Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#192209 - 10/11/15 12:44 AM stress fracture!
bobito9 Offline
member

Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 408
I had a very busy and fun summer of backpacking and high mountain hiking: 170 miles plus in Montana, Washington, California, and Peru, and truthfully no significant aches and pains (though some asthma from smoke and pollution). Then two weeks after I get back to work, here I am running to catch the subway to work, and I feel pain in my foot. I ignored it and limped through work the rest of the week with it getting worse (I climb ladders and do physical work). By then it was obviously worse than just one of my typical limping episodes, so I made a doctor appointment: Big bummer, a stress fracture in the fourth metatarsal. Now I have to wear an attractive green cast for 8 weeks frown
It seems crazy that I could hike on tough terrain all summer and then screw it up on the sidewalk. The most obvious conclusion, of course, is "don't ever go to work again, it's dangerous! And avoid sidewalks". However, setting that aside, I had a few thoughts that others might find applicable in their lives. First, I guess it's possible I weakened my bones with all that hiking, but it just didn't seem so til I got hurt. Second, I wore my backpacking boots pretty much all the time for around 6 weeks, but when I got back, I started wearing my daily shoes, which are Keens "cross trainers" Normally they feel pretty comfortable, but after the trip it felt like my feet had spread out wider in my wider backpacking boots, and the daily shoes no longer felt good. They were also a bit worn down on the rear side heel and I'm guessing I should have replaced them (I do have picky feet). Thirdly, running definitely puts a different sort of stress on a foot. I'm not normally a runner, though occasionally I jog a little, and this time I was running about as fast I could.
The short story is that this really really SUCKS!, though my doctor says it should heal fine. (and at least it didn't happen deep in the backcountry!) I am going to be really cautious about running at all, and I'll try harder to replace my shoes in a timely manner. But, man, I'm sure I'm not alone on this forum in saying its crazy how much I spend every year on shoes. Seems like shoes are not as durable as they used to be! And that pronating I do just seems to wear them down on the back corner too fast.

Top
#192851 - 12/09/15 01:26 AM Re: stress fracture! [Re: bobito9]
bobito9 Offline
member

Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 408
Yay! After 8 weeks, the cast finally came off. Felt pretty difficult to start walking again, but things have loosened up and I am ready to go on my first hike in 9 weeks. Woo-hoo!!!

Top
#192853 - 12/09/15 10:46 AM Re: stress fracture! [Re: bobito9]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
Ask the doc about insoles that will help overcome the pronating. You also may need different shoes. I have to have shoes with really stiff anti-pronation devices built in.

Congratulations on being set free from the cast, but please be careful for a while!
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

Top
#192856 - 12/09/15 05:32 PM Re: stress fracture! [Re: OregonMouse]
bluefish Offline
member

Registered: 06/05/13
Posts: 680
I do heavy labor, as I'm a builder, and spend lots of time on ladders, but nothing seems to take the place of running , except running. As I've gotten older, everything has stiffened, so when I try to run, it feels like my skeleton is made of rusty, brittle steel. Glad you've healed and are ready for the trail again.
_________________________
Charlie

Top
#192886 - 12/12/15 02:52 PM Re: stress fracture! [Re: bluefish]
bobito9 Offline
member

Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 408
I can sympathize with you Bluefish, as I am an electrician, but the main occupational thing that is killing me is my shoulders. It's looking like I'll have to have arthroscopic surgery frown Luckily my shoulders don't affect my hiking smile

Top
#192888 - 12/12/15 03:01 PM Re: stress fracture! [Re: OregonMouse]
bobito9 Offline
member

Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 408
Hmmm...That's an interesting suggestion Mouse. Do they make orthotics to change how your foot lands that much? I got good quality custom made orthotics from a podiatrist a few years back, after my bunion surgery, and they seem to have helped me a lot, not just with foot pain but also with stability and back pain. But my boots still show heavy wear pattern on the rear outer corner, so I guess I still pronate. I throw away my shoes a lot sooner than anyone else I know because once that part starts wearing down, I feel like my stride starts tracking in a way that puts strain on my knee and foot and other parts. I try to be very cautious. In this case, though, I definitely was using that pair a little longer than I think I should have. Of course I was running in my overalls and carrying a heavy daypack, too. Maybe I just need to say the heck with running.

Top
#192916 - 12/17/15 03:49 PM Re: stress fracture! [Re: bobito9]
dylansdad77 Offline
member

Registered: 03/12/14
Posts: 161
Loc: New Jersey
Originally Posted By bobito9
I can sympathize with you Bluefish, as I am an electrician, but the main occupational thing that is killing me is my shoulders. It's looking like I'll have to have arthroscopic surgery frown Luckily my shoulders don't affect my hiking smile


My biggest occupational hurdle is that I work too many hours sitting on my ass and not exercising enough...
_________________________
Did you know that 83.6% of all statistics are made up on the spot?

Top
#192919 - 12/17/15 11:36 PM Re: stress fracture! [Re: dylansdad77]
bobito9 Offline
member

Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 408
and paper cuts are no laughing matter!

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 199 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum