Chronic Foot pain for 3 years

[dellboy78]

Hi all,

This is my first ever post here, so apologies in advance if I have posted in the wrong section etc!

Just over 3 years ago i hurt my foot whilst playing football. I basically went over the whole top part of the foot (basically as if i got my toes caught in the ground and rest of your body continues forward) I immediately felt severe pain in the top of my foot and struggled to walk. I assumed id broken/fractured a metartarsel.

I visited the doctor next day, and just by looking he decided there was no break and told me to rest and assigned me to a physio. I had physio for 6 weeks but there was no improvement. (I then went travelling for 5 months so had to leave it)

On my return, there was still no improvement. I still couldnt walk/run without feeling pain in the top of my foot. I went to the docs again who sent me for xray (7 months after the event) The xray came back fine and i was told the pain would 'go away' eventually!

I have since had an MRI scan, numerous visits to physios, done all the stretching asked of me, had 5 different pairs of insole supports and yet I am still unable to run or play football without being in pain. My last attempt at playing football left me struggling to walk for 4 days afterwards.

The pain is only minimal when walking and there is no pain when im sitting down. There isnt a particular time during the day when it is worse than any other. The pain occurs when my foot moves from flat to floor then being on my toes when walking/running. (it is almost half way or 3/4 of the way through this motion that causes the most pain)

I have never been told what the docs/physios believe to be the problem and always seem to be fobbed off with different sets of insoles as being the answer. They never are!!!

Does anyone have any advice as I feel like I have run out of options, and my local doctor doesnt seem to take anything like this too seriously.

Sorry for the length of this post!!

Thanks

Dave

[Heidi]

Hi Dave,

Sounds like it could be one of the following two injuries:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/ankle/footballersankle.htm

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/ankle/highankle.php

have a look a the details on these two pages and see if you think they match your symptoms. Both tend to be more troublesome to treat than a standard ankle sprain and cause pain more at the front of the ankle.

[dellboy78]

Hi Heidi,

It does sound possible that it could be this. Although the pain does tend to be more located on the top of the foot and does seem to not always be in the exact same place.

When i had my Xrays and MRI, it was the foot that was being looked at and in particular, the area where the problem is for 'Footballers Ankle' and nothing was noted as being wrong.

The pain does seem to be slightly less when it is strapped, but i am concerned that by strapping it myself i could run the risk of causing damege elsewhere.

All i want to do is play football again and it has become increasingly frustrating!

Appreciate your advice and any further help you or others can offer.

Thanks again

Dave