Sudden onset of sharp pain on outside of foot, help please!!!

pics?

You might have a fracture - stress or otherwise - at the 5th metatarsal.

An x-ray or bone scan is probably needed.

Go see a doctor and get off the message boards.

The AMA wrote:

You might have a fracture - stress or otherwise - at the 5th metatarsal.

An x-ray or bone scan is probably needed.

Go see a doctor and get off the message boards.

^^^^^This

Any possibilities other than a stress fracture? And could it really be a stress fracture when I had no pain at all until today? Yes, I do need to go somewhere other than message boards for advice on this, and I am planning on it (I'll go to my school's trainer tomorrow probably), but for the moment this is all I can do, and I am quite anxious/curious, so just humor me please:)

XC runner girl wrote:so just humor me please:)

you've come to the wrong place, my lady

there aint no humor here even if you're nice and polite

Few questions, is it your time of the month? Or close to it? Is your foot swollen or tender to touch? What is your pain scale? 1 being minimal and 10 being crucial. If I had to guess, it's probably not a fracture. However, if your symptoms get worse over time then seek medical advice.

No need to panic just yet wrote:

Few questions, is it your time of the month? Or close to it?

And if you believe these questions are even remotely relevant, I have a bridge to sell you.

Oh yeah? How much are you willing to sell?

The pain is 99.99 percent caused by your shoes.

Feel inside that shoe and see if there are any depressions or holes, especially under the forefoot, and if there are any raised portions under the arch. Check for threads or straps on the outside of the shoe that would cut into your foot.

Soak your foot in icewater for brief periods several times a day for healing.

Bone problem along the 5th metatarsal should be pretty easy to elicit - the bone is mostly palpable right under the skin. Tense your index and middle fingers against one another and curl them so you can firmly strike all along the bone with the tip of the middle finger. If you hit a very sensitive spot, it might be a fracture. You can do the same thing by firmly grabbing the bone above and below between your thumb and middle finger and squeezing hard all the way down the bone.

See your trainer and/or a doc.

And yes, a stress fracture can just "come out of nowhere". So can a non-stress fracture, i.e. stepping on a rock.

Could be other things, too. But your description is worrisome.

Here is a some what honest response. I have had the same thing going on for 2 years now. EXACTLY the same thing that you described. It's right on the outside of the foot. Had numerous x-rays, bone scans etc. and nothing has come up. I have had 2 cortisone shots in this area... hasn't helped. I have had physical therapy... still nothing. Do some research on the internet. From what I have found, since it is so hard to describe it is difficult to find other with it. BUT, I have read that it can be from tight calf muscles... also in the peroneal area thats pulling down at the foot. My advice, massage the crap out of the leg muscles, as when I do this it goes away. But I'm lazy and don't do it often enough and it comes back. Obviously it must be due to an inbalance somewhere else that has not been addressed. Hope this helps a little. Oh yeah, not to scare you but it's been over 2 years and I still can't get back to normal mileage. Good luck and let me know what you find out.

Another idea which hasn't been mentioned above is a possible cuboid issue. Sometimes the cuboid bone becomes fixed or rotated and can be pretty painful. Have you rolled your ankle recently?

Are your peroneii or tibialis posterior tight?

It's unlikely to fracture the cuboid, could be referred pain from a cuneiform or the 5th met jammed or hopefully not fractured. I'd probably see a chiropractor before a trainer or doctor, and ask them to check all the foot/ankle joints and the tarsal bones. If you find one that knows some soft tissue technique all the better. Roll and stretch the peroneii and deep compartments of the post. calf.

Hey! Did you ever find out what this was?

Hey! Did you ever find out what this was?

what was it?

I think you are right! I bought cheap 70.00 shoes and started running and suddenly getting pain left outer side of foot that has debilitated me now when walking pain goes into my knee…you know, the foot bone is connected to the shin bone..etc..i am going to podiatrist next week..it's been a long 4 weeks of pain and I need to figure this out!

M.B. wrote:

it's been a long 4 weeks of pain and I need to figure this out!

I'm sure you mean 2 years and 3 months of pain.

Hi, If you're still on this, did you ever find out what this was? I am having the same thing going on now and cannot find out what it can be exactly. Researching online is not helping : ( Hoping it is something that will get better on it's own in a few days but just not sure about that. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!

I wanted to say thank u to JFP for mentioning the cuboid bone pain. That helped me to identify my problem. Thank you.