How long does it take for a stress reaction to heal?

2-4 weeks is pretty standard for a stress reaction. Be careful about increasing mileage too quick, and try to strengthen your lower legs as much as possible during this time off(i.e theraband stuff, toe walks, heel walks, pick up marbles with your feet, etc)

Thanks. Do you have any suggestions about how much of my weekly mileage I should run per day? I think I'm starting with only 10-15 mpw on top of all my cross training, but I'd like to know the best way to split that mileage up. I'm thinking I better not run on back to back days because that seemed to be part of the problem.

Get a bone growth sitim device. Insurance may pay for it. I used the exogen for a SF in my femur. It really heals them so much faster! I wonder why everyone who gets a SF doesn't get one.

I've had shin problems before(stress fractures, and reactions) and seem to be over them, and running well(all-conference, all-region). What I started with was something like this.

M: 3 miles + cross training(pool or bike)

T: Off + Cross training

W: 4 miles + Cross Training

Th: 3 miles + Cross Training

F: Off

Saturday: 3 miles + cross training

Sunday: Off

And I added on an extra 5 minutes a day every week(like week two on friday I would do 0+5 minutes, and saturday 3 miles+5 more minutes) for the next couple months, until I was back to normal.

If you have any more questions, just shoot me and e-mail

Oh yeah, and every week I would add in one of the day off, so like the first week I would have 3 off as outlined, the next week I would run on friday, and then next week I would add Tuesday, and finally sunday

2-4 weeks was pushing it for me, and I ended up reinjuring the stress fracture (shin). It took me 6 weeks of no running to get over it...be careful about coming back too soon.

Hope wrote:

Get a bone growth sitim device. Insurance may pay for it. I used the exogen for a SF in my femur. It really heals them so much faster! I wonder why everyone who gets a SF doesn't get one.

Becuase they are thousands of dollars and insurance rarely covers them.

2-4 weeks is NOT standard for a SF.

6 is the minimum. Depending on the mechanism of injury and how long you ran on it, you could need 2+ months before you're good to go. Calcium balance and bone regrowth in women are a bit more delicate than in males so it's not something to skimp on and lose necessary weeks of rest and rebuilding.

Treatment/rest varies... I would trust your doctor and the diagnostic/visuals he has to grade the SF's severity and then recommend treatment. (I will note bone growth stimulators are a not treatment modality of choice nor commonly used, despite the abundant support and narratives of success of this thread.)

In the mean time, find a partner and rock some hours in the pool--I've known plenty of women (oddly, no men) who have spent serious time in the pool and come out All-Americans.

Good luck!

I'm sorry, I misread your original post. To truly know where you stand in terms of healing and regrowth get a one scan or CT--whatever your doc recommends.

Make sure you're getting it from someone who read them often and has an good understanding of what you're going through. There are different ortho diagnostic tests that may suggest stress fractures but they aren't accurate as a good read.

There is a difference between a stress fracture and a stress reaction guys.

I did the same thing...stress hot spot that I broke open, in my foot, running the mile at state....went into a cast for 6 weeks.....started running gradually, getting ready for X-C....in a preseason X-C meet in early Aug., broke it open again....I was afraid my running days might be over forever. This time I took off Sept-Oct and 1/2 of Nov....carefully started running again and was ready for track in Feb.....ran without problems for the next 10 years, thru college....so don't distress....but take it seriously and be cautious.

the key to avoiding stress fractures in the lowere leg are flexibility, strength and nutrition. get the book by Jim and Phil Wharton "The Whartons Stretch book" and the Whartons Strength book. Also check out http://www.shaklee.net/johntrautmann for nutritional supliments.

It takes as long as it is going to take.

You need to speak with a doc and your or a coach.

You might also want to look at your training and your diet.

I'm currently enduring my third stress fracture since 2000, and I have had a couple of stress reactions in the interim. Each has been in different location. After the second SF (both confirmed by bone scans), my doctor ordered a bone density scan (Dexiscan), which confirmed low-grade osteoporosis (i.e., osteopenia), which is now being treated. As others have said, it's important to monitor your nuttition, but establishing your level of bone health is also worthwhile. Just as stress fractures are not the sole domain of overeager beginners, low bone density is not the sole domain of postmenopausal women. It probably goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway: Do your best to stay off of hard surfaces. As you ramp back up, stick to grass or soft dirt paths as much as possible. Actually, the nice thing about stress fractures/ractions is that if you allow them to *fully* heal, the affected area will be stronger than it was before the injury. Patience is, of course, important.

Hey - I was wondering what kind of pool workouts u would recommend I am suffering from a stress reaction in both my tibias and i am trying to get ready for xc. Thanks