Doc On The Run Podcast

Runner with stress fracture but doctor found plantar plate fraying on MRI

I just got off a telemedicine second opinion call with a runner who thought she had a stress fracture. She got an MRI. Then her doctor said she has “fraying” of several plantar plate ligaments. She wanted to know if this was serious.

Part of the difficulty lies in determining the severity of plantar plate injury and making the call on when you can run. Most runners want a clear answer. Often times an MRI is performed in the hopes of getting a clear picture of the plantar plate damage. 

Sometimes the MRI report not only suggests damaged to the plantar plate that hurts, but may mention “fraying” of other plantar plate ligaments that don’t hurt at all.

This often creates even more confusion and more frustration in recovering runners.

Proof you do not have to stop running with metatarsal stress response

Is there any proof that you don't have to stop running when you get a metatarsal stress response in your foot? 

A lot of doctors and patients are really confused about the differences between a stress fracture and a stress reaction and a stress response in runners.

A stress response is a normal physiologic response when you stress any tissue as a component of training. The goal of your running workout is to stress the tissue, get it, to react, and rebuild in a way that makes it stronger. 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about the evidence you really don't have to stop training when you're a runner who gets a metatarsal stress response.

Maintaining running fitness is the injured runners main priority

When a runner gets an overtraining injury and goes to a doctor, the doctor’s only priority is healing the injured tissue. Most runners also think healing the injured tissue is the highest priority.

Healing is not really a problem. All tissue will heal eventually, if you reduce the stress and strain enough to allow healing.

The problem is healing an overtraining injury can take weeks or months. 

If you stop running and stop training for weeks or months, you’ll never get back to running at the same level again. 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about why maintaining running fitness is the injured runners main priority.

Why does my neuroma pop or click after I run?

I just got off a telemedicine call with a runner who wanted to know why she sometimes feel popping and clicking in the ball of the foot after she runs.

She saw a doctor and was diagnosed with a Morton's neuroma. 

The doctor gave her some metatarsal pads, which made the neuroma feel better. 

But she could not figure out why she seemed to only get this weird popping and clicking sensation after she went for long runs and hill repeats.

Today on the Doc On The Run podcast we're talking about why a neuroma might pop or click after you run.

How self-confidence and self-love beat finish times every time with Jill Angie

One of my favorite podcasts is called The Not Your Average Runner Podcast.

I recently sat down with Jill Angie, who hosts that show. 

Self-criticism heals no wounds!

When you have an injury, and you have been training hard, it is very easy to beat yourself up. Jill is the best person to explain how we can take an injury and reframe it so we don’t beat ourselves up when we are injured.

Today on the Doc On The Run podcast we're talking about how self-confidence and self-love beat finish times, every time with Jill Angie from The Not Your Average Runner Podcast.

How long does tissue take to heal so I can run?

I get questions all the time on social media from people who want to know if they can run, and at the base of their question is really, how long does it take for some particular injury to heal?

There's actually a wide variety of timelines on how long it takes for all of different injuries to different types of  tissues to heal, even depending upon anatomic location.

Your age plays into the timeline for healing running injuries

Today on the Doc On The Run podcast we're talking about how long tissue takes to heal so you can run.

Plantar fascia rupture and stress fractures what should this runner do?

This episode comes from a question sent in by an injured runner who was listening to the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

"I am 30 with medium arches. No prior injuries. 7 months ago I began having left med ankle pain at the calcaneal insertion. 

MRI confirmed a plantar fascia rupture of med cord. I was told to just ice and stretch. 

I have a distal 4th fracture on the right. Both feet at once?! 

What should I do? It hurts!”

Today on the Doc On The Run podcast we're talking about what a runner should do when you have a rupture of the plantar fascia and metatarsal stress fractures.

What are bilateral bipartite sesamoid bones in a runner?

This episode comes from a question from one of the Doc On The Run YouTube channel viewers who wanted to know about “bilateral bipartite sesamoid bones” and what that really means. 

I get these kind of questions all the time, when somebody really wants to know what a term means, and what the implications are for them as a runner. Usually the runner is trying to figure out how to keep running while the sesamoid heals.

Sometimes the concern is a sesamoid stress fracture or a condition like sesamoiditis where you start to get pain under the big toe joint. 

If you see a doctor, they look at your x-rays, they may tell you, "Oh, you have bilateral bipartite sesamoids." 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about bilateral bipartite sesamoid bones in a runner.

How are tight calves related to metatarsal stress fractures

This episode comes from a question from a runner, who wanted to know what it means when calf muscles are tight and you have metatarsal stress fractures. 

He wrote in and said, "Hey doc, I meant to inquire about stress fractures in the metatarsal joints and how you can tell. I have a friend who's experienced a stress fracture, and he says his calves seemed to tighten up when the pain developed." 

There are really two ways tight calf muscles can be related to metatarsal stress fractures. One is the cause. The other is an effect. 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about how tight calves are related to metatarsal stress fractures in runners.

Does a painful red big toe joint mean I have gout?

I was just doing telemedicine visit with a runner who has a red, painful big toe joint. 

Gout is an accumulation of painful sharp crystals in the joint. 

Gout certainly can cause your big toe joint to become red, hot, swollen and painful.

But gout is only one of three different conditions that might cause big toe joint pain.

The pattern of redness around the big toe joint can help you decide which condition might be causing the problem if you are a runner.

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about whether or not a painful red big toe joint means a runner has gout.