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broken, but no swelling?

Discussion in 'Ask your questions here' started by Unregistered, Dec 22, 2008.

  1. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest


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    Hi, I'm just debating whether or not I should see a doctor about a potentially broken 5th metatarsal. This seems unlikely since I have full mobility of the foot and there is no swelling or visible bruising. However, it hurts very bad in the 5th metatarsal region when I put any weight on the foot. The more I try to walk or stand the worse it gets. That said, it doesn't hurt at all when I'm sitting, and after resting all night I can walk normally for about 10 minutes before the pain suddenly returns. I massaged the area and a couple spots were very mildly tender, but there were no shooting pains to the touch.

    The problem started just after I went on a 3.5 mile run 2 days ago. It didn't hurt while I was running, and I didn't trip, twist my foot, or experience any trauma on the run. The running tights I was wearing have elastic around the ankles...I wore this elastic part down around my feet (right where it hurts) to keep my tights from riding up above my socks in the cold. The elastic wasn't tight enough to feel uncomfortable at the time or cut off my circulation. I've done this many times and experienced mild discomfort in one foot once. It was similar to what's going on now but much less and it went away in an hour. So I suspect that the problem originated with the pressure from the elastic.

    Here's the issue: It seems like the last thing I should be worrying about is a fracture, except it hurts like a banchee when I walk and doesn't seem to be getting better even though I've hardly been on my feet at all the last 2 days. Does this mean ex-rays are in order despite my lack of swelling, traumatic event, and the fact that I have full mobility? If not, do you have any advice for home care or insight into what I might have done? I've sprained my ankle badly before and this hurts worse when weight is applied...and not at all with no weight applied...it's a mystery.

    Miscellaneous info: I live in the U.S. I'm a moderately experienced runner, but I haven't run consistently in the past few months at all (2 or 3 times a week at 3.5 miles...easy pace with 3 short walking breaks). I'm not overweight. My feet have very high arches.
     
  2. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    The criteria for a doctor's hands-on diagnosis and intervention should not be limited to the possibility of fracture, and no responsible person, be he/she a professional or not, would offer advice as to what you might do without having far more of a basis for the nature of the etiology of your complaints than can possibly be gleaned from your post.

    As I over and over again point out, forums such as this are not appropriate venues for obtain diagnoses, which must be the basis for rational treatment.
     
  3. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I really wasn't asking for a definitive diagnosis...more like an indication of whether or not I'd be laughed out of the emergency room given the situation, which is a admittedly silly. That said, some constructive speculation about what could've gone wrong would've been handy to take with me to the Doctors office. Then again, maybe there's just too many possibilities to even make an educated guess any theories are about as useful as standing ballet-en-point on my sore foot anyway. I'll stick to the old standby formula: pain bad = good idea to get ex-ray + Dr. examination. Thanks for the reality check.
     
  4. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    Sure, you're asking for a for some sort of a diagnosis . . Everyone who comes here offering symptoms and asking what might be wrong or what can be done for it is asking for some manner of diagnosis. Why would a reasonable person even consider an opinion as to whether or not he/she needed professional treatment based on less? Secondly, what would be the purpose of "constructive speculation" about what could have gone wrong if, in fact, one is going to see a competent doctor. Doctors neither depend nor are they generally helped by a patient's coming in with his/her own lay diagnosis. Better to prepare yourself for your doctor visit by practicing a cogent, chronological and detailed story about the many aspects of your complaint which you know about better than anyone else could. The point I make now and make repeatedly is that effective treatment must be based on an accurate diagnosis, and the answer to the questions you and most others ask require at the very least a working diagnosis. With no real fact available other than your pain, there is no basis for such. Forums such as this are intended for general knowledge of foot conditions and their treatments, but not for specific cases of individuals.
     
  5. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Hi, I was searching the internet about foot pain without swelling and stumbled across this post. You have described the exact same pain that I have now. It started after I had been jogging in a park close to my house. I jog regularly and use the same shoes which I find to be comfortable and supportive. The pain in my foot is non-existent when I put no weight on it or when I massage the affected area (around the 5th metatarsel). When I try to stand and walk, the pain starts mildly at first and then gets progressively worse. I was wondering whether you visited a doctor in the end and if so, what was the diagnosis that they gave?
    Many Thanks.
     
  6. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    OK, so I am having the same problem!! I ran a 3 mile run, everything was fine, shoes are worn in, no problems on the run, yet my foot has pain. It started the day after my run, no pain when there is no weight applied, no swelling or brusing. I'm on the 4 or 5th day of this and its getting annoying!! I hate Dr's and only go when I NEED to, this is getting to that point, I would just like to know how long it lasted for you two?
     
  7. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Did anyone go to the doctor to find out what this could be? I'm having the same issues - starts at the side of my foot and also really pains in the arch. I'd love some feedback....

    Thanks!
     
  8. Me2

    Me2 Guest

    Oh boy, too many people asking the same question but no answer at all. I also stumbled upon this site during my quest to find an answer for the very same problem all the members complaining here. Last week, the next day after I ran 3.5 miles, my left foot around metatarsal area started to hurt. It doesn't something unbearable. It doesn't even hurt at all when I'm sitting. It only hurts when I'm walking. It's been a little over a week and I've been applying some pain relief creams throughout. It still not go away. Kind of annoying. I hope somebody drop in and tell what might be the problem
     
  9. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Wow, FootDoc. I'd like to know who you are so I don't end up scheduling an appointment with you. What ever happened to bedside manner? The guy was just looking for some reassurance before he went rushing off to the ER. No one wants to dish out several hundred dollars for an emergency visit, only to be told that the pain is just a bruise or it's "all in your head". How about a little compassion and a bit less lecturing?
     
