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Treatment for sharp pain in foot while playing.

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I was playing tennis and took a small hop and landed on the ball of my foot first, which is typical in tennis but for some reason this time there was a sharp pain in my foot which quickly subsided.

It felt okay except that it felt like it needed to pop. For example, when your knee needs to pop, but it won't, you get a weird feeling. It felt like that. It felt as if I compacted something and it wouldn't pull back out.

But it was not painful until the next morning. When I woke up I could not walk on it. I felt around and found the spot causing pain. If I push just below the ankle bulge on the inside of my foot, it hurts. I looked online. The area where it hurts is close to the tibiacalcaneal ligament.

It is a little swollen. I have been icing it and taking motrin.

Category: Family Physician-GP

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Category: HIV- AIDS Specialist
 24 Doctors Online

Hello.
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
I understand your concern.
You seem to have developed metatarsalgia from your history, and adequate rest along with regular icing will be able to treat the condition. Mostly in these kind of injuries, the pain develops gradually, and gets worse on the 2nd or 3rd day, when the inflammation process is complete. The good thing is you have already started icing it, and you need to keep doing that for the next 2-3 days around 3-4 times a day for about 10-15 minutes each time. Motrin ( Ibuprofen ) can also be continued for this duration.
More than anything you must rest and, minimise walking or putting strain on the ball of your foot, and also wear well cushioned shoes during walking. Avoid walking bare foot till the recovery is complete.
If the pain keeps getting worse, then an X RAY of your foot can be taken, however it does not seem necessary at the moment.
Hope this was helpful,
Regards.


Patient replied :

You need to read more carefully and be less hasty in your diagnosis. The "ball of my foot" was to let you know what position I was in when I landed. That is not where the pain is.


Hello.
Sorry for the earlier confusion.
In that case it is better that you get an x ray done to rule out a ligament tear or a Grade II injury.
Grade I injuries mostly are limited to pain, with slight restriction of moblity, however ligament tear is a serious injury, and an x ray will be helpful in this case.
In all such injuries what is followed is the RICE protocol :
1) Rest to avoid aggravating the injured ankle and strain the ligament excessively.
2) Immobilization to avoid further stress to the ligament.
3) Ice Packs to reduce inflammation for the first 2-3 days. Apply intermittently around 10-15 minutes each time as i mentioned in my last reply.
4) Evaluate further with an x ray. Since it is in the area of the ligament an x ray is must to rule out tears.
Continue with the motrin and the ince packs for the time being. And please get an x ray. Once you do, you can upload your reports here, for me to guide you further.
Hope this was helpful,
Regards.


Dr. Jaydeep Tripathy
Category: HIV- AIDS Specialist
Experience: 
MBBS from Sri Ramachandra University in December 2011
M.Med (Family Medicine) - TNMGR University, Chennai
MBA-MPH in Public Health in March 2016, SRM University
Finished AFIH in March 2016, SRM University
MRCP ( UK ), Internal Medicine, Royal College of Physicians, June 2016
Fellowship in Diabetology from Martin Luther University in January 2017

Currently Resident Physician, in MD Radiodiagnosis - Kamakshi Memorial Hospital, Chennai
Dr. Jaydeep Tripathy and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

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