Hi there, I am an older female runner/triathlete in my late 40s. I just did my first full IM at Mont Tremblant this past August and had a successful race. I had my first stress fracture in the summer of 2015 and recovered slowly but surely (femoral neck). Training went well for MT and my hip did great. But now I fear I might have a stress fracture in my foot.
I have an apt this coming Monday with a sports Podiatrist, but I am besides myself with worry.
About 4.5 weeks ago I kept twisting my ankle inwards (about 3 times) running on a mountain bike trail with a deep long trench on part of the loop. Luckily it felt fine finishing up the run and the rest of the week. I then did a 45 minute trail run that Saturday and a gravel/paved run on Sunday (1 hr). About an hour after that Sunday run I felt significant soreness on the lateral/bottom part of my left foot. It subsided after a few days and I tried to run again that Thursday which went well. Then I ran again on Saturday morning but felt the soreness a little bit off and on during the run and it was sore off and on the rest of the day. Felt it a little off and on walking. The last couple weeks I’ve done a few easy runs but it would still feel a little sore off and on during the run and afterward. Rest makes it better and running irritates it. So last weekend I shut it down for good. This week it has been improving without running. There is still a bit of swelling around the middle lateral side of my foot and sometimes it’s a little bit tender if I push on on the bottom outside of my foot.
So I thought I was getting better. But last night I did my first trainer ride in over 2 weeks and that made my foot sore again today, back to square one. I felt some minor soreness on the bottom outside of my foot while pedaling (pushing wattages from 175-190 at 90-95 RPMs). It didn’t feel that badly at all after the trainer ride but this morning it’s sore like it was a few weeks ago. Pressure from the pedal/shoes definitely irritated my foot.
Any ST doctors out there think this is an Avulsion Fracture? Or some other type of fracture of the 5th metatarsal? Any way this could just be a strain or tendonitis? I can’t bear the thought of another stress fracture. It is eating away at me not knowing what it could be. At least by Monday the doctor will give me an idea of what’s going on. But could anyone ease my mind today?
One other thing, soaking in epsom salts does make things feel a bit better so I’m not sure if that could indicate whether it’s soft tissue or not.
Thanks in advance! Much appreciated. It kills me when I’m injured and can’t train. I’m sure you all understand
I love the tuning fork technique to ID a stress fracture. Touch the base of a tuning fork to the bone, and if it lights you up, it is probably a fracture. If not, probably a soft tissue injury.
I love the tuning fork technique to ID a stress fracture. Touch the base of a tuning fork to the bone, and if it lights you up, it is probably a fracture. If not, probably a soft tissue injury.
Oh yes I forgot to mention this. I saw a Physical Therapist this past Monday and she did the tuning fork test. I might have felt a little something on one spot but nothing really hurt. So it was inconclusive. She wasn’t sure what it was but said it could be a SF.
The tuning fork has to be the correct frequency. I don’t know what that frequency is. I can tell you the pain from the fork on a 2nd metatarsal stress fracture was great enough I almost involuntarily hit the doc doing the test.
The tuning fork has to be the correct frequency. I don’t know what that frequency is. I can tell you the pain from the fork on a 2nd metatarsal stress fracture was great enough I almost involuntarily hit the doc doing the test.
Thanks Tigerchik! I appreciate the kind words. This is the place where everyone understands me
Sounds more like peroneal tendinitis than stress fracture or an avulsion fracture.
I would much rather deal with that. But all the research I’ve done seems to indicate a fracture. I hope I’m wrong. Although sometimes bones heal quicker than soft tissue injuries.
An avulsion fx is an acute injury, would definitely remember doing it. Would be swollen and black and blue. It wouldn’t be good one day and not the next and pain would increase with any activity. Stress fxs of 5th mt base fairly uncommon, see usually in people with very high arched foot. Again pain would increase with any activity. Tendonitis would be sore when starting, loosen up when active, then sore again when done.
An avulsion fx is an acute injury, would definitely remember doing it. Would be swollen and black and blue. It wouldn’t be good one day and not the next and pain would increase with any activity. Stress fxs of 5th mt base fairly uncommon, see usually in people with very high arched foot. Again pain would increase with any activity. Tendonitis would be sore when starting, loosen up when active, then sore again when done.
OK this is making feel a bit better. If a piece of bone came off the base of my 5th metatarsal I should have felt more pain right?
So when I was running on it I would feel soreness after about 1/3 of a mile and then it would subside again after a mile or so. Then running back up our hill it would be a little sore again and then subside a bit. It would feel OK right after the run but then feel sore the next morning.
If a fx of either type, pain would get worse as you ran . Tendonitis usually loosens up a little as you go and let’s you know you over did it when you are done especially after you rest it and then get on it again .
If a fx of either type, pain would get worse as you ran . Tendonitis usually loosens up a little as you go and let’s you know you over did it when you are done especially after you rest it and then get on it again .
My husband doesn’t think it’s a stress fracture. I’m hoping he’s right and it’s just soft tissue that is inflammed. It’s behaving like tendonitis as you describe. The swelling does have me concerned though. Maybe that’s part of tendonitis in the foot. I’ve had tendonitis in other body parts in the past but don’t remember the swelling.
I had/have peroneal tendinitis… only after two sets of X-rays and a bone scan did I finally believe that there wasn’t a stress fracture… I can run all day and not feel a thing, but it is sore any other time… I ended up getting orthotics for my work boots, it instantly improved the soreness… it’s been a few months now and a only feel it being kinda tender once a week or so. Good Luck
I had/have peroneal tendinitis… only after two sets of X-rays and a bone scan did I finally believe that there wasn’t a stress fracture… I can run all day and not feel a thing, but it is sore any other time… I ended up getting orthotics for my work boots, it instantly improved the soreness… it’s been a few months now and a only feel it being kinda tender once a week or so. Good Luck
I did feel mine off and on when running. It seemed like I had more soreness each time I ran. But not running really improves it. I was at PT this afternoon and another therapist wasn’t convinced it is a stress fracture but with my history I do need to get it checked out by a doctor. I’m hoping its a tendon around the metatarsal base that can get better quickly.
So my mysterious off and on foot soreness on lateral/bottom of left foot left my doctor (sports podiatrist/surgeon) baffled. He couldn’t really give me a solid diagnosis w/o an MRI . The X ray was clean and the ultrasound only showed a little bit of fluid around the area. He doesn’t think it’s a stress fracture but likely it’s a stress reaction. He has me in a walking boot for the next 16 days and then I’ll have another xray. If it shows healing then I did have a SF. So I’m out for a couple weeks but I suppose this is a good time to be injured. Hoping the boot will heal things up quicker whatever is plaguing my foot. He also didn’t think it was peroneal tendonitits
I’ve been in a similar position and it SUCKS. Let us know how the appointment goes.