Question: I am an otherwise very active 62-year old male. About 6 weeks ago I started having pain along the right side of my right foot and when the pain got serious I saw an orthopedic specialist 5 weeks ago and then again 4 weeks ago. The two sets of x-rays - taken 1 week apart because the pain worsened) - showed 2-3 faint what-could-be minor fractures in the bony part of the Styloid Process. Doctor gave me an ortho boot/sandal and recommended RICE.
I've done all of the above and now 5 weeks later the pain has gotten worse, and with the coronavirus pandemic closing all doctors offices except for emergencies, I'm reaching out to you all for help.
The serious and worsening pain centers on the "point" of the Styloid Process and radiates outward (two-thirds on the top of the foot and one-third on the bottom) and is about the size of a quarter. I get temporary relief from ice and heat but as soon as I start walking the pain returns; the ortho sandal helps a little.
Over the last week the swelling has gotten somewhat worse and is noticeable from the ankle down not quite to the toes (no swelling in right foot) - that swelling too is temporarily lessened by ice. The pain is ridiculously-annoying and has made me stop my regular exercises and most activities; anti-inflammatories and even Vicodin does little else but temporarily take the edge off a little.
Is there anything else I can do until doctors offices re-open (which could be weeks if not months), and what should I expect in terms of a diagnosis?

I am an otherwise very active 62-year old male. About 6 weeks ago I started having pain along the right side of my right foot and when the pain got serious I saw an orthopedic specialist 5 weeks ago and then again 4 weeks ago. The two sets of x-rays - taken 1 week apart because the pain worsened) - showed 2-3 faint what-could-be minor fractures in the bony part of the Styloid Process. Doctor gave me an ortho boot/sandal and recommended RICE.
I've done all of the above and now 5 weeks later the pain has gotten worse, and with the coronavirus pandemic closing all doctors offices except for emergencies, I'm reaching out to you all for help.
The serious and worsening pain centers on the "point" of the Styloid Process and radiates outward (two-thirds on the top of the foot and one-third on the bottom) and is about the size of a quarter. I get temporary relief from ice and heat but as soon as I start walking the pain returns; the ortho sandal helps a little.
Over the last week the swelling has gotten somewhat worse and is noticeable from the ankle down not quite to the toes (no swelling in right foot) - that swelling too is temporarily lessened by ice. The pain is ridiculously-annoying and has made me stop my regular exercises and most activities; anti-inflammatories and even Vicodin does little else but temporarily take the edge off a little.
Is there anything else I can do until doctors offices re-open (which could be weeks if not months), and what should I expect in terms of a diagnosis?

I have these follow-up comments and questions:

Yes, I AM referring to the "tuberosity", but all the doctors who I have seen and all the articles I have read online refer to it as the Styloid Process.

So if you google: "What is the Fifth Metatarsal Styloid Process" there's five pages of answers, so please look there, because not only does it explain what the Styloid Process (not prices) is, it explains the various other problems associated with it.

I say "other problems" because I agree with you - at 6 weeks it can no longer be the fracture. So I do NOT think that this pain and swelling is from EITHER the fracture (because with me using the boot and RICE for the last 5-6 weeks it should have gotten better, not worse) NOR is the pain and swelling from friction of the boot (because I wrap my foot in the elastic ACE bandage the orthopedic surgeon gave me and showed me how to use and I have, so there's never been any friction from the boot on my Styloid/tuberosity.

Therefore - as the many Styloid Process Injury webMD and other online articles say - pain and swelling NOT attributable to a fracture is due to another affliction effecting the Styloid or perhaps damage done to the peroneal brevis tendon?

Researching this further online I see literally hundreds of people with identical symptoms and not one of them have been given a treatment that relieves the pain permanently, so it sounds as if there's a lot of us unable to find a medical solution - which is frustrating to say the least.

About the best anyone could offer is to buy shoes 1-2 size larger or rub Frankincense essential oil on it.

Anything else that could be wrong - or anything else besides RICE that I can do to treat it?

Thank you.

I have these follow-up comments and questions:

Yes, I AM referring to the "tuberosity", but all the doctors who I have seen and all the articles I have read online refer to it as the Styloid Process.

So if you google: "What is the Fifth Metatarsal Styloid Process" there's five pages of answers, so please look there, because not only does it explain what the Styloid Process (not prices) is, it explains the various other problems associated with it.

I say "other problems" because I agree with you - at 6 weeks it can no longer be the fracture. So I do NOT think that this pain and swelling is from EITHER the fracture (because with me using the boot and RICE for the last 5-6 weeks it should have gotten better, not worse) NOR is the pain and swelling from friction of the boot (because I wrap my foot in the elastic ACE bandage the orthopedic surgeon gave me and showed me how to use and I have, so there's never been any friction from the boot on my Styloid/tuberosity.

Therefore - as the many Styloid Process Injury webMD and other online articles say - pain and swelling NOT attributable to a fracture is due to another affliction effecting the Styloid or perhaps damage done to the peroneal brevis tendon?

