Health & Fitness
Sponsored by

Thoughts on Foot Pain

1,161 Views | 14 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by oldarmy76
oldarmy76
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I have finally been running more over the last 4-5 months, entirely on the trail. I run about 2.5 times a week on average with a couple midweek runs and then a longer run on the weekends which are up to about 12 miles typically.

I went out to run yesterday evening and about 10 seconds into my run the left outer part of my foot started hurting to the point my gait quickly turned to a limp. I tried stretching again and a few other things and couldn't get it to stop hurting so, trying to do a good job of listening to my body, I walked it back in. I iced last night and stretched.

This morning, I was going to go for a quick 5 minute jog to see if the pain was gone but I couldn't make it down the driveway without it coming back. So now, I'm a little concerned. The pain is generally outer mid foot. Doesn't really hurt to walk. This is the same foot I have been having plantar fasciitis on, but the issue/pain is completely different.

Any thoughts? A quick google self diagnostic makes me think it could be a stress fracture. If so, is it worth seeing a doctor?

Thanks for the feedback
Motot
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I had a stress fracture in the 4th metatarsal last year, after deciding that in my infinite wisdom that flats would be a good vehicle for the majority of my buildup miles to boston. Took most of the summer to start running real miles again.

If the pain gets better into a run, after warm up, I think muscle/soft tissue, if it stays at the same level or worse, then bone.

I never fully stopped running, at the advice of a good PT here in Austin. Cut to ~15 - 20mpw. He did not advise completely stopping. My symptoms were less severe though. Felt like a peg with about 1lb was resting directly on and under that area of the foot, always.

Once it was starting to heal, rolling on a golf ball HARD underfoot helped loosen up the tendons, fascia, etc, in there.

I got very foamy Sketchers for my recovery miles.

After review of gait, toe - off, it was determined that my toes curl underneath, as opposed to the foot maintaining rigidity, which contributed to the issue. I've worked on strengthening the big toe muscles with exercises that said PT gave me.

In conclusion, is it worth seeing a doctor? Maybe give it a few weeks of much less activity or cross training and evaluate. My experience was that it was helpful to not repeat the issue.

Sorry about your injury. Just some thoughts.

AggieOO
How long do you want to ignore this user?
first thing i'd do is take a couple/few days off and see if that helps.
Big Cat `93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I agree completely. I had stress fractures in my second and third metatarsals last August. The second one became displaced, I guess because I had to walk a couple of miles back to my car. With mine, the foot swelled up a good bit and stayed that way. It also hurt to walk and when I pulled down the second and third toes.
bigtruckguy3500
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I agree. Just stop running for a few days and see what happens. If the pain starts getting better, gradually easy back into activity. Maybe starting at as little as 10% of where you were previously.

Something to consider might be getting some gait analysis done by someone that knows what they're talking about. Maybe you supinate a lot and run on the outside foot too much. Or maybe your shoes are not ideal for your running style and you compensate without realizing it. Or maybe the shoes are just old.

Also, what's a doctor really going to be able to do for you other than tell you to lay off for a while? They can order an xray, which may not even show a stress fracture for 2+ weeks after you feel pain. They can suggest you wear a walking boot to deload the foot (which you probably don't really need, could buy online, and it may even cause more problems if you wear it too long). But even if the xray shows a stress fracture, they're just going to tell you to stop running for a while anyways.
zachsccr
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
It does sound like you have a bigger problem if you're having multiple issues on the same foot. As mentioned above, getting some sort of gait analysis might be very beneficial. You might look here https://texags.com/forums/48/topics/3091969

I would take the time right now to work on your hip strength (glute max and med). We runners are notorious for having weak hips, and it's all connected. Instability around the hip can lead to increased demand at the foot and ankle. So, if you can't run right now anyway, it wouldn't hurt to look into hip strengthening exercises for runners. Not saying that's your issue (kinda hard without looking) but it's pretty much always a good idea.

