I had my LECOM interview on 7/8 and totally fucked it up lol. I haven’t heard back. No email or phone call (apparently they are supposed to call you if you get accepted)? Should I be concerned or is it still early?
This Adelie penguin was sleeping face down, butt to camera.
I have been in some form of sesamoid pain for close to 8 months. I self-treated using PowerStep orthotics, Hoka Clifton shoes, metatarsal pads, and a carbon fiber plate, but I kept running and doing sports. I was EXTREMELY active, with karate classes, running, and powerlifting. I was even placing at local races. Four months after my symptoms started, I realized this wasn't going to go away with my own treatment. Funny thing is that I have had this before a few times, but it was easily fixable with either carbon fiber or a new pair of shoes.
I finally saw an orthopedic PA at the end of March and was put in a boot, but allowed to remove it to shower, swim, sleep, and rest. I had an MRI around this time, which revealed marrow edema, but no fracture. This treatment unfortunately did not help, despite my provider's optimism and reassurance. She realized the impact that the injury was having on me and referred me to a podiatrist to have my sesamoid removed! I was hopeful. I had a job offer and was really hoping this podiatrist could give me some answers, as my future job would involve a lot of standing and walking, and was important to my success as a medical school applicant
Unfortunately that appointment went completely sideways. Instead of the sesamoidectomy, this doctor recommended casting my leg and being NWB for one month. His exact words were "we need to shut it all down." He said most of his patients got better and returned to normal activities after being casted. Regardless, the thought of not being able to do any exercise at all for a month was very hard on me. I basically begged him for any other treatment. He essentially refused and said that the cast had to come first. Strangely, he was vehemently against the idea of a sesamoidectomy.
When the cast came off in the beginning of June, my ankle was very stiff and weak. But as soon as I figured out how to walk again, the sesamoid pain came right back, except this time it was worse than before, since my foot was so weak. I now need PT to fix this. A new MRI revealed unchanged marrow edema. I went and got a second opinion (Late June) from a highly respected physician. He told me to wear orthotics and avoid anything painful for "6 months, up to a year" and that the sesamoidectomy "is not a good surgery" and he wouldn't want me to run afterwards. He even brought up wearing the walking boot again, even though the boot never helped.
A few days later, I visited my podiatrist for a follow-up. He seemed a bit surprised that I was still in pain, despite his casting treatment. I was recommended to receive shockwave therapy. This provided enough relief to permit some walking, but it wasn't enough for me to return to work or run. My PT, as I later learned, has never treated a case of sesamoiditis before, and has actually given me exercises that made the pain worse.
Now, I can only walk 3-4k steps in a day in very aggressive orthotics and supportive shoes before I start having issues. It aches and throbs and it's uncomfortable. I have tried to pick up running again, but the pain came back not more than a few days later. I'm unable to work, and I have plantar fasciitis in my unaffected foot from it doing so much. I have to plan everything I do around my foot. I've probably lost some bone density in my injured leg too. This whole conservative treatment rigamarole has taken a huge toll on my health and identity as an athlete. I have completely lost trust in the medical system.
Fellow sesamoid warriors, please send some help. I'm not sure what to do next. I'm terrified of seeing another doctor only to be told the exact same thing and given no clear path to recovery. Is it possible that I can just live with this? Given that no treatment has given me definitive relief, what damage could I do by running/working/existing on it?
Hi all. Looking for some experiences regarding running and career-ending injuries. I know typically things like broken legs and ACL tears USED to be career-ending for footballers and the like. Do you guys think there is something like this in the running world?
Hi all. Looking for some experiences regarding running and career-ending injuries. I know typically things like broken legs and ACL tears USED to be career-ending for footballers and the like. Do you guys think there is something like this in the running world?
I’ve had sesamoiditis for about 8 months now. Up until this last month, I had a tendon-shredding burning pain in the bottom of my foot, and dull aches at rest. That burning pain has since gotten better, but the aching still persists and is severely limiting.
I’m trying to figure out if I am healing of if I need to see another doctor. It would really help to know the sort of pain that is usually experienced with chronic sesamoiditis. Thanks in advance!
