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hi, I am a cross country runner and do a lot of other sports.
About 2 weeks ago I started feeling pain on the outer side of my left foot, and im not sure if i have fractured my 5th metatarsal.
At the moment it is sore when i walk on it and swollen, and there is a lump where it hurts, but it doesnt really looked bruised. It really hurts when I try and go for a run, so have given it a rest but still really hurts!
I had an x-ray last friday and am waiting for the results with the doctor but the people to did the x-ray said nothing major is wrong. Is it possible that they may have missed a tiny hairline fracture? Thanks.
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ctayls - Have you been able to see a doctor and find out what's causing your pain? Please let us know. Pat
May 18, 2010 - 6:24pmThis Comment
I AGREE...I AM AN X-RAY TECH, AND BY LAW WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TELL THE PATIENT WHAT IS ON WE SEE ON THE X-RAY, THAT IS THE RADIOLOGIST'S JOB. GET COPIES OF THE X-RAYS AND TAKE THEM TO AN ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR.. STRESS FRACTURES DON'T ALWAYS SHOW UP RIGHT AWAY, SOMETIMES A FEW WEEKS LATER ON A FOLLOW-UP XRAY BECAUSE OF THE "CALLOUS FORMATION", WHICH IS THE NEW BONE GROWTH FROM A HEALING FRACTURE.
May 8, 2010 - 6:21amThis Comment
Hi Ctayls-
This is a pretty common issue. It is entirely possible that a quick read on xray would miss a small stress fracture. I used to work with orthopaedic docs, and they insisted on reading all films themselves because they were much better at seeing subtle changes on xrays, MRI, CT, etc.
I suggest you get the films and follow up with an ortho. There are many who specialize in sports medicine, so they look at injuries from the view of the sport that may have caused them, and they work to get you treated and back to running as fast as possible while working to make sure you don't end up with something chronic.
Those small stress fractures don't always bruise they way you think a broken bone would, so that is not always a good indicator. No matter what the results are with your doctor, if the doc isn't an ortho sports medicine doc I would seriously consider seeing one. It could make a big difference for you.
Good luck.
April 27, 2010 - 6:54amThis Comment