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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wishingstar on September 5, 2006, at 14:15:44
I have 2 questions...
The first, is it possible for an MRI to be (read) wrong?
The second takes a little more explanation. I am a dancer (ballet) and around this past April developed a pain on the top of my foot. I saw a few doctors, had xrays, and was basically told it'd go away on its own. I took the summer off from dancing but still, it never completely went away. In August I went to a third doctor who ordered an MRI. The MRI said it is a small stress fracture of the lower part of my first metatarsal.
The reason I question that diagnosis is because none of my symptoms match with a typical stress fracture at all. Even the doctor was quite surprised. Rather than getting worse with activity, the pain seems to get better. It never hurts while I'm dancing. There is (and never was) any swelling or bruising. And even though I took the entire summer off from dancing and going to the gym, it didnt heal. The doctor now is saying that it should heal in about a month if I dont dance and am careful with it... but if thats true, why didnt it heal all summer? I dont have any faith that it will heal on its own now.
My second question then is about treating it. He said I could use crutches if I wanted, but it wasnt necessary. I got some, but havent really been using them. He recommended I throw my weight more into my heels when walking to keep and try not to roll through the ball of my foot. I was doing that and noticed the pain was getting worse. Yesterday I started walking "normally" (rolling out a little, but not throwing my weight so far back) and the pain has gotten somewhat better. So I wont do that anymore.
Many of you might cringe when you read this, but I'm going back to ballet tonight. I know, bad idea... but it's the one thing that truly makes me happy these days, and I hate to lose it. Obviously if the pain gets much worse, I will stop. I plan to ice it after class whether it hurts or not. My teacher is aware of the situation and I'm taking a slower class for a bit until I feel ready to move up.
So my questions are.. any thoughts on treating this? And is it possible for an MRI to be wrong and that this is really some issue other than a stress fracture? Sorry to have written such a long post but I felt like I needed to get all the details out. Thanks for your help.
Posted by wishingstar on September 6, 2006, at 7:42:19
In reply to MRI/stress fracture, posted by wishingstar on September 5, 2006, at 14:15:44
As planned, I went to ballet last night. I dance on pointe (the toe shoes) so I was a bit nervous, but it never hurt once. Not during or after. Well, aside from the normal pain of "hey, im walking on my toes". :) But even this morning, I woke up and no pain at all. I dont think one class "fixed" whatever the problem was, but how weird is this? I just dont get it.
Posted by MidnightBlue on September 6, 2006, at 18:55:45
In reply to update, posted by wishingstar on September 6, 2006, at 7:42:19
Well good for you! Just take it easy and enjoy.
MB
Posted by llrrrpp on September 8, 2006, at 17:06:47
In reply to Re: update » wishingstar, posted by MidnightBlue on September 6, 2006, at 18:55:45
Hi Wishing,
I wonder if it could be tendinitis rather than a stress fracture?Your foot may have developed muscles that it uses to hold you en pointe, or for leaps and stuff, but those extra muscles may pull the regular old muscles out of line and cause some kind of inflammatory thing. I get this stuff with violin a lot. It's not just that I play violin, it's that I play violin and do normal stuff too. My body is perfectly well-suited to playing violin, but things like sitting in a car or using a mouse with my R. hand bother me... go figure.
-ll
so, perhaps you should just wear toe shoes all the time? could be an expensive solution, huh?
Seriously, ice, anti-inflammatories and rest if it starts acting up. You may have had this stress fracture for a while, who knows? Take it easy until you know for sure. I'm crossing my fingers and sending you a grand jete...
Posted by Phillipa on September 9, 2006, at 22:53:05
In reply to Re: update, posted by llrrrpp on September 8, 2006, at 17:06:47
Lurpsie I thought the same thing as I did it to my bottom of my foot walking in the sand at the beach daily last year and it was better the more I used it. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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