Today's question comes from Priscilla, after she watched the video “Proof you do not have to stop running with a metatarsal stress response.” 

She says:

“I am a distance runner, I got a fourth metatarsal stress fracture, I was in the boot 3 months. X-ray is showing some healing but not 100%. I have been walking but I fear it will open up again. Is pain and fear of putting full pressure without the boot normal? I want to run, it is frustrating.”

Is pain and fear normal after a fourth metatarsal stress fracture? 

Well, that is a good question and that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

I have heard lots of different things that runners tell me their doctors said...,

"You are not built like a runner."

"You cannot run with your foot type."

"Running just does not work for you. 

Decades ago, an orthopedic surgeon who did my reconstructive knee surgery said to me, 

"If you ever run, you will have to have a total knee replacement within 10 years."

My knee is still good. And I have been running for decades. I did my first 50-mile trail race when I turned 50. I have done 15 Ironman triathlons. So clearly, my doctor's advice to stop running was wrong.

Did your doctor ever tell you to stop running after a stress fracture? 

Well, I hope not, but if so, this episode might be for you because that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

Today's episode comes from a question on the Doc On The Run YouTube channel regarding the video entitled “Proof you do not have to stop running with a metatarsal stress response.” 

Brian was clearly frustrated. He commented:

“I wish… I have a big swollen reason under the second metatarsal. It tingles a bit while running. Slight burning. I have to alter my landing to not irritate it. I'm finished. Rest in peace to my running VO2 max. I got to focus on cycling.”

Does a stress response equal "rest in peace" to my VO2 max? 

Well, that is a good question and that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

Just this morning I was on a coaching call with a runner who is recovering from a stress fracture.

Almost every runner I talk to can immediately start exercising and start doing stuff to maintain their running fitness if they understand how severe the injury is, and they don't have to just take time off. 

It is heartbreaking to me truthfully when I talk to somebody who has been completely off of their foot and on crutches in a fracture walking boot and worse, not exercising at all for two weeks, four weeks, or six weeks before I ever talk to them. 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about why you should convert your off-season training program to your recovery program when you have a stress fracture. 

I got a question from an injured runner, and she wants to know about the amount of time it takes to heal a stress reaction in the sesamoid bone in your foot.

She said:

“I have had a stress reaction in my tibial sesamoid that led to a lot of pain and swelling. I am reading mixed reviews on healing time. I have been off it for three weeks now, either on crutches and taping the toe to immobilize it or in a walking boot with tape on the toe and sesamoid dancing pads to avoid pressure on the bone. I am a 38-year-old healthy female.”

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about sesamoid stress reactions and the expected healing time. 

Today's question comes from someone who watched the YouTube video on the Doc On The Run YouTube channel called “How long before I can run with a stress fracture.”

The comment was:

“Thank you so much for this video. I want to ask if resting for three weeks, complete bed rest and I can afford to do this because I am a student, and it is summer holiday then I can walk to my college to do daily normal tasks. I do not do any physical training or running and my college is about a kilometer away.”

Will three weeks of bed rest heal a stress fracture? 

Well, that is a great question and that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

There is nothing worse than being told to stop running, especially when you have no idea how long you're not going to be able to run. 

You like your doctor. She is nice. She is smart and helpful. She seems to really care about your running, and even listens to you talk about your last run. 

But when she tells you, that you cannot run, there are three questions that you need to ask.

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about the top three questions to ask your doctor when she tells you, you have to stop running because you have a metatarsal stress fracture. 

When you get a stress fracture, the main thing you are trying to do is figure out how bad it is.

How much does it hurt?

How can you get it to heal as quickly as possible?

Although inflammation is an important part of the healing process, it can be very disruptive to two parts of your process of getting back to running. 

Well, that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

When you get a stress fracture, the main thing you are trying to do is figure out how bad it is.

How much does it hurt?

How can you get it to heal as quickly as possible?

Although inflammation is an important part of the healing process, it can be very disruptive to two parts of your process of getting back to running. 

Well, that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

One of the most useless obsessions I witness in runners is to focus on the grade a doctor uses to label the stress fracture. 

You should care if you can run, you should care if you can work out, you should care if you have to sit around in a fracture walking boot and do nothing.

Most of the time runners call me and they are trying to get an answer from me on what they can do, I know their stress fracture grading is useless. 

The reason for that is because I just asked two questions based on it and if you ask your doctor these same two questions, it will help you figure out whether or not you can start working out sooner.

Today on the Doc On The Run podcast, we're talking about two questions that prove to me your stress fracture grading is useless.