Speaking Too Soon?

You'd think after my super stoked motivation post on Monday I'd be set. Eh...not so much.

After my run on Monday night with Travis, I noticed the ball of my right foot was a little sore, but not TOO much. Then yesterday morning I hopped out of bed and *A HA* major pain in my foot. It felt like a bruise, and it immediately made me think of my little stress fracture incident 5 years ago. OH CRAP...it CAN'T be this again. I mean, I was just on crutches last February!

So I'm limping and I decide to see if my podiatrist (which, lucky for me, is right next door to my work) has anything open that day. I got an appointment in the afternoon! YAY! I limp next door when 3 o'clock rolls around and I see Dr. L. He helped me last February and was super awesome (because he's a former runner slash current climber, etc). He really knows his stuff, so I have complete faith in his diagnosis. It turns out that he thinks the neuromas in both of my feet are getting bigger and are easier to irritate (despite wearing my wicked expensive custom orthotics). He recommends cortisone shots in both feet. Oh geez...my two worst nightmares: people touching my feet AND needles. Good grief, I think I might have made my arms bleed since I was digging my fingernails as I hugged my torso...thank goodness for about 3 layers of clothing to keep my skin protected.

The shots were a little painful, but nothing too crazy. My feet were numb for pretty much the entire rest of the day. This morning I woke up and NO FOOT PAIN! HURRAY! But, my foot started to get a little sore towards the end of the day again. :( Bummer. I iced it and kept it elevated for a little bit. So far so good.
Basically, I can't run until Saturday: Doc's orders. :(

Also, since I'm training for the Half in a month, Dr. L wants to make sure that this foot pain is under control. If nothing else is helping, then he's considering I get two of the 3 (or 4) neuromas removed surgically. :( Scary! Hopefully it won't come to that, but my feet suck anyway, so I'm not sure I can avoid it.

It'll be ok. I'm going to make the best of this and see what can be done. In conclusion, I'm sure you are wondering...

What in the world is a neuroma?
Here's what FootPhysicians.com says:

A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue that may develop in various parts of the body. The most common neuroma in the foot is a Morton's neuroma, which occurs at the base of the third and fourth toes. It is sometimes referred to as an intermetatarsal neuroma. "Intermetatarsal" describes its location - in the ball of the foot between the metatarsal bones (the bones extending from the toes to the midfoot). Neuromas may also occur in other locations in the foot.

The thickening, or enlargement, of the nerve that defines a neuroma is the result of compression and irritation of the nerve. This compression creates swelling of the nerve, eventually leading to permanent nerve damage.