Stress fracture?

sofaking6
sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Posting in hopes I can avoid having anything to do with doctors..

For the past month or two, I've had periodic *very bad* pain in the top of my foot. It doesn't happen often and doesn't last for too long (like a minute or so), but it's excruciating when it does appear. Until today it was really only happening when I'd get to the bottom of my stairs (4 flights from my apt) and then when I'd start walking on the flat ground it would go apedoody. And it's not every time or every day or even every week. But this morning it happened on the elliptical trainer and that made me sad.

When I looked online for 'pain on top of foot" I really only see stress fractures as a cause. But that seems weird to me that I could have a fractured foot bone and only feel it once in a while?

So, what maladies might I be experiencing that will totally just get better on their own with time?

ETA: I have a Morton's neuroma on the same foot and therefore only wear flat shoes.

Replies

  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    Where exactly on the top of your foot?

    What is your exercise routine?
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    Where exactly on the top of your foot?

    What is your exercise routine?

    It's roughly from the base of the ankle to the middle of the foot and centered left/right.

    I wasn't doing any exercise at all when it started (got laid off, sat around eating blah blah) but I've done various DVDs over the past 2 weeks (without incident) before I went down to the apt gym to use the elliptical this morning. I do cardio/toning DVDs...eg Kelley Coffey, Ellen Barrett, nothing too strenuous or too bouncy.
  • Ferrea
    Ferrea Posts: 19 Member
    Because the pain is so sudden and bad (and only lasts for a minute), I think it sounds like you're having a cramp (charley horse). Here's the WebMD page about cramps/charley horses for more info:

    http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/muscle-spasms-cramps-charley-horse

    If it were a stress fracture, you'd have pain pretty much anytime you were using your foot, and if you pressed on that area of your foot (when you aren't having one of the painful episodes) it would feel painful, possibly with a single point where the pain is the worst (where the fracture was).

    I get terrible charley horses in my calves (and sometimes my feet), so I know that it's really really painful (and alarming if you don't know what's going on)!!

    Staying well hydrated and making sure you're getting enough potassium and calcium are often suggestions for keeping cramps at bay. You could also try doing some foot and ankle stretches and exercises.
  • MagnumBurrito
    MagnumBurrito Posts: 1,070 Member
    Get an X-ray. If the doc says it's okay, stretch and strength train the feet. Do heel raises(stand on your toes). Something like 3x10 with BW 3 times a week. Then add weight after a week or two. You can get up to some ridiculous numbers after awhile. I'm up to 315 lbs for 3x10. Unnecessary, but my feet are beasts now after needing orthotics about a year ago.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    Thank you, I will definitely try adding stretches and doing those heel raises.

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