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Chronic foot injury (interosseous strain and stress fractures)
Hi all,
Over two years ago after I had run a marathon, I was diagnosed with an interosseous strain in my foot. I didn't think much of it - wore the boot, rested, etc but I never got better. I've been in a boot on and off, had long periods of PT where I focused on strengthening, received custom orthotics, etc. and my injury keeps getting worse. I now have stress fractures in both of my feet as well and it's becoming almost impossible to walk even around the house. I've tried extended rest in boots/on crutches and also really dedicated myself to PT and everything in between, and no luck. I am 30, female, and otherwise very healthy and in shape. Arthritis has been ruled out, steroid shots have not helped, Prolotherapy has not helped, dry needling has not helped, high level NSAIDs have not helped... PRP is so expensive and I'm a doctoral student.
Has anyone else dealt with a similar chronic musculoskeletal injury and have you ever figured out how to improve? My next steps are to ask about prolozone, maybe try extracorporeal shock wave treatment, MLS laser therapy, bite the bullet and do PRP, enter a rehab program at Spaulding....it just all feels like a shot in the dark, and in the meantime, even daily living is becoming really stressful and I just want my life back.
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I had 4th and 5th metatarsal breaks on one foot. The 5th had healed even though there still is some pain. The 4th is not healing. I’m using a bone stimulator and hopefully it will help. My doctor said I can wear the HOKA shoe with the carbon plate for stability.
Any suggestions? I’m traveling soon and worry about walking.
@laurabond79 i just read this and it sounds just like what I have been dealing with. Do you have any updates?
Hi everyone, I forgot I posted this but circling back several years later with an update in case anyone comes across this with similar challenges!
From spring 2020 to fall 2023, I tried injections, PT, complete rest, SWT, different medications, and can’t even remember what else. I live in Boston and had access to high quality medical care. My stress fractures went away but the muscle issue continued and got worse. The only thing that ended up helping me was surgery to remove my third dorsal interosseous muscle. As far as I know, this hasn’t been done before. It completely stopped my pain and I had full functionality. I have been running again and it’s like I never had foot issues at all. If anyone has similar issues, feel free to message me!
Hi! I just posted an update below. Sorry you have been dealing with this! I am completely better now after surgery to remove my third dorsal interroseous muscle. It was a bit controversial and my second opinions were skeptical, but I was running pain-free several months later! Happy to answer any questions!
Who finally diagnosed you? I have foot/ankle pain. now daily swelling in parts of my ankle/foot. MRI, x-ray, SWT, nothing helps. I stopped running June 😕. can’t walk more than a mile without pain. it is possible this is from my L5-S1 nerve compression and I hope to find out next week on seeing a pain doc. if she says not a chance that much pain is from a compressed nerve, I’ll keep going to foot/ankle docs to see if they can figure this out.