So I think I just got a metatarsal stress fracture! :=(

I got a stress fracture in my 2nd metatarsal and didn't run a step for 6 weeks, then I ran off and on for another 3-4 before I could resume training seriously again. If this truly is the case then, I wish there was an easier way to say this but, you're facked.

did you run on/off for 3-4 weeks because of pain, or because the dr said so, or what? i'm coming back from an injury (which may have been a sf) and i xtrained and barely ran at all for 4 weeks (only a couple times to test it out and nationals... ugly race) and then took 2 weeks of absolutely nothing, and now i'm trying to run a little but it still hurts (not horribly, i don't limp when i walk like i used to). is it ok to start training on it anyway?

I took 8 weeks off and once I came back, I had diminishing pain for another 3 months. The pain was more than likely the scar tissue breaking up. Most say that you can begin running at 6 weeks but I just took an extra couple weeks to be sure. I didn't go to a doctor since by the time they can see it on an x-ray it is already partially healed. I cross-trained like a fool and ended up running my fastest from 5k to half marathon the next summer.

I got my stress fracture running a marathon in 5 degree weather with the course one-third concrete!!!

Well I just started feeling it this Saturday so it's fresh I guess

Alright, could it be anything BUT a stress fracture?

I saw the athletic trainer and they said "treat the symptoms, if it doesn't get better then its a stress fracture"

A lot of you guys said you didn't run for over a month because of the pain... well the pain I have isn't really that bad, so should I get it x-rayed to be sure? Doctor?

this early on if it is a stress fracture an xray won't show anything. it takes a few weeks for a stress injury to show up on an xray. don't ask me to expalin why. but a bone scan can show whats going on in your foot right now. i ijust got myself a bone scan when the xrays showed nothing. i haven't really run at all in like 5 or 6 weeks and the bone scan showed i have a bit of a stress reaction going on right now in the middle of my foot. i guess it was worse and its healin' up pretty good now. just need a few real easy weeks now before i can start trying to train again.

if you get ultrasound at a decent intensity (1.0-1.2) then you should feel intense pain if it is a stress fracture. easier, cheaper way to find out if it is or not.

I've had this a couple times. In all three cases it does not get any better with less volume. I found that taking time off (no running) for about 2-4 weeks helped. In addition, wear shoes during this time that do not bend at the toe break, used a metal shank to achieve this. Not allowing your foot to flex and bend should take pressure off of the mets. Once I started to run again it was slow going. My first week back I think I ran 9 miles. Week one was October 21 and I will log 70 this week. Be smart and methodical and it will heal, but don't press. Hope that helps, like I said, I have had a few experiences with this.

I've had this pain and it turned out to be inflammation of the metatarsal heads...I had to create a U-shaped pad out of foam rubber and place it below the site of pain, so that when I landed the pad took the force away from the metatarsal. It's a pain in the butt to get right, but I could keep training. Also, ice a ton.