  10. Broken Foot

    Broken Foot Guest

    I am not a doctor but will offer advice based on my own experience. I stepped off a stair wrong. The pain was intense immediately but after ice and elevation it was minimally swollen and very light bruised. Next day, I could step on it but not with full weight. I initially thought it was a bad sprain or bruised bone so I avoided a doctor for another day. But I got worried I couldn't fully walk on it, so I went for x-rays and medical exam (on the second day after the break). Turns out it was a fractured bone (5th metatarsal). Doctor's orders: stay off the foot for 6 weeks (crutches), keep foot elevated when possible, keep it protected (mine is in a removable aircast boot) and second set of xrays at 6 weeks. I was told by the examining doctor that some people can walk on a broken bone not realize it. And swelling and bruising though indicators of a broken bone, are not always present. So for peace of mind, get those xrays... and no one will laugh you out of emergency room. Good luck!
     
  11. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Ok, so has anyone gone to the doctor and gotten some useful information? I did almost the same thing, but my foot still hurts when I'm not on it. It's not a sharp pain like when I'm on it, but it still hurts. If any of you went to the doctor then could you please post what was wrong????
     
  12. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    WOW! All these posts and not ONE PERSON returned with what was going on with them! I'm wondering if I have a stress fracture in my 5th metatarsal. Happened after a 10 mile walk. It's been 6 months, and if I try and walk on the treadmill for 10 minutes, the pain comes back. As long as I get off right away when it starts hurting, my foot is fine. But if I walk for a while longer it is painful for a few days. No swelling, no bruising. But I just don't know what if could be, if not a fracture, that would have not healed in 6 month's time. Hopefully I'll go to the Dr. soon...and I'll DEFINITELY post my resolution on this board.
     
  13. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I too am having pain in what seems like my 5th metatarsal. It doesn't seem to go away even if I rest for several weeks, but there isn't alot of swelling or bruising. Could my problem be a stress fracture? Some people say "no", because of the lack of swelling and bruising. Just wondering...
     
  14. Cynthia

    Cynthia Guest

    A while back, I had that type of pain on both feet. It turned out that my arch was falling. I went to a physical therapist 3 days a week for six weeks. I rolled my foot on a frozen bottle of water for 10 to 15 mintues. I then streched my arch using a towel to pull my toes back towards me and count to 5 release slowly and then repeat 10 to 15 times. Then They gave me an awesome foot massage and used ultrasound stimulation to encourage healing. After six weeks I was better. I think they called it Plantar fiscus or something. Alot of people I have met that had it immediately thought they would have to have surgery but I didn't. My feet originally hurt so bad, I could hardly walk. Steel toed work boots, no arch support, and walking on hard steel surface with no give is what contributed to my pain. I never really needed surgery. I was really surprised that ice, streches, massage and ultrasound help. I didn't think it would make a difference but it did.

    Cynthia
     
  15. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I honestly cannot believe that all these people have had this pain for months in some cases and not one has gone to the doctor for an x-ray or diagnosis? I can understand someone posting if it just happened to see if it's something they should see a doctor for, but MONTHS later???? Come on people, take care of yourselves!
     
  16. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I went in for the exact same thing that everyone is describing. I got x-rays and it showed no stress fracture, but my doctor said I was probably very close to a stress fracture as that is what the symptoms fit. He suggested I do the water bottle rolling, along with ice and heat. In a week I am to go back to check it again if the pain persists. He said that sometimes stress fractures are just so hard to find they can't determine that is the real cause until it is really bad.
     
  17. Hi. I fractured the third metatarsal 11 weeks ago. I have had x-rays and an MRI which showed stress fracture and crushed nerves and very little swelling. An x-ray does not show a stress fracture only a MRI. It is still painful to stand on for any amount of time. I wore the air-cast boot for 9 weeks. If you are still hurting, see a Doc that specializes in the foot. Athletes hurt their selves everyday by running, you do not have to do anything but step down on the foot to hurt it.
    Hope you get some relief soon!
     
  18. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I can't walk on my left foot without intense pain in the top of my foot. It came on over a few weeks, ignored it because every time I rested, it got better. Eventually after 20 minutes of netball I couldn't walk. The pain was very localised near my 2nd/3rd metatarsal. No bruising or swelling, my foot looks completely normal. The x-ray showed nothing and two hospital visits and three doctors later all I am doing is missing work, strapping it myself and getting bored of frozen peas and drugs. The doctors press the foot and say it can't be that bad because I am not crying out in pain, so I leave hobbling with my walking stick and decide that I am obviously going crazy! From my research I am convinced that it is a stress fracture - it has now been two weeks and I still can't put any weight on it. Can you have a stress fracture with no swelling or bruising? Can the pain become dull and less localised? Help!
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2011
  19. With my stress fracture, it was at the top of my foot with no swelling. I had a lot of burning pain from the crushed nerves. When rested the pain eases up. See a foot specialist. They try to make you feel like it is in your head but you know its not. It is very painful.
     
  20. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Everyone's situation is different and so is the reason for the injury. From my personal experience, this sound similar to the stress fracture I had on my left 5th metatarsal from overuse, via a high combo of basketball and running. I had extreme pain but no swelling or bruising. I went to the doctor and was advised to take 4 weeks off from activity. I followed orders and returned to full activity with zero pain after 4 weeks.

    Currently, I'm recovering from Jones fracture surgery on my right foot. Now this injury had extreme pain but tons of swelling and bruising. Unfortunately, the healing time is much longer too.

    Good luck with your recovery. If you haven't already I would suggest going to a doctor so you can get a concrete diagnosis and have the ability to ask all the questions you want.
     
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