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I Have A Foot Injury I'm Curious About. I Visited
Question: I have a foot injury I'm curious about. I visited urgent care for an x-ray, and came back negative for a fracture. Was told to rest two weeks and come back if it still hurts, but I'm sitting here curious to what it can be
So history: I've been jogging for 15 weeks now, as an effort to cut some weight. Running about 9-12mi a week
Started on Saturday: When I woke up, pinky toe hurt a bit on the outside but ignored (it felt like I stubbed it). I didn't do anything active the day before. A few hours later I ran a 5k race at a hard intensity. Foot started to hurt a little more on the outside edge, but walkable. 6-8 hours later in the evening, my foot hurt real bad and was throbbing. It was on the left side of my left foot, on the outside of the pinky toe and a little bit down into the ball of the foot, hurt when I flex my foot
Sunday: Felt a little better, but still went to urgent care, got x-rayed, nothing came up. Not sure if it's a stress fracture, told me to just rest for two weeks and if it's still bad to call my normal doctor. Foot hurt less, but when I leaned on it weird, it hurt pretty badly for ~hr before subsidizing
Today: It doesn't hurt as bad anymore, but if I flex my foot too far downward i get a sharp pain at the base of my pinky toe, and there's a new extremely sore spot on the outside of my calf. (Attached an image circling where) Same with turning my foot inwards (left foot clockwise). It's about midway down my leg on the outside, more left than a shin splint
I thought it could be peroneal tendonitis, but all the articles I see refer to ankle pain and I have no pain in my ankle
I'm inquiring because I'd like to know if 100% rest is needed or if I can do something low impact like elliptical while it heals
So history: I've been jogging for 15 weeks now, as an effort to cut some weight. Running about 9-12mi a week
Started on Saturday: When I woke up, pinky toe hurt a bit on the outside but ignored (it felt like I stubbed it). I didn't do anything active the day before. A few hours later I ran a 5k race at a hard intensity. Foot started to hurt a little more on the outside edge, but walkable. 6-8 hours later in the evening, my foot hurt real bad and was throbbing. It was on the left side of my left foot, on the outside of the pinky toe and a little bit down into the ball of the foot, hurt when I flex my foot
Sunday: Felt a little better, but still went to urgent care, got x-rayed, nothing came up. Not sure if it's a stress fracture, told me to just rest for two weeks and if it's still bad to call my normal doctor. Foot hurt less, but when I leaned on it weird, it hurt pretty badly for ~hr before subsidizing
Today: It doesn't hurt as bad anymore, but if I flex my foot too far downward i get a sharp pain at the base of my pinky toe, and there's a new extremely sore spot on the outside of my calf. (Attached an image circling where) Same with turning my foot inwards (left foot clockwise). It's about midway down my leg on the outside, more left than a shin splint
I thought it could be peroneal tendonitis, but all the articles I see refer to ankle pain and I have no pain in my ankle
I'm inquiring because I'd like to know if 100% rest is needed or if I can do something low impact like elliptical while it heals
Brief Answer:
The pain at the shin may be secondary (a result of the pain at the foot). Full rest is needed for better and faster healing and avoiding further damage.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and also checked the image uploaded.
There are several conditions that may cause pain at the side of the foot. A stress fracture is a common cause and sometimes they may not show in x-rays. Peroneal tendonitis may cause similar pain as well.
None of these conditions cause direct pain in the shin but the joints and muscles work as a chain, meaning that pain somewhere causes strain in the areas close by and may cause pain in other areas as well.
I think due to the local pain at the foot, there is more unusual tension on the other muscles, the shin included, that is why you have developed this new pain recently, days after the foot pain.
As for the total rest and if you can have some sportive activities. I would say that RICE (rest, ice, compresses, elevation) are the basic treatment and rest means any sportive activity should be avoided. Furthermore, if you have peroneal tendinitis you are at increased risk of unstable ankle and ankle sprains so it is important to avoid any sportive activity for a few weeks and use local compresses for the ankle and foot to assist with pain and better stabilize your foot.
I would recommend you to also see a physiotherapist as they may give you proper exercises to strengthen muscles that are weaker and better stabilize your ankle and foot.
You may also use Ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours after food to help with inflammation and pain (watch for problems with the stomach while using it).
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
The pain at the shin may be secondary (a result of the pain at the foot). Full rest is needed for better and faster healing and avoiding further damage.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and also checked the image uploaded.
There are several conditions that may cause pain at the side of the foot. A stress fracture is a common cause and sometimes they may not show in x-rays. Peroneal tendonitis may cause similar pain as well.
None of these conditions cause direct pain in the shin but the joints and muscles work as a chain, meaning that pain somewhere causes strain in the areas close by and may cause pain in other areas as well.
I think due to the local pain at the foot, there is more unusual tension on the other muscles, the shin included, that is why you have developed this new pain recently, days after the foot pain.
As for the total rest and if you can have some sportive activities. I would say that RICE (rest, ice, compresses, elevation) are the basic treatment and rest means any sportive activity should be avoided. Furthermore, if you have peroneal tendinitis you are at increased risk of unstable ankle and ankle sprains so it is important to avoid any sportive activity for a few weeks and use local compresses for the ankle and foot to assist with pain and better stabilize your foot.
I would recommend you to also see a physiotherapist as they may give you proper exercises to strengthen muscles that are weaker and better stabilize your ankle and foot.
You may also use Ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours after food to help with inflammation and pain (watch for problems with the stomach while using it).
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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