Landing on a stone

brianinwex · Oct 12, 2011

Dr Mark recently posted in response to somebody:

"Sometimes this can be a small bone bruise in the sesamoid or metatarsal head. Landing on a stone either in minimalist shoes or barefoot can trigger this. """ ""

About 10 days ago, I landed on a stone - as I do on almost every barefoot run (I've been on tarmac for 4 or 5 months now). But this one hurt for more than a few seconds and now 10 days later it's just the same. I've been out 3 times on it since, for about 2km each time. It's not getting any worse and it's not getting any better. I read that a bone bruise (which it sounds like) can progress to a stress fracture, and now I'm worried. Should I dispense with the minimal vivobarefoot shoes (all day with no insoles) for a time? Is time and padding the best cure?

Thanks.

Dr. Andrew Klein · Oct 13, 2011

Hi Brian,You certainly could

Hi Brian,

You certainly could have bruised a bone in your foot. Rest is in order until the pain is gone. With any increasing pain or pain that continues with rest it is time for a visit to your local health care provider to get it checked out.

As far as your footwear...are you standing all day? Give us a little more information on that one.

Dr. K

brianinwex · Oct 18, 2011

Dr Andrew, thanks a lot for

Dr Andrew, thanks a lot for the reply and sorry for delaying in responding. I was away at the in-laws for a long weekend, only back now. Anyway, things seem to be getting a little better. Attended a barefoot clinic on Friday night in Dublin (I might do a separate post on that in case there are other readers from this side of the atlantic) where I ran only 800m or so and it acted up a bit after that, but perhaps my slowing down generally with the running has helped. I'm not on my feet all day, far from it - office job, at the desk. Saw a doctor today (for something else) and he had a look, diagnosed 6 weeks rest. Sounds excessive, but I'll take some of it and see how it works.

But thanks again for the advice, really. I was worried there for a while. Never thought I'd be getting advice from an American doctor - I don't even have health insurance!

Dr. Andrew Klein · Oct 18, 2011

Glad you are starting to feel

Glad you are starting to feel better. Do take some time to rest it.

My bill is in the mail.

JosephTree · Oct 18, 2011

Brian, I just glanced over at

Brian, I just glanced over at this thread and hope your foot settles soon. I run in VFFs for my more challenging trail runs and ended up with a bruise the size of a hen's egg on my instep from my last race, a 10K (or so) trail race over some wicked rocky terrain. I was a bit worried at the spectacular colours. It faded without causing me any discomfort though.

I would think that you might be able to find some amazing trail runs in Ireland. My memory is a bit blurry now, but I walked your country for 4 months a few (like 36) years ago, spending most of my time out in the western counties. The sheep would do a great job of trail maintenance.