As an athletic runner, you become more in tune with your body. You learn how to correctly listen to your body’s feedback to gauge your performance level and physical condition. Pain signals give you information that you can use to determine exactly how much to push, and when to call a halt and rest instead.
At the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, located in Tomball, Kingwood, and Conroe, Texas, we specialize in sports medicine support. Foot and ankle provider Dr. Michael Blackwell works with you to better understand the information that your body gives you about your activity and training needs. In this blog, he focuses on the issue of foot pain for runners.
When your feet hurt while running, should you keep going despite the pain? When does foot pain signal that you need to take a break from running? Here’s what you need to know.
When you want to improve your physical performance, you quickly learn that a certain amount of discomfort is a prerequisite. You need to be able to put in the effort to build strength and stamina. If you give up as soon as you feel tired, you won’t be able to improve enough to meet your desired metrics.
That said, it’s also not a good idea for athletes to ignore pain. You may hesitate to seek medical care for foot pain, fearing that you might be told that you need to stop running. If you keep pushing through foot pain, eventually you could find yourself dealing with very real musculoskeletal issues.
If you can modify your pain levels by changing your footwear, cadence, speed, or stride, it’s typically ok to keep running without stopping your training. If your pain levels stay relatively low, or if pain is only temporary and goes away on its own after a day or so, there’s likely no cause for concern.
In some cases, warning signs let you know that your foot pain indicates a need for rest. To prevent sports injuries as a runner, learn and listen to these key pain signals from your body.
Consult Dr. Blackwell if your pain is accompanied by muscle weakness or a “pins and needles” sensation in one or both of your legs. Fever, chills, sweating, night sweats, and loss of bladder or bowel control may indicate a serious problem in need of professional care.
If you’ve recently been injured, or if you have a history of cancer, foot pain may mean that you need to back off aggressive activity and rest more. If you’ve been losing weight without a clear reason for six months or more, get checked up to make sure you’re in good health.
You should also track the duration and frequency of your foot pain or running-related pain symptoms. Pain that continues for more than a week despite basic self-care treatment should be seen by Dr. Blackwell, so that he can determine what’s needed for you to stay active and on the run in the future. Some types of foot injuries, like stress fractures, only worsen if you keep running and ignore pain signals.
For personalized support with your training journey as a runner, including advice on handling pain, contact Dr. Blackwell at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine online or over the phone today and schedule your appointment.
