Stress reaction or something less serious?

I should also add that this was most likely caused by the fact that I had started doing most of my runs in racing flats starting 2 months ago. Yes I realize that was a dumb idea and will go back to my regular trainers.

Sorry dude but this sounds like a stress reaction and a bad one at that. I've had them and never had to limp home before. Definitely take at least a month off. Listen to your doc. Taking time off sucks but you've just got to remember it's for the best. And you will get back to being fit again quickly. Just listen to the doc, they know better than any one of use idiots on Letsrun.

Definitely take the time off. Try to not walk too much on it. Take some Ibuprofen and ice it everyday. It would be a bad idea to start running as soon as walking feels okay. This injury is just going to persist and get worse if you jump into this too quickly.

Do NOT take NSAIDS, like ibuprofen. Inflammation heals.

Thanks for the replies. Another observation: it hurts the most when I first get out of bed in the morning, which made me think it more muscle related than bone related. Even before I get out of bed, it hurts a little when I flex my foot. Either way, I suppose I should just suck it up and take time off.

Yep, rest it. Let your body heal itself. Biking and swimming/aqua jogging can help retain some fitness.

Do NOT take NSAIDS, like ibuprofen. Inflammation heals.[/quote

With respect, any doctor worth a sh it would disagree.

LJTR wrote:

Do NOT take NSAIDS, like ibuprofen. Inflammation heals.[/quote

With respect, any doctor worth a sh it would disagree.

Inflammation heals.

Where is the pain located buddy?

By description of being worse in the morning and having to do with flexion, I believe I have something similar and am coming up on just over a month off. I've had stress fractures in the past and this seemed very different.

If you can describe your pain a little better, I might be able to tell you more, but ice, some foot strengthening exercises, and ongoing massage and stretching of the areas I'll mention subsequently have helped me the most.

Look up extensor tendinitis and, as a general test, look for tender points in your calves/soleus, peroneals, and anterior tib.

Kenneth Davids wrote:

Where is the pain located buddy?

By description of being worse in the morning and having to do with flexion, I believe I have something similar and am coming up on just over a month off. I've had stress fractures in the past and this seemed very different.

If you can describe your pain a little better, I might be able to tell you more, but ice, some foot strengthening exercises, and ongoing massage and stretching of the areas I'll mention subsequently have helped me the most.

Look up extensor tendinitis and, as a general test, look for tender points in your calves/soleus, peroneals, and anterior tib.

I can't really pinpoint where the pain is, it doesn't hurt at all to touch, just when I push off the ground when taking a step, or when I move my foot around when waking up. It's like on top in the middle of the foot, somewhere between the 2nd 3rd and 4th metatarsals. My soleus feels slightly tighter than the soleus of my good leg.

thegripper wrote:

I can't really pinpoint where the pain is, it doesn't hurt at all to touch, just when I push off the ground when taking a step, or when I move my foot around when waking up. It's like on top in the middle of the foot, somewhere between the 2nd 3rd and 4th metatarsals. My soleus feels slightly tighter than the soleus of my good leg.

I think not being able to pinpoint it is a "good" sign, and a better chance that it is soft tissue rather than bone. As you probably know though, soft tissue issues can take far longer to truly get rid of, so I'd give it a bit more rest. I think if you do a lot of massage of the soleus with your opposite kneecap or a lax ball, as well as stretching, that should get you back to light running soon. Then it'll be some upkeep while you build back up.

This guy seemed to have a pretty good approach if this is what's ailin' ya.

Get into the pool and run.