Advice needed re possible stress fracture in foot

[newnamenellie]

I’ve had some pain along the bone in the top of my right foot for a while now, maybe a few weeks, possibly longer.

I do quite a bit of walking and thought initially that my foot was just sore because of this. To confuse things further, I dropped a thick plastic chopping board on it (at least I think it was the foot!) a few weeks ago, although I don’t remember it being particularly problematic immediately afterwards so may be unrelated.

Anyway, the pain is there when I walk but also at rest, it really aches when I’m in bed for example and I can’t get any relief by stretching it like you might expect if it was more of a tendon or muscular.

It’s definitely getting worse and I’m now wondering what to do.

Obviously it’s the bank holiday weekend and I wouldn’t want to go to A&E, especially given as this isn’t a recent injury.

Having said that, I do think it might need to be X-rayed.

Has anyone had a similar experience and if so, what did you do?

Th as nhs

DD had something really similar. We ended up going to a private GP who asked for an X-ray just incase, it ended up just being a soft tissue injury and a few weeks of rest, icing and painkillers sorted it.

Walk in centre or GP, like you say not urgent but do need assessment and likely imaging as could be other things. In meantime wear stiff soled shoe at all times other than shower/bed, you can elevate and ice if needed/swollen with or without over the counter pain relief.

Im on week 8 post fracture :)

Thank you @SlB09 and @goldenretrievermum5

It does seem odd if it’s a stress fracture from walking, which is what made me think it could be from dropping the chopping board on it! A soft tissue injury is probably more likely, it was googling which kept bringing up ‘stress fracture’!

I’ll take your advice and if need be, I’ll go to our walk in centre (part of A&E here as far as I can tell).

@SlB09 hope your injury is on the mend!

I would suggest you get it looked at urgently, although A&E might resist knowing you have had for weeks. Stress got a lot worse.

I have had similar and unfortunately what started as something minor, deteriorated and I needed surgery which has taken a very long time and physio to recover from. Lesson being, get it looked at sooner.

Please note that X-rays only detect breaks, not torn/ruptured tendons or ligaments. You need a scan for that. Believe me, tearing mine was very simple but deteriorated so get it looked at

@Sunflowergirl1 oh goodness, that sounds awful.

Thank you, I think I will get it looked at, it’s just picking a time when it’s less likely to be super busy at the walk-in centre. Probably not over this weekend!

I spent weeks walking (hobbling) around with excruciating pain in the top of my foot and got no help from the GP who just said pain killers and wouldn't X-ray as I hadn't had an injury and there was no swelling. So literally in tears one day I walked in to the local osteopath. He explained that it sounded like I had a dislocated metatarsal (could have been from Zumba) he manipulated it and it felt sooooo much better! I walked out. I went back 2 weeks later for another manipulation and have been pain free ever since. Just something to bear in mind if you get no joy from the GP

My metatarsal pain turned out to be the result of collapsed arches (collapsed on both feet, but as yet only causing pain in one foot). X-rays showed nothing wrong. Only diagnosed by physiotherapist and podiatrist observing my gait. Resolved by prescription orthotics. No painful foot now, just painful wallet because I am very limited in what shoes I can wear.

Sunday morning at 6am would be good if you can get up

My dd's foot fracture wasn't picked up by an x-ray, it was an MRI that found it in the end.

FYI - a stress fracture doesn’t usually show up on x-ray for 6 weeks. An MRI, bone scan and CT scan will help the diagnosis, but often the waiting list for these is hefty! That said, an x-ray can still be useful. Just thought I’d mention it, as a negative x-ray won’t rule a stress fracture out.

I’m a podiatrist and usually suspect them after talking to the patient and doing a clinical assessment. I’ve an ultrasound scanner (have post grad qualifications in this area) which SOMETIMES shows them up, though is def not the best modality.