Doc On The Run Podcast

When to add weight bearing exercise with stress reaction

Today's episode comes from a YouTube viewer who posted a question, 
 
“I have a low risk grade stress reaction in my posterior tibia. Interestingly, there is some research discussing the benefits of weight bearing bone building exercise once tolerated pain free, like hops jumps and step ups. Do you have any advice on when and how to integrate these types of exercises into a rehabilitation program?” 
 
When is it okay to add weight bearing exercises when you've had a bone injury like a stress reaction? 
 
That is what we are talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

Could peroneal tendon pain really be a nerve problem?

Today's episode comes from a YouTube viewer named John, who wrote in with a question about nerve pain vs. peroneal tendon pain. 
 
He said ”I'm experiencing discomfort in my fifth metatarsal/peroneal tendon below the ankle. There is no swelling. However, upon hamstring stretch, especially in a downward dog position, this area feels like it's on fire. The fact that I cannot do downward dog right now, with my right heel down. I'm starting to think this may be a nerve. It's been hurting for about 10 days.”
 
Could peroneal tendon pain really be a nerve problem? 

Well, that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

Are “stress reaction” and “metatarsalgia” the same?

Today's question comes from one of the YouTube viewers. Tasnim, wrote in and wanted to know whether or not "stress reaction" is the same terminology that is used in the UK for the term "metatarsalgia". 
 
This question points out how confusing these two terms can be when you have forefoot pain that might be a stress fracture, might be a plantar plate sprain, or could even be a neuroma. 
 
Are stress "reaction" and "metatarsalgia" the same terms? 
 
Well, that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

Is there always bruising with a plantar fascia partial rupture in a runner?

You're out on a run, and you suddenly start having extremely sharp heel pain.

You think it's plantar fasciitis. 

But when you look at your foot, you see a huge bruise. 
 
That's not plantar fasciitis. That's where you ripped something. 
 
Is there always bruising with a partial rupture or a tear in the plantar fascia? 
 
Well, that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

 

Bedrest is like Chemo for Runners

One of the most powerful ways to reduce stress and strain on any piece of injured tissue is to get completely off of your feet.  Bedrest can do that. 

I was talking with a runner recently who asked a great question, 

“Should I just do bed rest?” 

I answered, 

“Bed rest is like chemo for runners.”

With chemotherapy, we're basically giving you a powerful drug. 

But is it going to kill the tumor first, or is it going to kill the patient first?
 
Bed rest is like chemotherapy for runners, and that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

It’s not plantar fasciitis if you call for a ride instead of finishing your run

Today I was on a call with an injured runner who was told she had plantar fasciitis. 
 
She was confused and she started doing some research. She enrolled in the Runner's Heel Pain Course because she was trying to figure out why her "diagnosis" didn't seem to match her gut instinct. 

She suspected her diagnosis was wrong. 

If you have heel pain, and you call for a ride instead of finishing your run, it's not plantar fasciitis. 
 
And that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

Doctors goal with fracture boot versus your goal with boot

Risks of PRP vs Cortisone injections for Hallux Rigidus

I was just on a call with a runner who has had this condition called "hallux rigidus."  and it's where your big toe joint starts to get stiff, becomes rigid, and it doesn't move as much.
 
Hallux rigidus is a progressive condition, especially if you continue to irritate the joint. You can damage the joint cartilage. The stiffer the big toe joint gets, the more pressure on the cartilage when the big toe is trying to fight that stiffness. Sometimes that movement hurts.
 
He was asking me about the options on different injections.
 
What are the risks between an injection like a PRP or platelet rich plasma injection versus something like a cortisone injection when you have hallux rigidus? 
 
Well, that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

Running allergy and injury recovery

Have you ever been to the doctor and heard this, “You must be allergic to running because you get injured every time you go running.” 

A recovering runner and I were on a call talking about how she could get back to running and how to "just go for a run" without getting re-injured. 

We were talking about this approach of getting her running fitness back now, and returning to running faster without just sitting around waiting.

She told me something I had never heard.

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast we're talking about running allergies and injury recovery. 

Top 5 reasons Runner’s Heel Pain doesn’t get better

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common conditions that affects runners.

In fact, foot pain consistent with plantar fasciitis accounts for about 40% of all visits to the podiatrists in the United States each year.

Unfortunately, just because you think that you have plantar fasciitis, and you started doing some simple things to treat it, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to get better.

If you are a runner, and you think you have plantar fasciitis, you must realize there are some avoidable mistakes you could make when trying to self-treat runner's heel pain.

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about the top five reasons runners heel pain doesn't get better.