Foot Pain

[montek]

I am 50 years old and have lived a life of overall good fitness. I love to exercise. So here is my dilemna. Last September I went into my backyard and like a "fool" did about 1000 jumping jacks-- ( not wearing the best of footwear) The next day I woke up with pain in the metatarsals. The pain is stemming from under the SECOND largest toe- Originally the pain was felt mainly on the balls of the foot but it also feels painful when I move and twist that second toe. I have been to 2 podiatrists and have had 2 sets of XRays and have even had an MRI of the feet. Both doctors say that the bones are NOT broken and they see NO Bone Spurs!! Even the MRI came back negative???No evidence of any real damage?? HELP- I am still in pain- every morning I get up and have to walk on the sides of my feet- because of the DISCOMFORT I have from walking normally.One podiatrist went as far as to get me a machine called the EXO-GEN bone stimulator-- which is like a small hand held ultra sound machine that is worn around the foot and for 20 minutes applies ultrasound to the metatarsals. I do not think it really helped--- and when I told the OTHER podiatrist he said that only helps bone problems?? which he said you do not have???? HELP HELP--
I am now thinking about going to accupuncture?? or using herbs-- like Bromelain???I am really at the end of the line here. My profession is a pharmacist in a retail location- so I am always on my feet for 12 hours a day. Believe it or not when I stand at work I am really not in much pain or discomfort?? It is when I get my shoes or sneakers off that I feel the discomfort on bare floors!!! I have even gone as far as to stand on my weight lifting machine- The TOE RAISE machine with heavy weight and do toe raises just to work thru the pain and build up some type of ignorance to the pain??? I really need you to think this thru and help me with any ideas you might have. I am also thinking about using the ointment Zostrix (which is Capzasin-P) for the pain??? Please let me know what I should do in th future to make this discomfort stop. Thanks so much for your time. :cry:

[footproddoc]

You may be suffering from a length issue of your metatarsal bones. Your 2nd ,3rd and 4th metatarsal bones can and may be longer in length than your 1st and 5th bones. An x-ray will bare that out. You may have a metatarsal head bursities which can be helped by orthotics or injections. Alternative treatment will not hurt , however you have to find out if the length of your metatarsal bones is the issue. Many times it is.

[footdoctor]

i appreciate your dilemma...additional testing consisting of a bone scan, 3-D thin sliced CT scan and possibly a diagnostic ultrasound might finally answer the primary question which i believe must be addressed, and that is whether the problem is bony or soft tissue in nature...either there is an injury such as a sub-clinical stress fracture or deep bone contusion(bone scan/ 3-D CT) or a structure known as the flexor plate has been disrupted or torn(3-D CT/ diagnostic ultrasound)...if the exams demonstrate an injury to the bone, rest by immobilization in combination with PT and a bone stimulator should slowly resolve the issues92-3 months)...if the flexor plate is damaged, the likelihood of repair as an only option is high...remember all medications will mask symptoms and you may continually disrupt any healing thru your activities...in this case no pain, no gain is definitely not true...i hope this has offered some insight...
sincerely,
Dr. L