Injury - To the GP or Physio?

optimistic_

Hi everyone….

Need help! As some of you might remember, I had only started running recently. Well for a week or two I ran with very unsuitable shoes, and once I switched to proper running shoes (Asics gel)
I guess the previous weeks built up and I think I now have a Metatarsal Stress Fracture, based on researching running injuries online. I am very flatfooted also, so it wouldn’t surprise me if it was tendonitis.

Would you recommend I book into an appointment with a physio, or with a GP? I need to do something for it, the pain is only getting worse. I (probably stupidly) carried on with some treadmill running since I first noticed the pain, hoping it would sort itself. It’s gotten to the point where I’m now limping constantly, and walking can be quite tough even.

I’m supposed to run / jog / walk 8k in two weeks. I’m hoping this can still go ahead. I did run 30 mins on treadmill last night, and it seemed bearable…but walking is getting quite tough.

Advice would be very welcome, thanks!

plodder

Definitely see someone quickly - continuing to run might be making the problem worse. I think I'd go to a physio first, rather than a GP though.

optimistic_

Cheers, was leaning that way alright.
Going to try get an appointment for this evening.

nerraw1111

I had a similar injury two months ago. Flat-footed, recently change shoes etc.

Went to physio, Pearse St Physio. They diagnosed stress fracture and advised to stop all running and gave me a recovery time of at least six weeks.

They were pretty bang on with the 6 weeks recovery time. Very frustrating.

optimistic_

What did you do for walking around? My walking if banjoed at the minute even!

Six weeks though? Ballbag.

Thanks man, going to go to Physio in IFSC, near enough work. Fifty bills a session sounds standard!

nerraw1111

Yeah walking was quite painful. Physio told me to avoid walking where possible. I found stretching my calf and foot first thing in the morning and throughout the day helped

optimistic_

Have an appointment in Temple Bar, (same people as IFSC) for after work. Hoping it's not stress fracture but it could easily be i suppose!

Will post back here once i know!

robinph

Another vote for physio ahead of GP from me.

Jam400

neither, physical therapist instead

NickDrake

Dont go near a GP unless he is a runner himself and knows an lot about sport injuries. Go to the Physio or maybe a physical therapist who knows their stuff.

I would only go to a PT if they know about running and have a good reputation because some if them can be cowboys

optimistic_

Used The Physio Company, based in a good few places around Ireland, three clinics in the city centre. Seemed good!

Luckily not a stress fracture, said it’s a minor sprain of joints in my foot, no ligament damage either. Did some ultra sound, and have to go back next week. No running til then, but even after yesterday evening seems a lot looser and easier to walk on. Still quite painful, but nowhere near as bad!

Cheers for help!

doctorjohn

Just stumbled onto this thread. Agree with most posters - physio is probably the best first port of call - as long as you can get an appointment to suit.

From your story you have something called mod snip<no medical advice please>/mod snip

Your physio will do the exact same but may be able to offer ultrasound and other treatments that us GPs don't know about or have time to deliver.

As you have taken up running it would be a good idea for you to develop a relationship with a chartered physiotherapist as you probably will need reassessment and treatment again at some stage. I would advise developing a relationship with one named physiotherapist who you would grow to trust the advice given as opposed to a company of physios. By that I also mean one physio from within a company of physios. It saves you having to repeat your story again and again over time. Just like attending the same GP over time.

Most people would find it financially tough to attend me as a GP and then a physio later if I felt treatment with a physio as well was needed and chartered physios are trained professionally to a very high degree and often re-refer back to the GP if they feel doctor input (medically or surgically is warranted).

Us GPs really value the input and assessments that chartered physios give as we trust their assessments and can rely on their professionalism and in summary I would echo the summary of most runners quoted in this thread that the physio for a sports related injury is probably the best first port of call.

All that is turned on its head however if someone has a medical card where it then doesn't cost the patient to attend me but does cost them to attend the physio. Everyone needs to decide what is best for themselves and in the current climate the expense incurred in getting advice has to be considered.

Sorry for being longwinded