So, I am just a few days shy of the two-year anniversary of my open wedge DFO (which I followed up with a medial femoral shaft fracture about a week later).
by and large, everything has been great. About a year ago, when I started to get back into athletics, I was getting some irritation from the screw heads poking thorugh, and some IT band stuff form the palte. It was irritating, but since then A) I've come to ignore most of it and B) the screw tips are mostly covered in bony callus now.
There I did do a stint in PT this spring for a lax tib/fib joint and tight IT band which was causing some actual pain and instabiility, but otherwise, I was getting back to normal. I set a PR in a 40 MTB race, did a handful of duathlons and some running races (I even won one :p). By and large very uneventuful. I was looking forward to actually getting some training in this season.
Then, while out for my run about two weeks ago, I felt a snap (laterally). Some catching is normal with the IT band, but usually only happens a few times and then either stops for the remainder of the run, or goes away when I am done running. It wouldn't stop--I had to walk, stiff legged back to the car (almost a mile), lest it give out on me. I couldn't walk without it catching, locking, and buckling. Still can't... I am okay on flat ground (mostly...I think I am hitching my stride), but stairs, or squatting or any of that causes it to snap. I can't run...not b/c it hurts, b/c it really DOESN'T--it just doesn't WORK.
I haven't stopped PT and hip/glute work, and I've been rolling religiously since last spring, so I don't think it's a tightness issue. And this is the first time I've ever had problems at rest. (Meaning the band mught bug me when I run or ride, but is fine for daily life)
My hardware is all in place. I have no meniscus, so it's not that. In fact, I can SEE the band roll over the plate toward the midline of the leg, then hang up, and when I force it, snap back. My ortho just said "I'm not taking the hardware out", go to PT for a month and see if it helps. Again, if it were just pain or tightness (a la normal ITBS), I'd be fine with it. This doesn't HURT at all..it's just wonky.
I don't mind PT, and I don't want to mess with the sugrery and the layoff if I don't have to. BUT this DFO is supposed to allow me back to sport. If this weird plate thing keeps happening...and I have to take months off anyway, what's the point.
Any thoughts?
