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Metatarsal Stress Fracture?

  • 10-10-2013 8:37pm
    #1
    chonchubhair87
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 ✭


    Hi,
    About 10 days ago following training I started experiencing pain below my second toe, I paid no heed to it the first day just thought id pulled a muscle or something along those lines. The second day it was hurting substantially more when I put weight on my foot and as a result found myself walking on the side of my foot. I was mobile but in quite a lot of discomfort. I noticed very slight bruising and slight swelling in the mid upper foot area. Two days later I visited my GP who said it was probably a sprain but sent me for an x-ray as a precaution, the results of which were negative for fractures. Its now 10 days on and although the pain has subsided somewhat, I'm still experiencing discomfort, I can put weight on my foot but if I have to walk any distance 100m+ I'm finding myself limping again and at times if for any reason I have to stand on my toes or bear weight on my upper foot I get a shooting pain in the upper mid foot area. I guess I'm afraid that I do in fact have a metatarsal stress fracture as research tells me x-rays don't prove effective in diagnosing stress fractures until 3 weeks+ post injury. I have not been training since the injury but want to return asap but I'm afraid I might cause a full break if I have already sustained a stress fracture. So have any of ye experienced anything similar and should I go back to my gp


Comments

  • #2
    ergo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 873 ✭✭✭ergo


    without giving you specific (medical type) advice but speaking in general about metatarsal stress fractures:

    if there is swelling/bruising and tenderness to press a metatarsal then it may well be a stress fracture especially if a person can't walk 100m without significant discomfort and possibly has done a lot of mileage /increased mileage or pace recently

    a simple repeat x-ray may show something (ie. healing stress fracture) at 3 to 4 weeks post onset of pain

    for an elite (or money no object) athlete an MRI scan (referral from GP required ) would probably give you an instant answer..or indeed a bone scan
    But - some of these expensive scans might not be 100% conclusive

    if a person didn't have an immediate goal/race/marathon then rest until pain settles may be enough...if pain very bad a walking boot (aircast type) might be of some use for a few weeks initially (only needed if definite stress fracture though and probably not needed) -


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