So I returned from the foot doctor yesterday, and his evaluation leads him to believe that I have a neuroma starting in my right foot, which is why it comes and goes, gets worse with higher mileage, and I get the tingliness now and then in the toes. Based on what he told me, it is something that I can manage and can actually make go away if I take care of it. He indicated it was not a Mortons Neuroma, because I don’t have a lump of any kind there, I just have the starting symptoms. I guess it can turn into Mortons if I don’t take care of it.

Really what this means is that I have an irritated nerve in my foot. He didn’t give me the cortisone shot this time, he gave me some good metatarsal pads, and a separator for my toes, which seems to be working somewhat. He also explained where the metatarsal pad is supposed to go … I always thought with the one that I bought from the store was that the pad should go where the pain is, well, thats not the case, its supposed to go on the ball of the foot where the initial pressure gets placed when you walk. What happens is that when you make that first push-down, it flexes that nerve, which causes the pain, so the goal is to reduce that initial push-down … pretty cool I guess. I have to return to him in 3 weeks, if it isn’t much better, he’ll give me the cortisone shot then and we’ll go from there. He also suggested staying away from hills and speedwork for now, which I will do (except for the Diamond run).. One suggestion he gave me that I hope to implement is to reduce the length of my stride, basically, take smaller steps. I’m not sure how that fits in, but hes a runner, so I guess he knows.

Some other things I read about the help keep the symptoms and pain of the neuroma from flaring up is to not tie my shoes too tight in the front, and I’m even considering changing my shoes to a different brand, and doing another check to see if I am over-pronating.

So, with Ocean Drive marathon training starting next week, I have to listen to the doctor or I won’t make it through the training. I think that i’ll be okay though, just have to take it easy in the beginning until this flare up goes away, or until he gives me the shot.

EDIT – by the way, the doctor did not tell me to STOP running during this, I love having a foot doctor that is a runner, he understands the psychosis that us runners live with!