Stress fracture in foot?

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Just curious what you all think about this. The past few days I had pain in the top of my foot, along the metatarsals, which has gotten progressively worse, and now is making me limp. My sister had this and ended up with a stress fracture, which concerns me.

About ~6 weeks ago I started running a lot more (although I have been active, I didn't start running without any fitness base); I have probably been doing about 20-25 miles per week at about a 70% run, 30% walk ratio, in addition to some other cardio stuff I do (dance a few times per week). I'm tall and thin (if it matters).

Anyway, I'm not running now and I am going to give my foot the weekend to see if it gets better.

My question is, has anyone had a stress fracture like this? Or is it possible that with 4-5 days of rest and some ice, it will get better? And if so, would it be OK to swim some laps this weekend, or better to rest it completely?

Disclaimer - I will go to the doctor next week if the pain is not better...

 

[Disney Deb]

Each of my children (high school cross-country runners), suffered with a stress fracture part way thru their athletic season. Neither could pin-point the exact "time" the fracture occurred...but I think in these instances it is a gradual and painful result of the constant pounding and training. I was frankly really surprised when the x-rays showed a fracture because they hadn't complained. My son's foot was slightly swollen, but my daughters not at all.

Good luck. Hope this doesn't sideline you too long.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, I think it does sound like a possible stress fracture.
Especially if you have picked up a lot of activity like running.

I've got one right now!!!!!
And, this is exactly what the Podiatrist told me.

I have been wearing this 'boot' walking cast, for two weeks, with 4-5 weeks to go.... And our vacation, which should entail a LOT of walking coming up the end of the month!!!

Anyhow, mine didn't even show up on the standard XRay, but I told them that there was definitely something there causing pain, so she had the tech. do an ultrasound, and she found it.

I would suggest that you go ahead and have your foot looked at.
Around here, many foot clinics will take patients on a walk-in (or should I say HOBBLE-in!!!) basis!

 

[Heidict]

Another possibility is tendonitis. You would need an x-ray and/or ultrasound to rule out the fracture though, so it would be best to see a doctor to find out for sure.

 

[Mom3girls]

Although mine is not in the foot, I experienced extreme pain after starting a walk/run exercise program (about two weeks in) . Mine is right below the knee and hurt horribly. I am going for an MRI tomorrow since the x-ray is not the best method for spotting stress fractures (that's what my orthopaedic told me). Good luck and definitely rest it and ice it too.

 

[kirbydog48]

Could be a stress fracture, or it could be a neuroma (kind of an irritated bundle of nerve cells). I would ice the area regularly. Make sure you have the right running shoes, ie not older than six months, and that the toe box is wide enough that your toes aren't getting squished. I would go to a podiatrist who treats sports injuries. Swimming's probably ok, just be careful with the kicking. Hard to say if a few days off would help without knowing specifically what the problem is. I wouldn't wait, as it will probably take a while to get an appointment. You probably increased your mileage too quickly.

 

[jakenjess]

My daughter just got out of her boot a couple weeks ago after wearing it for almost 7 weeks. She got the stress fracture from ballet, it sounds like about the same spot as you're describing. It took an MRI to diagnose it. You should probably get it checked out. Good luck!

 

[kydisneyfans]

Had similar pain and xrays which showed nothing. The doc gave an antiinflmmatory pill and the swelling and paid subsided within 3 hours. Tendonitis under the bone was the official diagnosis.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Thanks everyone. It's feeling better after some rest, but I'm definitely going to go in to the doctor if it's still hurting.

 

[Irish9697]

Same place for me and similar story in August 2008. I was running mostly intervals 6 days a week with the total being about 22 miles per week. My foot started to slightly have a dull ache in it. Then, one morning, I woke up and when I put my foot on the floor, fire rose up it! It was awful! It was slightly swollen at the time, but as the morning progressed no shoe would fit it swelled so much. An xray that afternoon revealed a stress fracture. In retrospect, I can remember the moment, it "cracked" so to speak. I think all the intervals built it up...but, my daughter and I jumped rope on the driveway in flip flops together about 2 days before the pain and diagnosis. (I know...dumb and silly!) I think that is what cracked mine in the end. I spent 2 weeks on crutches with no weight on it and another 4 in the boot. To this day, I can still "feel" it. It doesn't hurt, but I am aware of the spot. I think it makes me overcompensate in other places actually, so sometimes I get pain or tight spots in other areas of that foot and even my other foot too.

Good luck! And, I hope yours isn't a fracture!

edited to add that I was also a regular exerciser before all of this. I tended to power walk more than run, but I was definitely picking up pace and pushing myself when mine happened.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I've got the same thing going on right now. I developed a bruise under my toe so I went to urgent care and they diagnosed a stress fracture because the pain was radiating up my toe along the bone.
The pain has now spread to my entire foot and ankle with swelling. They told me to ice it and keep it elevated and they doubled my Aleve intake.
Still don't really know what it is but they are treating it like a stress fracture.