You love your running routine. However, you probably know that runners are prone to certain orthopedic injuries, including shin splints, Achilles tendonitis, stress fractures, etc.
Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Shults with Coastal Empire Orthopedics understands the force that runners place on their feet, legs, and ankles and helps athletes and non-athletes alike prevent orthopedic injuries. If you become injured, Dr. Shults performs various tests to determine the proper diagnosis and then develops a treatment plan.
If you’re diagnosed with a stress fracture, you have a very small crack in a bone in your foot. It could be in one of your metatarsal bones, the long bones on the front of your foot connecting your ankles to your toes. You could also have a stress fracture in your heel.
Most stress fractures result from overuse — when the stress placed on one or more bones in your feet becomes more than they can bear. Stress fractures can also occur if you begin a new activity and engage too quickly in vigorous, intense activity. Frequent running can cause stress fractures in your feet.
Pain is your body’s signal that the painful area needs medical attention. If your foot hurts when you start running or in the middle of a run, it’s time to take a break from the activity.
If you ignore the pain and try to run through it, you’ll cause more damage to your foot, increasing your recovery time. A minor orthopedic injury could become a more significant injury — a severe bone fracture.
Don’t try to run when you’re in pain. You’re at risk of disabling yourself further.
Ignoring a stress fracture could lead to a fracture in which your bones are misaligned. You may need surgery to correct the misalignment because of ongoing pain. Bone surgery increases your chance of premature arthritis.
When you progress from a simple stress fracture to a more complicated scenario, you have a longer recovery. Because the damage is more severe, you have a greater chance of injuring the same spot on your foot again.
If you’re diagnosed with a stress fracture, you need to take a break from the activity that contributed to it. Now that you are diagnosed follow the treatment plan Dr. Shults outlines. Dr. Shults is a sports medicine specialist who can help you prevent future injuries.
If you’re an athlete, you’re familiar with the RICE method: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Dr. Shults may fit you with a special shoe or a boot to help immobilize your foot and reduce the pressure you place on it when you stand up or walk.
Your stress fracture may take 6-8 weeks to heal. Patience is a virtue when it comes to stress fractures.
Dr. Shults will let you know when it’s right to resume running. You’ll likely start with short distances and work up to your normal distance. Dr. Shults may advise you to take more rest days between runs.
You don’t want to repeat the practices that led to your stress fracture simply. Alternating running with non-weight-bearing activity still provides an aerobic workout and helps protect your feet.
Call Coastal Empire Orthopedics or book an appointment online today if you have foot pain and all your musculoskeletal needs.
