Stress fractures and steroids

[rudolphthered]

I’ve had a bitch of a time with stress fractures since joining the military in ’96. I was diagnosed in boot and continued to have problems all through a five-year enlistment. Now I’m 28, 5’11” and a less than stellar 190 lbs. (but in great shape by typical fat ass American standards) and still having a hard time with them. The gradual increase in running seems damn near impossible without relapse and when I go to speak to a physician about they are just about fucking worthless, with no therapy between the same “gradual increase in activity” b.s. and wanting to put steel rods through the core of the effected bones. Although I have found a sight that mentions a study in low anabolic steroids for women with stress fractures (http://www.momrp.org/publications/BoneHlth.pdf, mentions serval promissing studies to start FY99 and '00 but no reports yet) and another source listed one cause for stress fractures is low test levels, I can find no steroid therapies mentioned elsewhere.

I know several hormones are involved in the maintenance/reabsorption of bone tissue so it seems the right hormones could work which just leaves me wondering if the lack of incidence and the typical U.S. drug paranoia has interfered with developing regimens effective in assisting patients with reoccurring stress fractures sucsessfully

Has anyone heard of using hormones to treat tib/fib stress fractures?

I'm not otherwise contemplating juice as that seems it has the potential to really muck up my already suffering bone health, but if there are data or therapies that are documented I'd be very interested.

Thanks

 

[Joester]

Have you had any blood tests or bone studies done?
Before you can contemplate any hormonal treatment, you must have your baseline condition established.

 

[rudolphthered]

At least 3 bone scans, docs don't want to talk about blood work, "I don't need it". Been awhile but I have had plenty of LFT's in the past for occupation health physicals, liver is good to go, but I have always met with strong resistance when I have mentioned/asked for endocrine studies. I've always dealt with military medicine (and speaking as a medic, military medicine can be very poor, even for stress fractures) or as now, the campus clinic at my university, which have been less than interested or helpful.

I know I can go with one of the medical testing labs that will run anything you ask for (and happy to charge you for it) but until I know just what I might want I’ve haven’t looked into it. But I suppose you’re right, it would be a good place to start. Besides a LFT, what sort of endocrine panel should I ask for?

Oh, yeah my HDL and LDL levels are o.k. but if any sort of test or androgens are part of a treatment I could get motivated to change diet real fast.

 

[Joester]

Since you haven't had blood work done[+ I'm guessing the bone scans were nl], the best route I can steer you on is see an endocrinologist. Rather than tell you what to request w/out an exam [which isn't prudent on my part], let the endo eval you from the start, something may be picked up on which would dictate a direction other than "increase your calcium or raise your EFA's" or whatever. I'm not trying to dodge your question, but rather than speculate in a pile of "maybe this"....
Hope I helped.

 

[rudolphthered]

Since you haven't had blood work done[+ I'm guessing the bone scans were nl], the best route I can steer you on is see an endocrinologist. Rather than tell you what to request w/out an exam [which isn't prudent on my part], let the endo eval you from the start, something may be picked up on which would dictate a direction other than "increase your calcium or raise your EFA's" or whatever. I'm not trying to dodge your question, but rather than speculate in a pile of "maybe this"....
Hope I helped.

Hey Doc,

Are you in the Houston area? Can you recomend a lab to get some tests done without a consult?

 

[bigstve12]

stop running for a while and let them heal up. try another form of cardio for a while, one with less impact. Have you ever had your gait analyzed? Maybe your an over pronator...this leads to shin splints and chronic stress fractures

 

[rudolphthered]

I am an over pronator (last podiatrist I saw said "shit boy, you got some flat feet" sucks to hear that from a podiatrist with 20+ years with the fleet marine force, I'm guessing he's seen a few pairs of feet). I also tried the tread mill after two months of impact free cardio, within 3 min. I had pain again at a slow pace. This is starting to suck big time, I'd like to get some blood work done before school starts and I have insurance again. The student insurance I get is lousy for lab work anyway and I'd like to have something in hand to show the GP or family doc I'll get the first time I go in.

 

[bigstve12]

you should get som,e orthotics to correct the pronation problem. along with some good lab work you will most likely fix this up in no time