MRI, second pelvis stress fracture - please tell me what I'm doing wrong

Injury/Nutrition Other

6 years ago 03/21/2018 1:03pm EDT

Hello Folks,

I had an MRI a few weeks back, which revealed a pelvic stress fracture. This is my second in 9 months. The fractures are on different sides of the pelvis (i.e., it is not the same fracture).

*** In both instances, my groin muscles became extremely tight prior to the pain and diagnosis. ***

Tell me what I'm doing wrong here. What issues (posture, strike, training, etc.) will cause tight groin muscles that (literally) rip the bone apart.

FYI: I'm 30 y/o healthy male, and I haven't changed my training (70-80 miles/week) in years.

Personal experience, professional advice, etc. is all appreciated.

6 years ago 03/21/2018 6:14pm EDT

re: mrjoe1008

6 years ago 03/21/2018 6:53pm EDT

re: mrjoe1008

Get a bone density scan and full bone health workup. 70-80 miles a week is a lot, especially if you dont take much down time or do lower body lifts.

Bottom line, if your bones can't handle the miles you probably need to (dramatically) decrease the miles for a while even after the fracture itself heals. This is hard to accept but the sooner you do the sooner youll be able to get your health back to normal and return to consistent running at some level.

I'm not a doctor but your groin muscles almost certainly got tight after the stress fracture occurred, not the other way around.

I had two stress fractures as a collegiate runner and had to stop competitive running. 20 years later I can still break 5 for the mile and have run a sub 3 hr marathon but have never run more than 35 miles in a week since last stress fracture.

In my opinion, repeat stress fractures are by definition a sign of insufficient bone strength rather than some biomechanical imbalance.

6 years ago 03/21/2018 6:59pm EDT

re: mrjoe1008

When you say 70-80mpw how often do you take a down week?

6 years ago 03/22/2018 3:53pm EDT

re: OWG

Thanks. I appreciate the feedback. I had a scan done this week and hope to get the results soon. It looks like it may be time to reduce mileage.

OWG wrote:
Get a bone density scan and full bone health workup. 70-80 miles a week is a lot, especially if you dont take much down time or do lower body lifts.
Bottom line, if your bones can't handle the miles you probably need to (dramatically) decrease the miles for a while even after the fracture itself heals. This is hard to accept but the sooner you do the sooner youll be able to get your health back to normal and return to consistent running at some level.
I'm not a doctor but your groin muscles almost certainly got tight after the stress fracture occurred, not the other way around.
I had two stress fractures as a collegiate runner and had to stop competitive running. 20 years later I can still break 5 for the mile and have run a sub 3 hr marathon but have never run more than 35 miles in a week since last stress fracture.
In my opinion, repeat stress fractures are by definition a sign of insufficient bone strength rather than some biomechanical imbalance.

6 years ago 03/22/2018 3:54pm EDT

re: Rest?

Year round...probably average 6.5 days per week across the year.

Rest? wrote:
When you say 70-80mpw how often do you take a down week?

6 years ago 03/22/2018 7:03pm EDT

re: OWG

OWG wrote:
Get a bone density scan and full bone health workup. 70-80 miles a week is a lot, especially if you dont take much down time or do lower body lifts.
Bottom line, if your bones can't handle the miles you probably need to (dramatically) decrease the miles for a while even after the fracture itself heals. This is hard to accept but the sooner you do the sooner youll be able to get your health back to normal and return to consistent running at some level.
I'm not a doctor but your groin muscles almost certainly got tight after the stress fracture occurred, not the other way around.
I had two stress fractures as a collegiate runner and had to stop competitive running. 20 years later I can still break 5 for the mile and have run a sub 3 hr marathon but have never run more than 35 miles in a week since last stress fracture.
In my opinion, repeat stress fractures are by definition a sign of insufficient bone strength rather than some biomechanical imbalance.

Would recommend just getting bone workup. I got a bone density test after a stress fracture by request of an orthopaedic doctor. I later saw an endrocrinologist, and he told me that bone density tests after often inconclusive. You can’t run 80 miles a week with lower bone density and not completely fracture a bone. Period. At worst, you might be mildly osteopenic but not anywhere near osteoporosis.

I agree otherwise with the post and the idea of running less miles for a while (maybe even a full year).

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