slight swelling - 2/3/4 metatarsal left foot

Ala

Barefooters
Sep 11, 2018
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Hello!

I've been slowly getting introduced to minimalist running and have been spending the past 4 - 5 months transitioning with the help of a very knowledgeable physio. However, there has been an issue that I'm curious about and would like some other perspectives on.

My body:
i was diagnosed with scoliosis a while ago but it has become very minor to the point that its barely noticeable. However, I have a very noticeable patch of muscle on the right side of my back that rubs over my ribs with an audible crack when I raise my right arm (no pain). An acupuncturist (former MD for 25 years) says my right hip is slightly elevated and the vertebrae have a slight tilt to one side as well.

I am a type 1 diabetic for 15 years (26 years old) but I have no eye or kidney problems or show signs of complications.

My foot:
I notice that my left foot pad (around the proximal phalanges) is slightly more swollen on the 2/3/4 metatarsal area. I'm not sure why. I can only attribute this to the misalignment of my body, where I might be putting more pressure on one side of my body than the other, and thus causing the swelling in my foot from the repeated impact.

I had peroneal tendonitis a few months ago which was a real pain and I'm wondering if my problem is a result of damaged tendons or just body misalignment. (ultrasounds of the ankle showed tendons were okay, but I still get swelling in my foot??).

Thanks for reading. I know its a lot of information, but I figured it'd be better to provide more detail than less for the kind doctors on this forum.
 
Ala,

Very interesting case and great information. I appreciate it.

Now, to figure out what's going on is a tough one. You could be loading the foot more. If you still have the rib, hip pain then there is likely still a scoliosis, just not as noticeable. With my scoliotic patients i have them train the weak side. Many ways to do that. Side plank is an easy and quick test to see which side is weak and can also correct it too. One sided carries with a heavy dumbbell or kettle bell. You need a mirror or second set of eyes on you to see which makes you stand straighter or curve more. You also need a little training to make sure that is done properly and not hurting your shoulder.

It could be there's less of a fat pad under those met heads from the spinal curve. You could have sciatic referral if there's that curve still. You could be landing on the met heads with more weight. If i'm repeating myself it's dinner time!

Since you say physio are you down under or above US? Talk with them and see if they can give you corrective exercises for the scoliosis. So far I only had one patient enthusiastic enough to correct his curve. I treated it as a lateral disc herniation and he got better.

Sine I can't diagnose or guide treatment these are general strategies to try. Let me know if this helps and how everything goes. Best of luck.
 
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Ala,

Very interesting case and great information. I appreciate it.

Now, to figure out what's going on is a tough one. You could be loading the foot more. If you still have the rib, hip pain then there is likely still a scoliosis, just not as noticeable. With my scoliotic patients i have them train the weak side. Many ways to do that. Side plank is an easy and quick test to see which side is weak and can also correct it too. One sided carries with a heavy dumbbell or kettle bell. You need a mirror or second set of eyes on you to see which makes you stand straighter or curve more. You also need a little training to make sure that is done properly and not hurting your shoulder.

It could be there's less of a fat pad under those met heads from the spinal curve. You could have sciatic referral if there's that curve still. You could be landing on the met heads with more weight. If i'm repeating myself it's dinner time!

Since you say physio are you down under or above US? Talk with them and see if they can give you corrective exercises for the scoliosis. So far I only had one patient enthusiastic enough to correct his curve. I treated it as a lateral disc herniation and he got better.

Sine I can't diagnose or guide treatment these are general strategies to try. Let me know if this helps and how everything goes. Best of luck.


Thanks for the great information! I will try doing what you said (side planks / weighted carries) and see how that affects things. I haven't gotten an xray for a few years, so I will have to get an updated one to see how my back is. However I am fairly certain I have left thoracolumbar scoliosis so I will do the side plank on the left and weighted carries on the right.

I feel a ton of tightness in my right side all the way from where my kidneys are, to my upper right lats/rib cage area, so I have a fairly good idea without the x-ray, but I'll let you know how things go after I get the full picture! Hopefully my left foot will forgive me and go back to being normal after I focus on alignment.

Thanks again for the help!
 
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You want to do side planks for both sides with starting with the weaker side. Great English. Let the weaker side be the guide to time and effort. As far as the carries you need an eye on you to see which side will straighten you. Don't guess, this is one you need help with.
 
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Also ask your physio if he's familiar with Gray Cook, Stuart McGill, DNS. Any of those and others will help correct the problem.
 
I will make sure to look for a physio with those interests. Is the Schroth method also a sound philosophy or would you recommend the materials of Cook and Mcgill over the philosophy by Schroth?

warm regards,
 
All roads lead to Rome. Which one do you want is the question and the answer will be the method that you will apply. Just like any exercise. Do what you like or you won't do it.
 

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