Possible Stress Fracture

Hi there - is below your big toe area? It sounds like sesamoiditis. This is fairly common for runners. The pain is usually on toe off, under the big toe area. I have a shattered sesamoid in my right foot, these things all helped for me:

- alternate ice and heat, ending with ice
- tennis ball - with your shoe off roll your foot up and down the ball, working the tendons on the bottom of your foot
- toe lifts - this one helped me the most and was taught to me by a coach at Cressey Performance. With your shoe off, put your foot flat on the ground. Keeping all your other toes on the ground and not rolling your foot left or right, pick up the big toe..hold...put it back down. Repeat several times a day. It sounds so simple, but done consistently it really made a difference.
- Anti-inflammatory - either Ibuprofen or Aleve. take the full dose 3 times a day for a couple of days but do it with food in your stomach.

Aside from that, stay off it a couple days. Wear cushioned shoes, even in the house. Some have had success with dancer's pads but they did nothing for me.

See if those things help, ultimately though it sounds like you may need to see a doctor. Stress fractures in the foot are difficult to heal and they cause a lot of problems in other areas like your knees and hips. If you do go to the doctor, make sure it's an orthopedic doctor specializing in feet, not a podiatrist.

Even if you were a forefoot-strike runner, it would be unlikely that you'd have sesamoid stress fractures. More damage would be done to your metatarsus. The shox have a significant drop iirc so you've got plenty of heel cushion and little forefoot cushion. It is likely inflamation as Thinking Skinny says. Take it easy for awhile and let yourself heal.

Getting started running is a long, slow process because you need to condition your body - including the balls of your feet - to handle a repetitive and relatively high-impact activity. On the plus side, your body is designed for it, so it will adjust in time.

Hi there

Dont mess around, go direct to ER and get an x-ray then you will know. If it is a stress fracture you will delay the healing by waiting a week.

I had a stress fracture about 6 weeks ago, and am still in a boot. Its exactly what you described.

I went to ER got X-rayed and then started working with a doctor at a place called the running institute to make sure i'm recoving and being able to run properly again ASAP. You need to get into a boot and stablise it if it is a stress fracture.

Also, my dr told me the following
- often caused by low VIT d levels - get them checked and supplement if nessasary.
- often caused by women who wear high heels constantly and then change into flats (bosy not used to it, better to stay in heels!)
- often caused bybad running shoes with no support (update every 3 months if you are running alot)
- often caused byget yoru gait checked - you might need orthotics or a special type of shoe
- oten caused by tight calves and hamstrings - puts more pressure on the foot

PM me with any questions, i'm 2 weeks away from boot freedom!

Anne

Dont mess around, go direct to ER and get an x-ray then you will know.

I don't know that an ER is the optimal place for a foot stress fracture diagnosis. I would make an appointment with a podiatrist or ortho instead. Personally, although I am not a doctor, I suspect it's more stress/inflammation/soft tissue related and would start with a chiro who does ART.

Metatarsalgia is a pretty common cause of pain in that area too:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/metatarsalgia/DS00496

Regardless of what it is, most forefoot pain is worsened by shoes with a raised heel, because that puts more force on the forefoot. I would say about 90% of shoes - including most running shoes - have an elevated heel that can worsen forefoot problems. So consider wearing shoes with a low "heel to toe drop" (less than 5-6 mm). Not just for running, but for everyday shoes as well. You can slip in a gel pad under the ball of your foot for extra cushioning.
Make sure to transition to low-heeled shoes slowly to avoid other problems.

I got a stress fracture in my foot (the pain was on the top of my foot but hurt like hell whenever I walked/put pressure on it). I went to the doc for an xray he they saw the tiny fracture. He had me wrap my foot in an ace bandage for 3 days, keep ice on it, take ibuprofen, and try not to put weight on it. I started running again after about a month if I remember correctly. Good luck! I know it sucks

Metatarsalgia is a pretty common cause of pain in that area too:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/metatarsalgia/DS00496

Regardless of what it is, most forefoot pain is worsened by shoes with a raised heel, because that puts more force on the forefoot. I would say about 90% of shoes - including most running shoes - have an elevated heel that can worsen forefoot problems. So consider wearing shoes with a low "heel to toe drop" (less than 5-6 mm). Not just for running, but for everyday shoes as well. You can slip in a gel pad under the ball of your foot for extra cushioning.
Make sure to transition to low-heeled shoes slowly to avoid other problems.

The Nikes I wear do have an elevated heel for the springs that are in them. I'll look into finding flatter shoes! Thank you very much!

Don't pick your next pair on your own...you really, really need to be fitted for running shoes. Find a good running store in your area, and they should watch you run and then they can recommend shoes specifically for your style of running. I know that I run on the outsides of my feet, so I need shoes with more support there to help that problem.