EDIT: Just had my last shockwave therapy today. My provider was a bit concerned when I said that my PT is having me do exercises that hurt. He had to dial down the settings because I have been having a bit of aching this week. Is it possible that conservative treatment can stop working after a certain point? If anyone has any experience with this type of situation, please share!
Hello guys. I have been dealing with sesamoiditis pain for 8 months almost, and treated it conservatively for half of that time. I have noticed only minimal improvement; the tendon-shredding pain in the bottom of my foot is gone, but it still aches and throbs and I can only walk about 3000 steps before I’m in trouble. Simple things - reaching an object on a high shelf, running for exercise, and just standing for long periods - are out of the question. I am unable to work due to the aching pain and the fear that I will just make it worse. So far, my treatments have included:
- activity modification (the most helpful, but i do not want to continue this forever)
- boot (did nothing)
- cast (made everything worse)
- orthotics (helpful when worn)
- shockwave therapy
I have one more shockwave treatment session scheduled. I know I am supposed to wait 4-6 weeks afterward to see results, but if I am still limited in my activity levels, should I just bite the bullet and get a sesamoidectomy?
I have finally gotten my hands on the clinical notes from my sesamoid journey (so far). One of the physicians I saw suspects that my "sesamoiditis" is actually a chronic fracture. This doesn't make sense, since my other doctors have said it's bipartite and not really broken, just inflamed.
I first learned of the bipartite sesamoid many years ago (2019). I had some sesamoid pain and got it checked out; yup it's bipartite. Treated with carbon fiber and resolved within days. Since then I have had occasional issues, but nothing the carbon plate couldn't fix. My most recent flare up is the one that drove me to this subreddit and many different specialists!
If I ran on the thing for years with minimal/no issue, could it really have been a chronic fracture? I don't recall any sudden injuries to the sesamoid area.
I have finally gotten my hands on the clinical notes from my sesamoid journey (so far). One of the physicians I saw suspects that my "sesamoiditis" is actually a chronic fracture. This doesn't make sense, since my other doctors have said it's bipartite and not really broken, just inflamed.
I first learned of the bipartite sesamoid many years ago (2019). I had some sesamoid pain and got it checked out; yup it's bipartite. Treated with carbon fiber and resolved within days. Since then I have had occasional issues, but nothing the carbon plate couldn't fix. My most recent flare up is the one that drove me to this subreddit and many different specialists!
If I ran on the thing for years with minimal/no issue, could it really have been a chronic fracture? I don't recall any sudden injuries to the sesamoid area.
Are there any good sesamoiditis orthotics that you can run in? I own a pair of Hallux Trainer sport orthotics but they seem far too rigid to be exercised in (they are amazing for walking though). I have tried PowerStep Pinnacle Plus Met but the met pad is too soft. Currently have a pair of barely worn Aetrexes - anyone used them?
This is my latest MRI scan. Even walking to the clinic felt like walking on a broken toe. Given that I have failed a boot and a cast, what’s next to try?
Recently I have been posting about pain coming back after having my cast removed. Unfortunately, my foot feels the same as it was before I ever did any treatment, if not worse. For a bit of background, I started feeling symptoms in November, and managed with footwear, orthotics, and pads as best as I could. I finally saw a doctor at the end of March, when nothing I was doing was helping.
I wore a walking boot for 6 weeks and a cast for another month. After removing the cast, it took a couple days for me to walk normally, but once I did, the pain came back worse than ever.
I am unable to walk, run, or work and desperately seeking a solution. I will be seeing a different doctor very soon, but I would like to also hear from your experiences. Has anyone been in this position, and how did you finally get back to norma activities.
Thank you very much in advance. Wishing you all pain-free steps!
Thought I would share some humor with you today.
I made a post a little while ago expressing some concern over sesamoid pain following the removal of my cast. Unfortunately, the pain has now escalated pretty much back to what it was before I got the cast :(
I am extremely frustrated. Not only did the cast make my leg weak (one leg visibly smaller than the other), and my ankle stiff and very painful to use, but it didn’t even fix the problem.
Anyone been in a similar situation? I am hesitant to get a cortisone shot due to the risks involved and cannot tolerate another round of boot/cast. Any insight is appreciated.