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Heel pain - Is this likely plantar fasciitis?
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Have an appt with the foot doc later this week, but of course I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with my heel because it's driving me crazy not knowing and i couldn't get in an earlier.

Background: Ran 80 miles of a 100 mile race back in February that tore my feet up. Horrible blisters but also horrible foot pain with every step, thus abandoning at 80 miles.

Did Ironman Boulder in June with minimal running, since every time I ran, my heel would hurt. And when I say minimal, I mean about a one hour run every other week.

Have pretty much rested it since then, since every time I try to run (again about every other week, I'll try again), and it starts hurting.

The pain is the very center (side to side) of the bottom of my heel, slightly toward to the toes from the actual center of my heel. It is very tender to the touch with any pressure.

Every google search says plantar fasciitis but I don't have any of the classic symptoms:

- it doesn't hurt in the morning
- it doesn't hurt when I'm walking, unless I've just recently attempted a run, then it'll be sore for a day or so
- it doesn't hurt more at the start of a run. It actually feels fine for the first 5 minutes then starts hurting and gets worse.
- the pain is very much concentrated in the one spot

Any ideas?
Last edited by: Elsa: Jul 30, 17 16:22
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Re: Heel pain - Is this likely plantar fasciitis? [Elsa] [ In reply to ]
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Feet are complicated. Lots of bones and they're constantly trod upon. I have a buddy that's a foot dr and his stories curl my hair. I would try to find a foot doc with some experience with athletes. Most of the traffic to the average foot doc is sedentary people. Lots of over weight diabetics, for example, have foot problems. As a result the doc doesn't see a large fraction of runners and their kinda unique issues, and is used to giving out advice that is a best fit for a sedentary lifestyle. So maybe find the ortho and PT types in your area that treat endurance athletes. Then ask them for a foot doc recommendation.

I agree that your symptoms aren't a great fit for Plantar F, but problems can be tricky....they can fool you.

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Re: Heel pain - Is this likely plantar fasciitis? [RangerGress] [ In reply to ]
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^^^this

Could be PF, but possibly not. I am battling a wicked batch of it now and is now only relegated to the heel where it meets the arch. Going in for MRI soon because it's not getting better with treatment.

However, I've been working with a chiro who is a triathlete and an ortho who is a triathlete, both KQ, both specialize in dealing with athletes. I am certain if I were seeing your avg foot doc, they would not be as proactive. Make sure you see a specialist with experience dealing with athletes/distance athletes. It will make your experience much less frustrating and a lot less "trial and error".
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Re: Heel pain - Is this likely plantar fasciitis? [Elsa] [ In reply to ]
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Elsa wrote:
Have an appt with the foot doc later this week, but of course I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with my heel because it's driving me crazy not knowing and i couldn't get in an earlier.

Background: Ran 80 miles of a 100 mile race back in February that tore my feet up. Horrible blisters but also horrible foot pain with every step, thus abandoning at 80 miles.

Did Ironman Boulder in June with minimal running, since every time I ran, my heel would hurt. And when I say minimal, I mean about a one hour run every other week.

Have pretty much rested it since then, since every time I try to run (again about every other week, I'll try again), and it starts hurting.

The pain is the very center (side to side) of the bottom of my heel, slightly toward to the toes from the actual center of my heel. It is very tender to the touch with any pressure.

Every google search says plantar fasciitis but I don't have any of the classic symptoms:

- it doesn't hurt in the morning
- it doesn't hurt when I'm walking, unless I've just recently attempted a run, then it'll be sore for a day or so
- it doesn't hurt more at the start of a run. It actually feels fine for the first 5 minutes then starts hurting and gets worse.
- the pain is very much concentrated in the one spot

Any ideas?

PF hurts when you get out of bed in the morning, or anytime you get up after being seated for a while. PF usually feels better once you get going. Exactly the opposite of what your is doing. Not a doctor but I would bet any day of the week it isn't PF


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Re: Heel pain - Is this likely plantar fasciitis? [Elsa] [ In reply to ]
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Would be interested to hear what your Dr states. I am no Dr., however, my guess would be that you might have a tear/strain of the plantar fascia right where they come into the heel ( calcaneus bone), or possibly a stress fracture of the calcaneus. Hopefully it's a minor strain that you can rest and rehab quickly.

If possible, I would seek out an ortho foot & ankle surgeon that has modern equipment on site- x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound, etc. so this can be properly diagnosed.
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Re: Heel pain - Is this likely plantar fasciitis? [Elsa] [ In reply to ]
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I have been battling insertional achilles tendonitis. It "sometimes" mimics PF. Hard to tell from your description whether this could be the culprit, but worth asking about.
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Re: Heel pain - Is this likely plantar fasciitis? [Elsa] [ In reply to ]
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Did you ever get your insertional Achilles tendinitis corrected? Just curious what helped you? Thank you
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Re: Heel pain - Is this likely plantar fasciitis? [Elsa] [ In reply to ]
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Im in the exact same boat.. and beenr eading up on plantar fasciitis and achilles tedoniitis dont know which one I have. Seeing as both ligaments are connected to it treating one should solve the other even if you are treating the wrong one?
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