So I found out that I have a stress fracture, or am at least close to one at the base of my 3rd metatarsal on the ball of my right foot. X-rays were neg so it hasnt progressed to that point, but it does cause noticeable pain throughout the day.
My main question that I have is if anyone has any advice on how to help speed the healing (shoes, foot pads, tiger piss, etc)?
I have LP in 2 months and I can’t run until it heals a little further, and I like would love to speed this up, as do all injured type-a’s I guess. A little background; I assume I got it from overtraining after trying to come back too fast after CS surgery and trying to become more of a midfoot striker.
I would go with the bone growth stimulator and some forced vascular flow - so, you need to get yourself into a centrifuge and force some additional blood to your leg…I promise it will work.
I literally just finished my first run at lunch today after 3 weeks off with a similar injury. Never went for xrays. But was kept to a limp walk for 2.5 weeks. Finally, after R.I.C.E multiple times every day, I was able to to get 3mi in at a decent pace. I assume you have been icing and elevating also. But biggest thing would probably be rest. Dont try and get back to fast. What is worse: missing out on running prior to a race, or running and injuring yourself to the point you can’t even try to race?
Yeah I’ve been rocking the limp walk pretty good lately. I have taken quite a bit of time (3-4 weeks) off from running now already though I have continued to bike, swim, and climb at my usual pace (doc ok-ed it). My flip turns have also become kind of 1.5 feet instead of 2 on the wall. I went for a 20 min super light jog last night and just that has it hurting more again today already.
I’m on top of the nutrition I think, supplementing what I think I need higher levels of that my diet isnt already supplying. I have gotten lazy with the RICE so I probably need to get back on that wagon. The other problem is that I am a health and pe teacher so I am on my feet all day long.
I’ll look into the bone stim (anyone interested in selling one cheap ?). I was also thinking about fashioning something from padding or support that isnt quite a walking boot but something that will at least add extra support or padding on the ball of my foot. Anybody have any ideas?
Yea, I have also kept up with biking and swimming. The first couple days in the water caused some irritation from kicking and flip turns. But has subsided now. I am going to jeep on the RICE rest of the week. Got first at end of the month, should be good to go!
SFxed a metatarsal several years ago. Wear stiff shoes that don’t flex. I wore a pair of dress shoes every day that had a very hard sole that didn’t allow my foot to flex. Don’t run on it!
Make sure the calcium is calcium citrate or calcium lactate, far fewer biochemical processes to absorb. Calcium carbonate is pharmaceutical waste and isn’t nearly as effective. Take with D and 2-4g fish oils. If you’re desperate for more go to a sports doctor and have them shine cold laser regularly on the area to promote mitochondrial production to accelerate the healing.
I would suggest the stimulator also, but not the exogen. I would check out the Biomet stimulator. They have a lot more studies out there that prove the longer you where it the faster it heals.
If you have a good sports science facility around, there is a treadmill you can use that simulates running under less gravity, so you can at least get your runs in while waiting for it to heal.
I would go with the bone growth stimulator and some forced vascular flow - so, you need to get yourself into a centrifuge and force some additional blood to your leg…I promise it will work.
I pass out COLD in those heinous things.
Seriously, rest up and check with PT about your options.
Nothing really can “speed it up”, but you can do a few things to mitigate slowing it down! 'Gotta swim and bike some if IMLP is going to happen, so if you can obtain an external bone growth stimulator (either ultrasound like the Exogen unit, or EMF), great, but if not covered by insurance for a “stress reaction/fracture” (and they likely would not be), they are very expensive ($3-4K). Vit D/Calcium not a bad idea, but you probably aren’t deficient. Lastly, get this and put it in your work/everyday shoes to limit stress through the met. http://www.myfootshop.com/detail.asp?productid=882
I have a stress reaction in my third metatarsal. Instead of not running for 2+ weeks, I was wondering if cutting back on mileage and using this plate would be sufficient to allow healing?
?). I was also thinking about fashioning something from padding or support that isnt quite a walking boot but something that will at least add extra support or padding on the ball of my foot. Anybody have any ideas?