Pain on outside of left foot

[cathaloliverquinn]

I am currently training for the Marathon and when out running on saturday got a darting pain on the outside of my left foot. It is now painfull any time i put weight on this side of my foot. I was told it may be a stress fracture. I went and got an xray today and nothing is showing up. I plan to see a physio this week. I was just wondering has anybody experienced something similar or might have an idea of what it is and maybe how long i will be out. I am getting worried as i have been training for this marathon for the last 6 months and only have 3 months to my Marathon.

[samsunguser]

Hello,

Sounds like you are experiencing what I had back in April. I went for a 5k run and then went swimming and felt fine and then later that day went for a casual walk and towards the end of the walk I suddenly felt a sharp pain develop under my right foot towards the side underneath (hope i described that ok) and in the middle between the toes and the heel. I couldn't bear weight on it after and I went to the physio. They told me to go and get an xray as it may be a stress fracture. I went for the xray but like you it didn't come back with anything....so i went to my docs and they told me 'the usual' rest and ice and take ibuprofen. I rested but I felt so miserable because I am a regular gym / runner etc... and I could barely walk on my foot..

I went to a chiropodist a couple of weeks later after resting and just managing to cycle in the gym and swimming was ok also - I couldn't xtrain or go on the treadmill. The chiropodist/podiatrist took a gait analysis and told me that i am flat footed and that I was causing tendons to strain out of their natural mechanics - hence the pain in my foot. He told me it could be a hair line fracture rather than a stress fracture and to make sure the pain goes away before attempting to run. This was about 6 weeks.

Some good advice to you is to stretch stretch stretch those calves!!!!!

Most foot pain is caused by tight calves or higher muscles higher up - as they are all connected. I now religiously stretch my calves, quads, hamstrings regularly every day.

Hope this helps?

[cathaloliverquinn]

Thanks for the reply, ye it sounds very similar. It happened on sat and I have not done any exercise sinse. I am getting itchy feet now as like you I train 5 days a week. I plan to go swimming on saturday. The pain is easing off day by day and am now hoping to be training again soon. Was it a full six weeks before you could run or cross train. Is there any particular stretches you found most helpfull.

[samsunguser]

Hi,

I found that i could xtrain again after 3wks - could cycle after a week and run after 6wks - I was so frustrated and miserable....but you do get there!!!

Remember it's the tendons/muscles at the higher part of the leg which is causing the tightness in the lower part - so just stretching the foot isn't going to do much atall to relieve for the long term. Think of your tendons as elastic bands and if they are stretched - your knee, calves and ankles are more flexible than if they weren't!! Without stretching your quads - your knee tendons will be tight. Without stretching your calves your ankle tendons will be tight and so on!!! All connected

If you keep doing this today alone - each hour you will feel much better for it later....and even better tomorrow morning!!! You should also freeze a bottle of water and rub this under your arches when you can - this will ease your foot arches and help with any internal swelling(which you can't see but is there).

I stretch at any given moment I can - that's why I can run again now!!!

[cathaloliverquinn]

Well been resting andx pain has stayed so went to see physio today. She has said that it is most likely a stress fracture. That it might not show up on a Regular x-ray as it may take up to 3 months to manifest in the bone. Going for an MRI on friday. She reckons I will be 4 to 6 weeks without running which is not good as my marathon is on the meant to be in 11 weeks. Worried now it might not happen. She said I can swim as much as I like and hopefully be able to cycle in 2 to 3 weeks.

I am really annoyed as i have put in a lot of hard work over the last 6 months for this. However I am only 27 so I hope to have a lot more chances at it.