Pain in heel/back of ankle - watch and wait or see the doc?*Update*

[Tazicket]

DH and I have been trying to be more active, mainly by going for long walks in the evenings. Last night, we went for a long walk (maybe a little less than a couple of miles) and I was wearing flip flops (stoopid, I know - never again). I was fine during the walk, but after we got home, I was standing and took a small step, then my heel/ankle started hurting. It's kind of at the back of my heel and then wrapping up and around the sides and back at the bottom of my ankle. I didn't hear any pops or feel any snaps or anything like that, just sudden sharp pain.

It's still hurting today - makes it really tough to walk normally (I'm having to move really slowly and even then it still hurts). Is this a type of injury that should be examined by my doctor immediately or more of a "wait and see how it feels in a couple of days" kind of thing?

Any advice would be welcome. Thanks!

 

[HM]

Look up Plantar Fascitis online. Sounds a bit like that...except up the heel toward the ankle pain.

I have it, in my left foot right now. If the muscle under the heel isn't used for a while (sitting or lying down in sleep) when I get up on it again, it's very painful. It has to be stretched out. Walking on it in supportive shoes actually feels better than not walking.

I'd suggest massaging your heel, icing it whenever you are sitting down, and pushing your knuckles into your heel (it will hurt) to get circulation to that muscle. Also you can take pain relievers to help with the pain as well.

You can see a doctor about it if you are concerned that it may be something different.

 

[Rose&Mike]

I am not an expert by any means, but I agree with the previous poster that it sounds like a flare up of PF. I walk/run 15-20 miles a week, and have found I can't wear any shoe without support even during the day for more than a short distance or my heal will start to bother me. I also keep track of how many miles I have on my running shoes so that I can replace them before my heal starts bothering me. I already told DH he will have to carry my sandals in a string bag when we go to WDW in October so I can wear my running shoes for longer walks, and switch to sandals when we are having dinner, etc.

I think unless your ankle is swollen, I'd give it a couple of days, ice it and if you don't see some improvement call the doctor. Good luck.

 

[luv2sew]

Does it hurt to step on it when you get out of bed in the morning....if so it probably is the PF that the others have posted.

Flip Flops and any flat shoes are not good to wear if you have this and for me it takes a couple of months to go away..but it does not go away permently...you can get flare ups of it if your not careful.

I do not wear the same shoes every day. I have several pairs of good support shoes (the sole and heal has to be 1 - 1 1/2 inch at least) and switch off. I do not on a regular basis wear flip flops or flat shoes but can get away with wearing them occasionally.

 

[murcor]

Look up Plantar Fascitis online. Sounds a bit like that...except up the heel toward the ankle pain.

I have it, in my left foot right now. If the muscle under the heel isn't used for a while (sitting or lying down in sleep) when I get up on it again, it's very painful. It has to be stretched out. Walking on it in supportive shoes actually feels better than not walking.

I'd suggest massaging your heel, icing it whenever you are sitting down, and pushing your knuckles into your heel (it will hurt) to get circulation to that muscle. Also you can take pain relievers to help with the pain as well.

You can see a doctor about it if you are concerned that it may be something different.

Stretch, stretch, stretch your tight calf muscles!

 

[lovetoscrap]

About 7 years ago I thought that my sudden foot pain would just go away so I ignored it. When they got so bad I couldn't walk without crying I went to my PCP and was misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated. I continued like that for another 2 years until I finally saw a podiatrist. By this time I had done permanent damage that has resulted in:

3 surgeries, a year in a Cam Walker, 6 months in casts, 2 years essentially lying around on the couch because I couldn't even get to the bathroom by myself, thousands of dollars of medical bills--and that is just my copays and deductibles, more pain and tears than I even want to think about, purchasing a scooter at the age of 38 just so I can get out of the house by myself, and most likely a lifetime of pain and damage that has taken away my life as I knew it.


All of it could have been avoided if I had just gone to a podiatrist at the first sign of problems. DON'T MESS WITH YOUR FEET! They seem like such a small part of your body, but if your feet aren't happy then the rest of your body follows.

My mission in life is to now make sure that others don't make the same mistakes that I did. Go to the Dr. And not just your PCP (unless you have to)-- find a podiatrist to get a correct diagnosis and treatment.

 

[Kathi OD]

Listen to lovetoscrap, she knows what she's talking about. I went to the doctor for what was diagnosed as an Achille's tendon pull. Turned out to be posterior tibial dysfunction. Nothing that can't be fixed with therapy and exercise, but much different from an Achille's pull (same symptoms as plantar facsitis).

Stretching those calf muscles every day is important. With so many of us working in jobs where we sit all day, those muscles aren't getting the necessary exercise they need.

 

[minkydog]

About 7 years ago I thought that my sudden foot pain would just go away so I ignored it. When they got so bad I couldn't walk without crying I went to my PCP and was misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated. I continued like that for another 2 years until I finally saw a podiatrist. By this time I had done permanent damage that has resulted in:

3 surgeries, a year in a Cam Walker, 6 months in casts, 2 years essentially lying around on the couch because I couldn't even get to the bathroom by myself, thousands of dollars of medical bills--and that is just my copays and deductibles, more pain and tears than I even want to think about, purchasing a scooter at the age of 38 just so I can get out of the house by myself, and most likely a lifetime of pain and damage that has taken away my life as I knew it.


