Weird foot pain

Bomber

So, for the past 6 months or so, I have been dealing with a very painful heel/ankle/achielles and the pain just won't go away.

In fact, it is increasingly getting worse.

I have had 3 ultrasound scans, a couple of cortizone shots and a full MR scan (which showed nothing). The GP thinks that it is just the after effects after a hard blow that wont go away - but clearly it is more than that....

It hurts when the foot is cold...when I get up in the morning, when walking after having been sitting down for a while or while running (obviously)

I have recently changed shoes (full gait analysis) and othothics... and it has gradually gotten worse after that.-... I suppose that that is my foot having to adjust to the new shoes / othotics, but it has been 2 weeks since I started using these.

I have also recently started my annual 100 runs in 100 days challenge - and it is not going well. The first maybe two miles is more humping that running - after that the pain (usually) subsides.

I frequestly use ice, I massage the area lightly, and I apply sports balm (not sure what it is called in the US) - nothing seems to work...

 

Any ideas, suggestions?

 

wareagledusty

Bo, I can't offer help but do have a question for you. Is the pain centered somewhere beneath the achilles and under the point of the ankle bone? I have been dealing with the same nagging pain this fall and your question describes my pain almost exactly.

Carrie Chavez

Hi Bo,

Need more info?

How it started? What "Blow" are you talking about?

Why are you training in pain?

How is your strength? Range of Motion? Balance?

new2703

Was there a traumatic event associated with that area? From a muscular perspective, trigger points in the Gastrocnemius and Soleus refer pain to achilles tendon, heel and bottom of the foot. Any history of low back/SI joint dysfunction?

Bomber

The funny thing is, that this whole thing started by me wearing a new pair of office shoes for a few hours... That's all

But, having said that..this isn't the first time I have had problems in this area...I have had cortisone shots for imflammation there twice before..But scans show that there is nothing there should be causing any pain - and the doc (who is a recognised doc within sports medicin) seems to think that I'm not making it any worse by training...

I should also say, that I had almost 4 months of no training worth mentioning due to another injury.

There is some restricting in movement - mainly tilting the foot upwards - but not a great deal.

In terms of whether it is associated with anything...I have just gone through months of Psoas pain - but that has cleared up..

Bomber

oh, and the pain is centered below the achielles - just where the skin gets soft (if that makes any sense) - but in reality the pain is all over the place

Satish Punna

 when you say below the achilles, where is that?  just below where the tendon inserts on the heel bone?  I have trouble with pain there and if thats where your pain is it could be enthesitis.  

Bomber

Trying to insert image...see attachment for 'main' pain areas...

Satish Punna

 I have had pain in a similar area, but more importantly, it behaved similar to what you described.  It is finally getting better.  I have determined it is a combination of insertional achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis.

see this article:

http://runningwritings.blogspot.ca/2011/09/injury-series-flat-eccentric-heel-drops.html

these exercises helped immensely both in rehab AND for pain relief at work (I used a set of phone books in the office to stand on) do them SLOWLY. 

I also massaged the bottom of my foot with a golf ball, looking for sore points  in the fleshy part of sole to work on, and I rolled out tight areas in my calves.  I still keep up with these as a bit of an evening routine.

Maybe it will work for you.  Good luck.

Satish Punna

 oh and I also started rotating in a shoe with a higher heel drop on occasional, and threw away my 'minimalist' shoes.

imc1792

Bo, I had struggled with very similar issues as you, on both my heels. I hung in there for over 18 months doing typical plantar and achilles tendonitis rehab stuff. At almost 2 years with the pain and discomfort I got some targetted Shockwave, 4 sessions and the pain was reduced immensely that I proceeded to get on with training for an ironman. Then a few months after shockwave I got some graston treatments. Wow after 2 years fustrating years of pain and discomfort, all gone and been training hard ever since.

Bomber

Sounds interesting - i will definately try Shockwave treatment. Nearest Grayston practitioner seems to be 3 hours drive from me

imc1792

Bo, forgot to mention, the treatments hurt like hell. Also, I did multiple shots of cortizone over the two years as well to no avail. Good luck.

Bomber

Oh, great - just what i wanted to hear... ;-)

robin sarner

 If nothing being found in the areas of pain, consider being evaluated for a pinched nerve in the back.        Nerve conduction test.   Etc.

new2703

Agree with Robin. If all testing comes back negative look elsewhere. Was the psoas problem on the same side?

Bomber

The Psoas issue was the on opposite side

Carl

Bo-

First of all sorry to hear about your struggles for we all know how damn frustrating that can be.

 

• Very interesting though just like medicine can be if its not this then maybe this......It certainly sounds a lot like achilles tendonitis or PF.
• Any tightness above the achilles? meaning if you take and squeeze your calf above the achilles does it cause pain and if so describe it in detail to us....also does it pull on anything below where you are squeezing?
• You may also need a simple bone scan vs a CT or MRI.

• Just how you describe everything though it sure screams PF!!!!!
• I found a Podiatrist here in Central Iowa that assists with the Iowa State Girls Track team and he made me a formable hard platic orthotic in his office for 25 dollars and this has eased all my pain after years of pain and spending tooooooooo much money on the almighty high dollar ortotics.  
• Remember though with them you will be changing your gait and running style and it certainly will take more then two weeks for your body to adjust to them.