Hey folks -
A new foot pain, first I’ve had like this.
It’s at the bottom of the ball of my left foot, in the middle (i.e. behind toes 2-4).
I ran around 10 miles on Saturday morning. Felt fine.
Late that afternoon, I realized that my middle toes on my left foot felt like they were cramping. This wasn’t particularly surprising – it had been super hot, and while I’d made a point of rehydrating, I figured I hadn’t done well enough. Basically, my middle toes were sore, and I couldn’t curl them in as much as I normally could. The ball of my foot started hurting as well, but I was still focused on my toes.
Sunday morning – long run scheduled. I headed out, thinking that if it hurt, I’d stop. But for the first 12 miles of the 15-mile run, the toes felt fine. (I’m a heel-striker, and much of the run was on soft-ish surfaces).
The ball of my left foot did start to hurt around 12 miles in, but not enormously so.
Since then, though, it’s been sore. It’s especially sore when I’m walking around the house without my shoes on. My toes can curl up fine now, but the bottom of the foot is sore.
I’d been hoping that this was just a cramp, but now I’m wondering if there’s more going on.
I had something similar a few years ago. My PCP diagnosed Morton’s Neuroma and referred me to a podiatrist, the podiatrsit said it was capsulitis. Either way, a few weeks of icing x3 per day (I would freeze a water bottle and put it under my foot) and it went away. I got it in my other foot about a year after that, and again the icing did the trick.
Yes, I probably cut back a little and just iced right afterwards. It was never stopd me in my tracks type pain. Might be a good idea to go to the podiatrist if it persists. Seems like both times I had it was in hot weather when my feet were hot and swollen anyways.
Watch the width of your shoes. If they are a bit tight in the forefoot, it could cause some pain like that. I would also be looking at the width of the shoes that you wear when you are not running. Icing is always good and check out this product: http://bungapads.com/bunga-diminutive-metatarsal-pad-mp-.html, if the pain continues. It is a pretty inexpensive way to deal with neuroma type issues in the forefoot. It just puts a little pressure on the metatarsil heads to spread you toes just a bit to relieve some of the pressure.
Any small marks or blood spots in your callous where it hurts?
I ask this because I have (had) a foot problem for the last 6 weeks. could not figure it out.
It hurt when riding- pain on the bottom of my foot- could not shake it, icing, metatarsal pads, had my shoe inserts modified, even changed shoes.
I have a plantars wart. They grow in rather than out so there is usually not much of a sign- could be a small blood spot or discoloration. No lump like a regular wart.
Hurts like you are always stepping on a pebble.
Treatment is easy- salicylic acid and cover with duct tape. No kidding. Duct tape does something that helps kill the wart.
Interesting point, but I don’t think that’s quite it.
Can’t be sure, but what you’re describing there is a lot like something that happened to my other foot around 18 months ago, when I did wear a pair of shoes that had a narrow toebox.
If I describe the symptoms, they do sound similar. They feel different, though. Hard to explain how exactly, although I guess the biggest new aspect is how my toes felt crampy, something that never happened when my shoes were too narrow.
Most common culprit would be 1) Morton’s neuroma (can cause that vague, crampy type feeling initially) or 2) capsulitis of the 2nd or 3rd MTP joint as was mentioned by another poster.
It could be your sesamoid bones in the ball of your foot. This is common among pro athletes and is referred to as “turf toe”. Can be very painful. Options are rest or surgery depending on how bad it is. Google sesamoid for more info.
Thanks.
I’m monitoring the situation, and have begun icing.
took a rest day today - not planning on taking one tomorrow, but will see how i feel in the morning.
hoping on avoiding tracking down a doctor, but someday my streak will end…
It could be your sesamoid bones in the ball of your foot. This is common among pro athletes and is referred to as “turf toe”. Can be very painful. Options are rest or surgery depending on how bad it is. Google sesamoid for more info.
Sesamoid injuries are NOT the same as “turf toe” (or more properly termed, 1st MTP joint capsulitis/sprain). Sesamoiditis is also very localized beneath the great toe joint only, not where the OP described his symptoms.
Since we’re on the subject of foot pain…I developed a new foot pain last weekend on the top the foot about at the 3rd metatarsal head. I had run Friday in some older shoes on just an easy low HR day. Ran again Saturday and felt this new pain. I ignored it for the most part and had a good run. By Saturday afternoon I noticed that my foot was painful, swollen, and a little red on the top. I’ve been icing and it seems to be improving but I’m worried that I managed to create a stress fracture.
thoughts?
I have an appointment with my DPM next week. Should I abstain completely from running until then or if I feel better can I /should I run a little? My next real race isnt until Oct 3 so I’m fine to take a week off of running. I had hoped to run with my son in a 5 k in 12 days, but its not a goal race by any means.
It could be your sesamoid bones in the ball of your foot. This is common among pro athletes and is referred to as “turf toe”. Can be very painful. Options are rest or surgery depending on how bad it is. Google sesamoid for more info.
Sesamoid injuries are NOT the same as “turf toe” (or more properly termed, 1st MTP joint capsulitis/sprain). Sesamoiditis is also very localized beneath the great toe joint only, not where the OP described his symptoms.
Interesting…it was my understanding that turf toe and sesamoiditis were one in the same…I had mine removed in HS so you think I would know.
Since we’re on the subject of foot pain…I developed a new foot pain last weekend on the top the foot about at the 3rd metatarsal head. I had run Friday in some older shoes on just an easy low HR day. Ran again Saturday and felt this new pain. I ignored it for the most part and had a good run. By Saturday afternoon I noticed that my foot was painful, swollen, and a little red on the top. I’ve been icing and it seems to be improving but I’m worried that I managed to create a stress fracture.
thoughts?
I have an appointment with my DPM next week. Should I abstain completely from running until then or if I feel better can I /should I run a little? My next real race isnt until Oct 3 so I’m fine to take a week off of running. I had hoped to run with my son in a 5 k in 12 days, but its not a goal race by any means.
bummed in Baltimore
You concerns are valid since you are describing a stress fracture quite well, sorry
I’d hold off on running, even if feeling a bit better, until a good hands on/imaging exam can rule out.
Sounds like Mortons Neuroma. Go to the podiatriast and get a cortisone shot. Take 3 days off after the shot, ice your foot, and see if the pain that caused by an inflammation of the nerve goes away. You can train with it, but it hurts like a SOB at times. For serious athletes, especially runners, getting it surgically removed is really the best option. I had a 1.5cm neuroma last December, took about a month, and have been training pain-free ever since… Good Luck
First off, read Dr. Roof’s post very carefully. We don’t know how lucky we are to have him participating on this forum. Second, I have recently had some of the same issues; thought it was the running, but it turned out to be my biking shoes. They were too narrow and I needed a straight last. Switched to Specialized BG shoes and it made a difference.
First off, read Dr. Roof’s post very carefully. We don’t know how lucky we are to have him participating on this forum.
agreed, i was really hoping that he’d reply to the thread.
of course, i was also hoping he’d reply with “obviously, you have a xxx - this should go away within a day or two, provided you keep your running mileage high. Also, certain carbohydrate sources, such as porters and stouts, seem to help speed up the healing process.”
Alas, no…
having said that, my foot does feel better this morning. clearly, the problem has gone away.
-charles
Hoping not to jinx it, but the foot’s felt much better today.
went for a 9-mile run, some of it somewhat hard, and the foot didn’t bother me at all. It seems to bother me less while running, actually.
Since then, some discomfort, but not much - and nothing I’d count as ‘pain.’ Maybe I dodged a bullet. Here’s hoping, anyway.
