Bone Marrow Edema question

[Dirt Gallo]

Have any of the QP's or other respected readers here had experience with bone marrow and soft tissue edema in the tibia above the ankle? After a couple weeks of pain that hasn't diminished and is preventing me from running, I had an X-ray and MRI that revealed I had no fractures but identified mild-moderate distal tibial bone marrow edema centered about 6-7cm cranial to the tibotalar line....and mild nonspecific soft tissue edema along the the distal-most medial tibia(centered below the bone marrow edema described above).

Now I can almost distinguish what this says, but, I still am unsure as to how I may have received this injury and how other active people have successfully dealt with similar injuries. I wasn't given clear recovery instructions other then avoid activity that make the pain worse. I am a regular runner and lift quite often. How I'd develop this 'bone bruise' that is preventing me from running and making me walk with a limp is confusing me. It was during a slow 2.5 mile run with a friend who hasn't run in a long time that this was aggrevated to the point that it is now.

I am here presenting this is because I respect the views coming from the military community more than I do most of the civilian physicians I've met. I look at the soft, pale, high-brow diagnosing me and wonder if they would give me the same advice if they themselves lived a more physically demanding lifestyle. The first words uttered when it comes to an injury associated with a joint involve immobilization and no weight bearing for 6-8 weeks and I get a little resistant to the idea. I am sure I am being a little prejudiced and stubborn, but, honestly, I don't want to regress physically. Winter is over here and I was just starting to make plans for the rest of the year. This could postpone a lot if staying off it is the recommended method of recovery.

If necessary I can type out the MRI report to clarify or answer any unanswered details.

Thank you for reading this wordy post.

[swatsurgeon]

I have personally never heard of bone marrow edema....would ask an orthopedic surgeon or hematologist. Maybe have another radiologist read the MRI. Edema would signify inflammation but of an isolated area of bone marrow? I would think that that happens with violation of the bone (fracture, insertion of an intraosseous needle, etc.).

ss

[craigepo]

My wife is an emergency medicine physician, and she's never heard of it. Here's a link to what Johns Hopkins says about it.

http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/ask...-wha-1131.html

[PedOncoDoc]

I'm a hematologist and have never heard of it. There can be soft tissue edema in response to stress fractures and other lower extremity injuries (periosteal inflammation, etc.) - but not in the bone marrow - at least, not to my knowledge.

[TOMAHAWK9521]

My last MRI conducted by the army indicated an edema in my left patella. The army doc was the one who said it, not me.

[PedOncoDoc]

Originally Posted by TOMAHAWK9521

My last MRI conducted by the army indicated an edema in my left patella. The army doc was the one who said it, not me.

It might be good to have your doc chat with the radiologist who made the report - he might be able to clarify things a bit.