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Pain in outer part of foot and when walking normally

I have this really sharp pain in the outer part of the foot when I walk normally. It started the day after I ran three miles and played a few sets of tennis. The pain is in a 1-inch spot just under the ankle; when I press with my fingers on the outer part of the foot under my ankle it hurts. It also hurts when I stretch my foot towards the outside (sort of a reverse ankle sprain). What can it be and can it be fixed with rest? It’s not swollen or black and blue, it just hurts. To lesser the pain, when I walk I put all my weight in the inner part of my foot.
Thanks.

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    If I am reading correctly where your pain is, it is just under your ankle, NOT along your metatarsals?

    If so, you probably have tendonitis. However, there is “alot of anatomy” in the foot – ligaments, bones, tendons – therefore there are several possibilities for what you might have injured, from a simple tendonitis to a stress fracture.

    My advice (apart from seeing a good orthopedist) is good old RICE – ice massage the painful area at least 2-3 times daily, 10 minutes at a time, take antiinflammatories and DO NOT run or perform weight-bearing activities until the pain has gone away. If you proceed with your running, etc., before the foot has healed, there is a possibility of developing chronic conditions. That’s no good. Pain has a purpose.

    Take it very easy, try to walk NORMALLY so you can heal properly and so you don’t throw yourself into any other problems by teaching your body new, biomechanically incorrect movement. Yes, sometimes you can’t help but limp, spending less time on the injured foot, but try not to form new forms of moving, i.e. walking on the inside of your foot, as you have been doing. Muscle memory is a powerful thing.

    You can try taping the area or ace bandaging and see if that helps the pain. (The “C” part of RICE.) If your pain is becoming worse or your foot is swelling or if you simply want peace of mind, see your orthopedist or sports med. doctor. The general “rule” is to do so if an injury doesn’t heal in 2 weeks, but do what you think is necessary.

    Good luck. I had tendonitis in my foot once, and it took approximately 4 weeks to heal. Don’t rush it.

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