Researching this further online I see literally hundreds of people with identical symptoms and not one of them have been given a treatment that relieves the pain permanently, so it sounds as if there's a lot of us unable to find a medical solution - which is frustrating to say the least.

About the best anyone could offer is to buy shoes 1-2 size larger or rub Frankincense essential oil on it.

Anything else that could be wrong - or anything else besides RICE that I can do to treat it?

Thank you.

Thank you for your response.

In my area they are limiting all medical tests and all non-emergency treatments (because of Covid) - so I have not yet been able to schedule a MRI or a blood test.

So until I am able to do that I would like to proceed first as if it IS a tendon injury, or second, maybe an infection (I get my temperature taken twice a day for COVID monitoring and it has never been higher than 99.1).

Assuming it is a tendon injury, what is the treatment for that, and how long should that treatment take to produce an improvement in symptoms and how long before I can run again? (primary symptom is burning pain throughout my "tuberosity" if I'm on my feet for several hours, and I DO wear an orthopedic sandal/boot; pain relieved by elevation, and ice or hot water with epsom salt)? Is a compression wrap important if it is a tendon injury and is that wrap technique/method the same as it was for the fracture treatment?

If, on the other hand, it were an infection, wouldn't that result in a persistent fever/high temperature, and/or are there any other diagnostic tools/symptoms (until I can get a blood test scheduled)? Would an infection such as this get better on its own or is medication the ONLY way it will get better? If it is possible to heal on its own without medication, how long would that take before symptoms disappear?

Thank you for following through with me on this.

Thank you for your response.

In my area they are limiting all medical tests and all non-emergency treatments (because of Covid) - so I have not yet been able to schedule a MRI or a blood test.

So until I am able to do that I would like to proceed first as if it IS a tendon injury, or second, maybe an infection (I get my temperature taken twice a day for COVID monitoring and it has never been higher than 99.1).

Assuming it is a tendon injury, what is the treatment for that, and how long should that treatment take to produce an improvement in symptoms and how long before I can run again? (primary symptom is burning pain throughout my "tuberosity" if I'm on my feet for several hours, and I DO wear an orthopedic sandal/boot; pain relieved by elevation, and ice or hot water with epsom salt)? Is a compression wrap important if it is a tendon injury and is that wrap technique/method the same as it was for the fracture treatment?

If, on the other hand, it were an infection, wouldn't that result in a persistent fever/high temperature, and/or are there any other diagnostic tools/symptoms (until I can get a blood test scheduled)? Would an infection such as this get better on its own or is medication the ONLY way it will get better? If it is possible to heal on its own without medication, how long would that take before symptoms disappear?

Thank you for following through with me on this.

Thank you very much for your prompt response; I really appreciate it.

I will start the Ph. Therapy immediately - but please tell me, if I research online for PT and strength training exercises SPECIFICALLY FOR what my injury is, what tendon should I use: "peroneal brevis tendon?"

Or ____?

I will also keep my eye on the boot rubbing; I haven't noticed that yet but I'll keep checking. The burning pain "seems" to be more internal rather than superficial or contained to the dermis layer and I have no "worn spot" or blister.

That throbbing pain - worse the longer I stand (but I'm NOT doing much walking, just standing) seems to be focused on a one-inch-wide path that begins under my tuberosity/Fifth Metatarsal Styloid Process, beginning on the underside of my foot, then it wraps around the side of my foot/tuberosity and on to the top of my foot, trending slightly toward my ankle (which is why I think you are right in diagnosing it as a tendon injury - isn't that the path off the tendon?).

As for an infection, I now get my temperature taken 2-4 times a day (still never above 98) so I'll look for that getting worse. If so, if my temp gets above 99.4 that will allow me to get a Covid test and a full-panel blood test.

If there's anything else that would be helpful, I would appreciate that additional information.

Thank you again.

Thank you very much for your prompt response; I really appreciate it.

I will start the Ph. Therapy immediately - but please tell me, if I research online for PT and strength training exercises SPECIFICALLY FOR what my injury is, what tendon should I use: "peroneal brevis tendon?"

Or ____?

I will also keep my eye on the boot rubbing; I haven't noticed that yet but I'll keep checking. The burning pain "seems" to be more internal rather than superficial or contained to the dermis layer and I have no "worn spot" or blister.

That throbbing pain - worse the longer I stand (but I'm NOT doing much walking, just standing) seems to be focused on a one-inch-wide path that begins under my tuberosity/Fifth Metatarsal Styloid Process, beginning on the underside of my foot, then it wraps around the side of my foot/tuberosity and on to the top of my foot, trending slightly toward my ankle (which is why I think you are right in diagnosing it as a tendon injury - isn't that the path off the tendon?).

As for an infection, I now get my temperature taken 2-4 times a day (still never above 98) so I'll look for that getting worse. If so, if my temp gets above 99.4 that will allow me to get a Covid test and a full-panel blood test.

If there's anything else that would be helpful, I would appreciate that additional information.

Thank you again.