I severely injured my foot two months ago under unusual circumstances. It has improved significantly with rest, but a recent MRI revealed something very distressing: mild degnerative changes (osteoarthritis) of the talonavicular joint. Also discovered were a cuboid stress fracture, multiple metatarsal stress reactions, and extensor digitorum brevis muscle strain, but these are of less concern.
Due to the large number of problems, I can’t tell exactly how much of my pain, if any, is caused by the talonavicular joint. Still, my understanding is that joint degeneration is irrersible.
What do you suppose the prognosis is for someone with this injury? Will continuing to train accelerate the degenerative process?
Anyone else train with osteoarthritis in a critical joint?
It was a semi-traumatic injury and not something that occurred over time.
Basically what happened was that I had been using a UCBL orthotic (a particularly large orthotic that basically immobilizes your whole midfoot) for recalcitrant shin splints. After a few months I decided that it was worthless, discarded it, and tried to do some light strides on grass. I thought that I was being very safe and cautious.
If I would you, I would be more concerned about the cuboid and metatarsal fractures! Mild degenerative changes in the talonavicular joint can be seen in any athlete over time (I see them in nonathletes everyday in my office!). The fractures are the areas that need attention!