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pain in my foot

by steve
(uk )

I went for a run last weekend and ran 15 miles which i dont usually run when i finished i was aching whitch was to be expected but the next day i had a pain on top of my foot it felt like a bruise but no bruise appeared and from what i could tell no swelling it was ok to walk on it only hurt when i put excessive pressure (walking up stairs, running) so i thought i would rest it for a while i rested for a week and there was no pain there so i went for a run again last nite i only ran 4 miles and for 3 miles i was fine but towards the end on the 3rd and all of the 4th my foot really began to hurt i only planned on doing 4 miles so i finished my run in a hobble i went home and had someone look at it and they said they could see slight swelling on the top of my foot around the area of the pain i could not really see a difference today i woke up there is slight yellow bruise i walk work every day easily but today i struugled threw pain i can feel the pain when i bend my toes up it also feels really tight today i am supposed to run 6 miles for sport relief on sunday.

RESPONSE

Hi Steve,

Your pain could be from a number of different reasons. A few things come to mind.
First, it may be nothing more than a tendonitis, or inflammation of the tendons on the top of your foot. This will happen from the tendons being overworked, either from running

a longer distance than normal, or running on an uneven terrain, or perhaps even your running shoes being worn out. The fact that with rest the pain resolved itself only to return when you ran again, would suggest this as my primary thought.
The area sometimes may be swollen and slightly red, other times there may be no real difference in appearance.
My next thought would be that of a stress fracture which is a fracture that occurs from simply running, (even can occur from walking). The reason I think this is a more remote possibility is because the foot would have continued hurting regardless of whether you were running or resting.
Another even more remote possibility would be that of a midtarsal fault. This is the result of the foot over flattening and thus creating a crunching effect at the two bones that make up the height of the arch. You can read my section on midtarsal fault.
This too, would probably hurt while running and then subside with rest, only to return once you ran a long distance.
That is the best I can do without having the luxury of examining you. If you find that the symptoms return every time you go out for a run, but are generally fine when not running then you need to assess the terrain you are running on, the condition of your running shoes and your biomechanical make up. This would best be done by a foot specialist with a sports medicine background.
If you do not remedy the situation, you are going to be hard pressed to compete in races as this problem will affect your training and your actual participation in races.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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Mar 20, 2012
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pain in my foot
by: Anonymous

Hi Steve, I don't know when you posted your situation. Hopefully you're all better. I had a similar experiece that I want to share. I joined a soccer team and wanted to get into tiptop shape so I began running more. A day before a game, I got a pain on the top of my foot but thought I would play anyway. It didn't hurt too bad. I ended up playing two games because the next team up didn't have enough players. Ten minutes left of that game I couldn't stand my foot anymore and I hoped the ball wouldn't find me, but it did. I went to the doctor the next day, got xrays and nothing seemed broken. The doctor advised I should stay off of it until it felt better. I started walking the 3rd day, post injury, and it felt better a week later, just in time for my next game. I was warming up. It stung a little bit, but I thought it was no big deal. A few runs after, I knew I had to stop playing. I couldn't run. I walked off the field wondering what the heck was wrong with my foot. This time it took longer for me to be able to enjoy a long walk. I still longed to run so I was asking people if they had experienced anything like this. Nothing was broken, but it hurt to run! A few people said it might be a trapped nerve so I paid for two massages. Neither did anything for me. I started feeling anxious as if I would always have this pain...it had only been 4 weeks, but it was killing me not knowing what it was. I decided to make an appointment with the podiatrist. I thought maybe my foot needed better support with orthotics or something. During the visit, the doctor started pushing down on the top of my foot, and it hurt. Specifically the 3rd metatarsal, where I had repeatedly told people to feel because I could have sworn I felt a little ball. No one else felt it though. Was I being paranoid? I was starting to believe I was. She decided to take xrays and I honestly didn't think it was necessary because I didn't have the swelling or bruising that I thought were so characteristic of fractures or breaks. Plus I had already had xrays and there was nothing there, just my paranoia. The xrays came back and I actually did have a fractured metatarsal. Interestingly I was relieved, finally I had some hope I would be walking and running pain free again. Looking back at how I handled this injury pushed me to write this. I got massaged when I shouldn't have, and I was bearing weight too soon. Now I've been off of the running I love for more than I really had to. Stress fractures are tricky. You feel them, but can't see them early on in xrays. The bone had to start healing before you could see there was a fracture at all. My body was telling me something, but I didn't respect its message. It knows better than any rationalizing I do about how much activity it can handle safely.

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(location unknown)

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Redondo Beach, CA

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LH

(location unknown)

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Placentia, California

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Unknown location

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anonymous

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New Jersey

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San Diego, CA

Dr. Mitnick, Just want to say thank you so very much for your quick response and very informative reply! After reading what you had to say, I called the doctor's office and was able to get in and see him the same day as my injury. Toe was x-rayed and luckily, it is not broken or fractured. Very badly bruised and will probably lose the toe nail. And although my toe and toe nail are still very black and blue and very sore, they ARE both starting to feel a little better. So again, thank you! I am so very happy that I came across your website. The service you provide is outstanding and immeasurable!

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Colorado

Wonderful advice

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This is the best site for foot problem info.

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Wisconsin

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North Carolina

Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

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Bessie Mae

Florida

Dear Dr. Mitnick, Thank you so very much for taking your time to answer my question. You have greatly relieved my anxiety related to the continual tingly I feel in my feet. I will share your response with my podiatrist next week. God bless you for having this question and answer page on your website! Most gratefully,

Lynne T.

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Robert

New Jersey

Thank you. you were more detailed than what others have told me they finally called from the last xrays and my son is now in a cast for 2 weeks he did have a fracture that was not noticeable.

a mom

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Lenoir, NC

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Rustam

Bellevue, WA

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Jodi

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