Sore foot needs a doctor recommendation.
January 11, 2012 8:51 AM Subscribe
My foot hurts from running. Can anyone recommend a good foot care person in Toronto?
I took up running a several years ago but haven't been able to make as much progress as I would like. I would routinely run about 4K a few times a week but nearly every time I push my distance past 7K, I injure my left foot. I've tried to build up the distance in tiny increments but always seem to get an inflamed tendon or painfully stiff knee. I switched to Vibram shoes and they did wonders for my knees and really seemed to help me overcome the oddities of my gait, but last November I tried a few 8K+ runs and I think I badly screwed up my 3rd metatarsal. What I experienced sounds a lot like a "march fracture". I can walk on the foot without a lot of pain but haven't been able to resume running.
My GP told me to go see someone about getting fitted for orthotics. He ordered x-rays but didn't see anything in them that warranted further discussion.
I'm asking for a recommendation because I'm not exactly sure what sort of specialist I should be seeking.
Is there anything I should be doing in the meantime to help my foot heal faster? I'm in my late 40s, 5'11", 175 lbs.
I took up running a several years ago but haven't been able to make as much progress as I would like. I would routinely run about 4K a few times a week but nearly every time I push my distance past 7K, I injure my left foot. I've tried to build up the distance in tiny increments but always seem to get an inflamed tendon or painfully stiff knee. I switched to Vibram shoes and they did wonders for my knees and really seemed to help me overcome the oddities of my gait, but last November I tried a few 8K+ runs and I think I badly screwed up my 3rd metatarsal. What I experienced sounds a lot like a "march fracture". I can walk on the foot without a lot of pain but haven't been able to resume running.
My GP told me to go see someone about getting fitted for orthotics. He ordered x-rays but didn't see anything in them that warranted further discussion.
I'm asking for a recommendation because I'm not exactly sure what sort of specialist I should be seeking.
Is there anything I should be doing in the meantime to help my foot heal faster? I'm in my late 40s, 5'11", 175 lbs.
Response by poster: Thanks for taking the time to give me all that great info. It's precisely what I was unsure about. I had previously thought that a sport medicine clinic wouldn't be covered by OHIP. I made an appointment for next week.
posted by bonobothegreat at 10:17 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by bonobothegreat at 10:17 AM on January 11, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Diagnosis and assessment of fracture or some other possibility your GP can't see: sports doctor. I like the Sports Medicine Specialists at Yonge and Eglinton. They do x-rays and ultrasound right on site. You don't have to go to another clinic on another day, and you can talk to the doctor right after the diagnostics are done. Medical consults are fully covered by OHIP, including diagnostic tests, but you do have to pay for physiotherapy.
They diagnosed the stress fracture in my foot a couple of years ago and put me into a boot. I was able to walk and even cycle in it, I could sleep and shower without it, and the fracture eventually healed without too much hassle. It wasn't that expensive, about $150, and if you have supplementary medical insurance, it's probably covered.
Once you're healed, you may well need orthotics. You can discuss options at SMS, but I recommend Ryan Foot Care Clinic near Bloor St. W. and Royal York (416-233-6901) for the actual orthotics. They've made me a couple of pairs of perfectly fitted orthotics made from old-fashioned and accurate plaster casts. (I got my foot scanned at another clinic and got a pair that never fitted properly, even after adjustments). Cost is about $500, but again, insurance should cover at least part of it.
posted by maudlin at 9:20 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]