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zoogarama · Nov 7, 2006, 08:31 PM

Ok, I'm in marching band and I've done so for the past three years (this is my fourth) and I've never had problems with my feet it's always been my knees and sometimes ankles. However recently, I've been getting these sharp pains in the arch of my foot when I stand on the balls of my feet when I'm marching. At least that was the only time it happened, now It's starting to happen when I'm just walking regularly.

It almost feels like needles are stabbing me from inside of my foot. Anyone know what it is and what I can do to treat it? Right now we have two weeks left in the season and until then I'm active everyday and can't really help it. I've been trying to stay off it as much as I can but so far I've just been kind of ignoring it and pushing through but now it's just getting worse. Any advice and help would be welcome.

jgj6331 · Nov 8, 2006, 09:50 AM

You could possibly be suffering from a Morton's neuroma - a benign 'tumor' on a nerve in your foot. In the truest sense, it is not a tumor but some thickening around the nerve. It is most commonly seen in people who are on their feet a lot - and is more common in females. Check out this site for more specifics:
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_r...pcategory=Foot

Also, there are stress fractures - actual small breaks in the bone - that can occur with repeated small injuries related to such activities as marching. Neither of these conditions are likely to get any better on their own. You need to be evaluated by a doctor (orthopedist) before it gets any worse...

zoogarama · Nov 8, 2006, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by jgj6331

You could possibly be suffering from a Morton's neuroma - a benign 'tumor' on a nerve in your foot. In the truest sense, it is not a tumor but some thickening around the nerve. It is most commonly seen in people who are on their feet alot - and is more common in females. Check out this site for more specifics:
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_r...pcategory=Foot

Also, there are stress fractures - actual small breaks in the bone - that can occur with repeated small injuries related to such activities as marching. Neither of these conditions are likely to get any better on their own. You need to be evaluated by a doctor (orthopedist) before it gets any worse...

It's not really on the balls of my feet that hurt so I'm reluctant to think it's Morton's Neuroma. However it could be a stress fracture, I know a friend of mine is going through the same thing I think. And can the break get bigger and worse? Because it feels like it's getting worse since now I feel pain just when I'm walking. Usually it would hurt once and then wouldn't bother me the rest of the day. Now it hurts multiple times even doing the simplist activities.

jgj6331 · Nov 8, 2006, 11:30 AM

Stress fractures need rest to heal - if you continue doing the activity that caused it, it continues to get re-injured and cannot heal properly. Most stress fractures can be seen with a simple x-ray - some subtle cases may require a nuclear bone scan - neither of which is painful.

Morton's neuroma could still be a consideration - and there are very rare things like bone tumors (ie. CANCER), osteoid osteomas, infections, etc. - so, you need to see a doctor without delay.