hi!

I am still a bit worried about cranking up my running after suffering from shin pain for a while. Problems first occurred after my second half-marathon in Oct., and I cut back on running immediately. However, I'm still only back to running 30min once a week on soft ground (but pain free). 

Does the NHS cover a check for a possible stress fracture, or will the GP just send me away?

Thanks,

Martin

Comments

  • WilkieWilkie ✭✭✭

    It depends on your GP - but they SHOULD send you for whatever tests would be necessary.

    However, some GPs would just look at you strangely and take the view that if it doesn't hurt when you're not running, then clearly you should just stop running!

    Having said that, there is no other treatment for it anyway......

  • I asked my GP for a referral as I had and still get a pain on the inside of my shin.  Fortunately I am covered by BUPA so I got to see someone quite quickly.  They took an x-ray of the leg and there was evidence of some swelling but no fracture.  The next step was a scan but the specialist wasn't prepared to go down that route straight away so suggested I gave up running (great!) or see my podiatrist.  Which I did.  300 quid later, a new pair of orthotics, less pain, but still a niggle every now and then more so now that I have upped my mileage for marathon training.

    If the NHS is too slow consider paying c. 80 quid for a private consulation.

  • Docmart

     What question do you want to ask your GP?

    If you can manage 30mins running without pain then you don't have a current stress fracture.

  • Thanks for your feedback, just came in from a run image.

    @blimeythatsbendy: I know that my shin is not fractured completely, but I'm not sure whether there are microfractures which will become worse when I run more... 

  • NessieNessie ✭✭✭
    Trouble with stress fractures is that they are notoriously difficult to pick up on an x-ray or a scan (especially if they are pre-fracture), so the chances are your GP won't see it as worthwhile. No harm in asking though.
  • Docmart - there's really no way of predicting that, I'm afraid. Scans and so on can tell you what has happened, but they won't give you a reliable forecast of what will happen if you run in the future. I wouldn't waste your money on seeing anyone TBH.

    Loads of folks on here have had tibial stress fractures ( and will testify that a proper one REALLY hurts, not just when you are running) - the consensus seemsto be that once your are pain free and able to run for a few weeks without pain then you can start to push on a bit, but at any hint of a pain stop and regroup.

    Sorry if that's a bit vague, but that's the only advice I have ever come across.

  • Doc I got shin pain when running and have been running on it for several months but cutting back or having more rest to allow my 'tendinitis' to recover   - this tendonitis is a stress frcature in my tibia as diagnosed with MRI.

    An X-ray will only tell you when it starts to heal.... an MRI is probably best but there may be a long wait

    Until you see your GP you won't know how sympathetic they are, how likely they are to refer you for this test and how long the waiting list is (no point being referred if the wait is ages)

    You are supposed to be able to diagnose it on clinical grounds but it is also I believe a commonly missed problem with many dismissing it as shin splints. Personally I'd got so used to the pain of shin splints that this is exactly what I did. So although I agree with bendy about running would cause pain -if you are used to pain you don't register it??

  • I have been told that it won't heal unless I rest completely for at least 3 months and possibly 6 months...... what is more if I continue to run it will refracture and prolong my return. I have rested for weeks and then returned gradually only for the pain to return.  From my point of view it has been worthwhile having a diagnosis in order that I can plan to not attempt a run at all for several months.

  • I’m having issues now. Just one side of my foot. Where the small bone is, just can’t bend it up and down. Have been pushing myself to run more. What’s the treatment for a stress fracture?
  • SHADESSHADES ✭✭✭✭
    saraara - what sort of mileage have you been doing?   

    A physio can usually diagnose a SF.  At least 6 weeks rest and slow and gentle reintroduction to training.   Important to try and find out the cause as can easily happen again if there's an underlying cause that's not dealt with. 
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