Please Help!!! Abductor Digiti Minimi Tear

[JulFalzon]

Hello,

I am desperate for some information or advice on this injury. I can not seem to find ANYTHING in my research. I am training for a marathon and 3 weeks ago felt a sharp pain on the lateral side of my foot. I saw a Podiatrist and he said I had tendonitis of the Peroneal Brevis tendon and administered a Cortisone injection. He also prescribed a walking boot. I discontinued my training but found that the pain continued even with light walking. I have a toddler so it is near impossible to completely stay off my foot. I had an MRI which showed a tear of the Abductor Digiti Minimi muscle. I am scheduled to see the Podiatrist in another 3 weeks.

My question is how does this injury occur, what is the quickest way to rehab it, how can I prevent it in the future, an how long until I can bear weight on my foot again? I am eager to get back into my regular running routine but would settle for a light walk around the neighborhood. I tried to walk a little yesterday and a half mile into it I was hobbling back home

If there is anyone who has had experience with this injury, I would love your input too. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[JulFalzon]

.... I would like to add a little bit about the pain. I feel it most when I am putting pressure on the foot, on the lateral side under the ankle. The pain gets so bad that I can bearly put pressure on the foot at all. When I stop putting pressure, the pain stops entirely. When I palpate the area where the pain occurs, I can't reproduce the feeling I have when walking/running. Is this typical of a muscle tear or a tendon injury?

[Heidi]

Hi
A tear of this muscle is extremely rare, it is not something I have come across before. If this showed up on an MRI then there is obviously a problem with this muscle. But I wonder if this is everything. Usually you would be able palpate it and feel some tenderness. I also think pain below the ankle is a bit far back for this muscle. It passes from the sole of the foot under the heel, to the little toe. So generally pain would be under the sole or on the outside of the foot just below the little toe. After 3 weeks you would also expect it to be improving even if only slightly.
try to rest it as much as possible and wait to speak to your podiatrist. They specialise in foot problems and so should be able to give you a clearer idea of whats going on.

[Sophie Hart]

@JulFalzon: I having the same, unbearable pain and in search of some professional and expert opinion about this pain. Do you guys have any idea about online consultations?

[nachogvd]

Hello,

I just run a half marathon. After three days my right foot started giving me some pain, but it left after two days. Over a week later, my left foot started giving me some pain now, but this one doesn't go away!!! It's exactly what you are saying, only when I put pressure on my feet (walking, running) hurts, but not when I touch it. It's just under the heel on the outside. Looking for the name of the muscle that would fit with my pain, I found it's called Abductor Digiti Minimi.

I think this was caused because I always run on soft ground and the race was on asphalt. Any recommendations on how to treat this pain? any specific exercises? type of shoes or something?

Thank you!

[Heidi]

Hi
If it is a muscle injury there is usually an area you can press and it is tender. As I said above I think an injury to this muscle is pretty rare.
Try to rest it, take time off your feet as much as possible, wear some heel pads for cushioning and really concentrate to stretching you calf muscles regularly (several times a day) - these are responsible for a whole host of foot pain issues.