Do I go ahead and book this or not (when I've got a possible stress fracture)?

[OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny]

I want to book a weekend in London involving a theatre visit mid-December and obviously it's going to involve a lot of walking. I need to book trains, hotel and theatre so need to book as far in advance as possible.

Trouble is I have a possible stress fracture in my foot (2nd metatarsal) which I'm booked in to have Xrayed this week. If it is a stress fracture I'm not sure what are they likely to do treatment-wise - possible boot maybe in which case how long it will be before I can happily walk again or whether it will just be a case of "time heals".

Anyone have any experience of stress fractures? Am I going to be OK to trudge around London in 6/7 weeks time?

In case it matters - my foots been painful for about 6 weeks already, hurts to walk but I've just put up with it thinking that it would get better

You need to rest it for a while.
I had a SF once and I pretty much sat down for the first 3 days my children even helped out at home. It felt better after a week or so.

Knowing two people who have suffered broken feet/Ankles no I wouldn't book it. If it is broken then you won't be up to that much walking in 6 weeks. Heck I damaged my big toe earlier this year and even that meant I wouldn't have been able to do that much walking. Take care of your feet make sure you get some good physio.

I’d book it. It’s 2 months away, and worse case scenario you borrow some crutches or use taxis, make sure your hotel is central etc.

I'd have thought you can do the trip without lots of walking? Just make sure the hotel is near a tube station. I'd go ahead and book it and if need be you can adapt your plans to avoid lots of walking nearer the time.

Mixed responses. That's no help!!

I'm now swinging between thinking it's a stupid idea to a compromise (just going for the day so no ambling around Camden or wherever on day 2)

Oh, I feel you. I am visually impaired and I had this last year. I totally totally sympathize. I live in London, I had an orthopedic boot and a crutch, and because of the slight issues, I also use a white cane, I didn’t really go out much just because between the pain, getting a crossroads safely, getting down the stairs and up the stairs at the tube stations that don’t have a lift, on and off buses etc. was really hard. Check which train station and underground and buses you need. Speaking from experience, getting on and off the buses was very very painful. I don’t know where your stress fracture is, but mine was on the top of my foot and whenever I would step up or down with that foot it was like a burning pain. I had it in late August, and I went out maybe three times between mid August and late October. When I did go out, I was going five minutes away to the dentist or to Tesco, but I really didn’t go out that much. The pain lasted until about January. My foot still swells, and right now it’s painful, and eggs, but it was it’s nothing like it was before. I said 86, not eggs. Sorry using dictation hates it aches

Will you have a crutch in case you need it? They do help a lot.

Spam 88, I learned the hard way that West Hampstead tube station has no lift. So check the tube stations for accessibility. Also this is why I mentioned about getting on and off the bus because the step is quite high and if you have a painful foot, it’s agony. And don’t even get me started on trying to get on and off with that silly orthopedic boot.

hellokittymania eek it sounds like it was really painful for you, not to mention the awkwardness of trying to juggle a boot, crutch and white cane!

I can relate to the pain you mention when stepping up or down, it really does hurt doing that. Mine is on the top of the foot too, by the base of my second toe

I've been walking on mine for weeks (with varying degrees of pain) but apparently it's not uncommon to not realise that you have a stress fracture for some time.

That is where mine was as well. Not the second toe, though. I walked on it for a long time without having a clue, and then one day I tried to go down the stairs and I could not get down the stairs it was so painful. But me being me, I stayed at home thinking it would pass and it didn’t. So I ended up in A&E on a Saturday evening in very bad pain and my whole foot was completely swollen. They thought it was broken. I do quite a bit of walking and I woke up very quickly. So I often twist my ankles, hit my feet on tree roots, uneven pavement, etc. I am more careful now, but I still walk very quickly. It took me a long time to get back to normal.

This is why I'm saying don't do it, both my friends had walked around on theirs for weeks before diagnosed. They then took a long time to heal, as in still limping a year later. Don't underestimate how long this will take to sort out. And don't forget the physio.

Thanks everyone.

I've decided to play it safe and look at going early next year instead. Whatever the Xray shows up this week I realise that it makes sense to wait.