All of it could have been avoided if I had just gone to a podiatrist at the first sign of problems. DON'T MESS WITH YOUR FEET! They seem like such a small part of your body, but if your feet aren't happy then the rest of your body follows.

My mission in life is to now make sure that others don't make the same mistakes that I did. Go to the Dr. And not just your PCP (unless you have to)-- find a podiatrist to get a correct diagnosis and treatment.

Let me reiterate: DON'T MESS WITH YOUR FEET!

What you describe could be several things: tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, or Achilles tendonitis. The treatment for each is different. Tendonitis in your foot is nothing to mess with. Waiting to seek treatment can cause permanent nerve damage and ruptured tendons. Trust me, you don't want either.

About 6-7 years ago I went through a similar thing. My foot was hurting,but I just powered through. For months. Nurses make the worst patients. After about6 months of pain I finally went to a podiatrist, but it was too late--I had a partial tear in the post-tibial tendon, the one that run diagonally from the back of your heel to your instep. I was in a cast for several weeks and the foot has never been the same.

Did I learn from my experience? Well...no. Last month I injured the tendon again, just walking around New Orleans in my sturdy orthopedic shoes. But this time i tended it for only 10 days before going to an orthopedist. The verdict--severe tendonitis and permanent nerve damage. It required a shot in the instep (owww...), rest, crutches, orthotics, and a month of physical therapy. Thank goodness I have good insurance! And thank goodness the foot is better now, because the next step would be surgery!

DON'T MESS WITH YOUR FEET!

 

[MM27]

I started getting severe heel pain when I was working in retail and standing up for 10-12 hour shifts on concrete floors. My feet were bright red, hurt when I put any pressure on them and I could barely get out of bed in the morning. I ended up going through physical therapy and eventually my doctor gave me a few shots or cortisone in my heels to help with the pain. I walk about 5 miles a day and I always make sure to stretch before and after. I haven't had a problem with it for years now.

 

[7165red]

lovestoscrap is right don't wait get to a dr. I had a problem will pain in my heel. I waited too long and I'm still having problems.

 

[minniecarousel]

I agree - see a podiatrist.

I'm currently having a flare-up of Plantar fasciitis, and it hurts like a son-of-a-gun! But, you need to be correctly diagnosed. If you have insurance like me, you'll need a referral from your PCP. Do it today.

(I'm using my night splint, advil, icing, stretching....)

 

[WDWKOOK]

Ditto the PPs!

What you are describing sounds very similar to the same pain I had in 2000 after an injury doing a different type of calf raise exercise at the gym. Mine was diagnosed as Acute/Severe Tendonitis. You feel as if you can barely bend your foot to walk, like it's terribly bruised and stretching beyond its limits with just the slightest step. My pain was just above the heel and all around the sides and back. It was extremely painful and time was the only thing that finally healed it. I literally hobbled around for a good two months.

 

[Tazicket]

Thank you everybody for your help! I called my doctor's office and he's going to see me first thing tomorrow morning.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thank you everybody for your help! I called my doctor's office and he's going to see me first thing tomorrow morning.

Wow, first thing tomorrow, huh? Make sure you give us an update and take it easy. (No mountain climbing for awhile).

 

[Tazicket]

Wow, first thing tomorrow, huh? Make sure you give us an update and take it easy. (No mountain climbing for awhile).

Yeah - my doctor is really really awesome.

He said that I have Achilles tendonitis in my right heel and a touch of tendonitis on the bottom of my left foot. He sent me off with some heavy anti-inflammatories and instructions to get an ankle support brace thing (which I'm wearing now). I'm supposed to rest as much as possible over the next few days and I should start feeling better sometime next week. And, no more walks in flip flops.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Yeah - my doctor is really really awesome.

He said that I have Achilles tendonitis in my right heel and a touch of tendonitis on the bottom of my left foot. He sent me off with some heavy anti-inflammatories and instructions to get an ankle support brace thing (which I'm wearing now). I'm supposed to rest as much as possible over the next few days and I should start feeling better sometime next week. And, no more walks in flip flops.

The flip flops have no arch support, but they sure are cute and easy to put on!

The high doses of ibuprofen will make a difference. I think you're on the road to recovery for your trip in one month - take it easy.

 

[Rose&Mike]

Hope it's feeling better soon!

 

[Tazicket]

Thanks, everybody!!

I specifically asked if I'd be ok for Disney and he said I should be perfectly fine by then. (He's a Disney nut, too, so he completely understood my concern. )

 

[kirbydog48]

I would ice the area as well. 15-20 minutes about 4 times per day. It helps relieve inflammation. If you do walk, wear very supportive sneakers and avoid going uphill. This can be a stubborn injury to completely heal. It can help to not wear shoes that are completely flat, or put a heal support on the injured side so that foot is elevated slightly. I would avoid going barefoot for a couple weeks, even getting out of bed. It's common to have some healing done overnight, then when you get out of bed you overstretch the tendon and do some tearing to the fibers that are trying to heal. I would avoid stretching for now; the body tightens up an area when we have an injury as a way to splint the injury are so we won't damage it further. Wait at least two weeks, then do some gentle ankle circles, point and flex, then the wall stretch where you lean against the wall with one leg straightened behind you. Start very slowly and do not overstretch, or you'll be very sore again. Good luck!