Edit: you can see a PT without a referral. Might be hard right now with COVID, but once things calm down it's something to keep in mind.
94chem
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Lotta stuff in this thread that is probably age-related. OP, are you the age your username implies? Maybe you need to walk the trails, and save the running for smoother surfaces.

I run around 30 miles per week now. Started running 2.5 years ago. About 4 months ago I stopped my ashwagandha and moringa supplements, ran a half marathon, and kept right on going with some hard 5 - 6 milers over the next few weeks. I noticed some residual soreness creeping in , so I restarted the ashwagandha. Almost immediately, I was back to 100% recovery after running, to the point that after a 10K, I couldn't even remember if I had run that day or not. No stretching before or after running.

Second anecdote. Last week I used this little roller under my foot. Working at home, no foot pain, but figured some light rolling wouldn't hurt. I was wrong. The next day my foot hurt. Even that light rolling caused pain that lingered for a week, and I'm not touching that roller again. Went 8 miles yesterday, and woke up this morning with no soreness. Was not planning to run today, but I feel fine.

Moral of the story. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The shoe thread was another example. I'm putting 500 miles on my $45 Nike Downshifters. They are probably a joke to serious runners. But if I switched to an expensive shoe and got hurt, I'd be doubly ticked.

Every machine is built differently. I will say that if I needed medical help for running, my first visit would be to a chiropractor, not a running specialist, PCP, or orthopedist. Chiro helped a lot with a sprained ankle many years ago, and with lower back pain. Got me back on the racquetball court.
Big Cat `93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
bigtruckguy3500 said:

and it may even cause more problems if you wear it too long
This. I certainly needed to wear a boot, but it resulted in pain around my heel when I started running again. As another poster mentioned, it was really hip/glute issues causing the pain, which I found out from my Airrosti doctor. She gave me some exercises that cleared it up. I'm still doing some of them as maintenance.
94chem
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Quote:

Airrosti doctor.


All the people I knew there were chiropractors, like 15 years ago. Is it different now, or is that still their main thing?
aggiederelict
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I can easily provide a run analysis for anyone looking to have their form looked at remotely.
aggiederelict
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Yes they are chiros who jumped into that world when they bought that treatment model from a PT. I believe they even have brought on some PTs now.
Big Cat `93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Yep.
AggieOO
How long do you want to ignore this user?
aggiederelict said:

Yes they are chiros who jumped into that world when they bought that treatment model from a PT. I believe they even have brought on some PTs now.


This is correct. Most are chiropractors, but they do have some PTs.
oldarmy76
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Thanks for the feedback. I'm actually 36. The username was created to throw the scent off for the moderators back in 2005 when my roommate started an anti fran website that I was trying to get clicks to.

I'm going to give it a rest for the rest of the week and see if I can pick back up next week pain free. But the feedback on this thread has been a good reminder to not neglect some of the strength/cross training aspects of getting better at running. I KNOW I have weak hip/glute muscles, tight hamstrings, and a lot of other things I need to work on to keep my body moving. I generally do the foam roller every evening, but I can spend more time stretching thought the day and be more diligent about strength training.

I finally feel like I can run again for the first time in almost 16 years...I just don't want to get injured and have to start over. I went from not running at all about 5-months ago to doing a 2:00 half as a fairly easy long run this past week at Lake G-town and it feels great to be moving again!
aggiederelict
How long do you want to ignore this user?
They must be doing much less business right now. Crazy times.
oldarmy76
How long do you want to ignore this user?
After effectively a week off, did an easy 2.5 this evening with no pain. I'll probably try 5-6 tomorrow and see if I'm good to go.
I was probably over obsessively analyzing my stride while I ran and noticed that my right toes were engaged a lot more in pushing off than my left toes. The left toes were hardly doing any work. I'm going to look into some excersise a to help with that.
Thanks for the feedback from everyone.
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.