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Could this be a stress fracture?

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caitlin48804
caitlin48804

Female, 23, 5'3 150 pounds, white, duration: 7 days. Hi all. Last Monday, I was walking and I got a sharp, ice pick type pain in my right foot, on the arch but slightly toward the outside of my foot. I tried to walk it off but the pain was overwhelming and I had to be helped to the car. I rested, elevated, took Advil for pain, and iced it all day Tuesday. There was no improvement so I went to the urgent care Wednesday and they gave me Meloxicam and told me to go to the ER if it didn't improve. Throughout Thursday and Friday, the pain worsened, to the point where i was completely non-weight bearing on my foot. I continued the RICE method and tried some stretches. Saturday, I went to the grocery store and as I was getting in my car after putting my crutches in the car, I accidentally put weight on my foot and the pain made me lose my balance and fall and I was immediately sobbing. 9/10 in terms of pain. I went home and for a couple of hours afterward, the pain stayed that bad, even when I wasn't standing. I went to the ER and they X-ray'd it and said it was fine, sent me home and told me to wait until my podiatrist appointment on the 19th. But from my research, it appears that 7/10 stress fractures are not visible on an X-ray. The pain is not improving at all. It is painful even if I'm not putting weight on my foot and walking is out of the question, it actually makes me cry out in pain and I don't consider myself to have a low pain tolerance. The pain is not in my heel and it is not worse in the morning, like plantar fasciitis. I was diagnosed 8 years ago with pronated, unstable flat feet and have custom orthotics (that I wasn't wearing before this injury.) I'm concerned that I'm doing serious damage to my foot by not getting any treatment and honestly, I don't know how much longer I can stand this pain with no relief, I'm losing my mind a little.

Does this sound like a stress fracture? Or something else? Any advice is so appreciated.

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • Aberzerk72
    Aberzerk72 caitlin48804

    Posted

    Stress fxs do not always show on X-rays, especially within the first two weeks of injury and if your tech did not also provide oblique views. 

    Having flat feet itself can cause a multitude of issues bc your feet lack the spring and shock absorption a normal arch provides.

    Get an MRI if you want real answers.

    • caitlin48804
      caitlin48804 Aberzerk72

      Posted

      Thanks! I am definitely requesting an MRI when I see my foot surgeon next Monday. The pain is better today (for the first time in over a week) but it's definitely still there.

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