So back in November I finished up XC season (Sr year in HS) and took a week off of running before coming back to an easy low mileage of running. By the end of the week I felt some pain under my second toe on my right foot so I took a break thinking it'd go away after a few days of rest. The pain was never really bad, just annoying the more I ran on it so I figured I might as well let it heal for good. A few days later, nothing. After a week of no progress I started seeing a PT about it. Said my second metatarsal (a toe I have a mild hammertoe on as well) needed to increase in flexibility so it could handle all the stretching from coming off my toes while I run. So for a while I got ultrasound (probably a dozen times in 6 weeks or so) and did stretching exercises as well. This didn't seem to work so I saw the first of many more doctors. He diagnosed capsulitus as well as a hammer toe and bunion, although he said the bunion wasn't as bad as he thought. He prescribed me on 3 weeks of an anti-inflammatory drug which I took for 3 weeks while not running still, and still no improvement. On to doctor 2. Again, diagnoses capsulitus but offers a cortisone shot to get the inflammation to speed up and leave. I get the shot and take a few more days (completely pain free) off and try running, very easy and very gradually increasing. I feel fine for a few days of this and then I'm back to the pain just like I started. Doctor 3 recommends orthotics which I get. After tweaking them a little bit the inflammation still hasn't gone away. I see another PT who advises a couple hip strengthening exercises and calf stretches as well as self ice massage 2-3x daily which I've been doing for a few weeks now. Today I felt as if the pain was completely gone so I went for a veeery easy 1/2 mile jog in the orthotics (which are now broken in from walking in them daily). Felt fine for a couple hours but now the pain is starting to come back.
Has anyone had this personally? I've heard some people say that it should only last a few weeks, others say it can last years. It's been nearly 6 months now for me. Does it ever completely go away or will I just have to accept running in some pain from now on? What are the risks of me trying to get in a few meets at the end of track season?