Foot Injury...

[Golfaway]

I've been feeling for a couple of days that the lateral aspect of my left foot is hurting a little bit, but I thought it was nothing great. Today was my first match in our annual singles match play tournament, I got ready, hit some balls on the range, everything good. Got on the first tee and smacked a hot drive straight down the fairway, the same instant I saw the ball heading bullet-like down the fairway I heard a "POP" sound coming from down, and the next instant a drastic gush of pain explodes in my left foot that I collapse on the ground.

I regain my posture feeling great pain, but say OK, it's nothing I'll be OK now. By the time I arrived down the fairway where my ball landed the pain was almost gone but I was still feeling something wrong. I take out my club, do my routine, hit the ball, and AWWW pain explodes again and I'm down on my knees as the ball soars through the air to land on the green. This time the pain was ecstatic. But I just say to myself its nothing, I'll go make a 2 putt for par and it'll be OK. I reach the elevated green and as I climbed it I had already forgot about the pain, as I started climbing, I pressed on my left foot and for the third time pain like hell exploded in my left foot and I fell down in the green side bunker.

By that time I was convinced it was enough. I apologized to my opponent (who was very understanding), forfeited the match and declared him winner.

What the heck happened? Did I do something wrong on my follow through? I am still feeling pain now and I cannot walk normally, did I tear a ligament or what? Is it serious or will it just go away after a couple days of rest???

[James_Black]

Go see a doctor or something?


Something is obviously wrong and there's no point asking somebody over the internet....

[Big_M]

Go see a doctor or something?

yeah... if you're in that type pain you should be in the Dr's office, not asking us. I can go ahead and say, sure it'll be fine in two days take some aspirin... but reality is I have no idea.

[Golfaway]

I will be seeing a doctor no question about that. I am just asking to see if something similar as happened to anyone around here. I am not asking for medical advice here, just for anecdotes.

[chaptowngolfteam]

If the pain is located more proximal to the joint where your 5th toe starts, then I suspect that you had a stress fracture in your 5th metatarsal, then on the 1st tee, you completed the fracture. A fracture in this spot is known as a Jones fracture, and I see an x-ray in your future. If the fracture is displaced, then surgery might be an option, however if it is not displaced, then most likely a walking boot and crutches is what you will deal with.

[Golfaway]

It's not a fracture, I can move my foot easily albeit with some pain. I've tried fractures before and know how they feel, this certainly (and thankfully) isn't one.
I'm just worried I might never be able to play again!

[Fatphil]

I turned 50 a few years back and now I spend at least 5 minuites stretching before I hit balls. Especially doing ankle rotations, hamstring stretches, thighs, lats, neck, shoulders....its hard to force yourself to do but the golf swing is a stressfull motion on all joints especially your leading knee and ankle. I picked up a tip watching Rocco Mediate. You may notice before every shot he lifts his club over his head and stretches his shoulders and rotator cuff muscles. You don't ever want a shoulder injury in golf...that will knock you out for months.

good luck.

[chaptowngolfteam]

It's not a fracture, I can move my foot easily albeit with some pain. I've tried fractures before and know how they feel, this certainly (and thankfully) isn't one.

It is a common misconception that you cannot move something that is fractured. And only an x-ray can rule out a fracture. but what do i know, i am only in sports medicine.

[Golfaway]

X-ray shows no bone fractures.

[Fatphil]

great news on the fracture habibi...don't know what kind of shape you're in but I recommend a daily stretching regime and absolutly stretch before you hit a ball.

[chaptowngolfteam]

Well, glad to hear that because a fracture in that spot is usually very nasty when it comes to healing. But that pop had to come from somewhere...