MD Podiatrist Discusses Stress Syndrome

According to Dan Michaels, DPM, “Plantar fasciitis is by far the most common cause of pain in the heel, but a ‘stress syndrome’ of the bone does occur. What makes things interesting is how the pain of these two conditions can act very much the same. Our experienced ‘detective’ work is commonly needed to distinguish between conditions like these. The second area of the foot where a ‘stress syndrome’ occurs commonly is the central three metatarsal bones. These bones are long and skinny, making them susceptible to stress injuries. Pain and swelling on the top of the foot between the toes and the ankle could be a sign of a stress condition of one of these metatarsals. An otherwise healthy person can be the victim of a metatarsal ‘stress syndrome’ at the drop of a hat. One moment you’re walking fine and the next your foot is killing you.”
“The balls and outside of the feet are two other common areas afflicted by this unkind stress syndrome. There are many reasons, such as genetics, footwear, obesity, overuse, and others that cause these stress syndromes. Once we feel confident a person has one of these conditions, we focus on the footwear, the exercise routine, work conditions and managing the inflammation.
Given how much we use our feet, getting a stress syndrome to quiet down isn’t always easy. Besides the obvious goal of relieving the pain, avoiding something worse like a fracture of the bone is mission critical. We know how common it is for people to live with pain for months before seeking medical attention,” says Dr. Michaels.