Possible Fencing injury? Not sure...

[Kismet]

I had fencing last night. I woke up this morning and am unable to walk well. The heel of my right foot (and I am a right handed fencer) is extremely painful. I can put no pressure on it without collapsing because of the pain. It's weird. I'm trying to figure out if I somehow did this at fencing or if I managed to get an infection inside my heel or something. I don't THINK I did anything weird at fencing last night. Just normal practice stuff. Anybody else ever wake up with a really sore heel after fencing? Or do you think this isn't fencing related?

[telkanuru]

'S probly just that you're lunging correctly, ie., landing on your heel. Try heel cups or shoes with better padding in the heel, or both.

[esskreemr]

I've had that before. It takes forever to go away. Switch from your usual fencing shoes (most don't have adequate protection in that area, to a cross-trainer until the pain goes away. As said above, heel cups are a good alternative, but ofter don't provide the cushioning in the right area. Memory foam worked for me.

[dberke]

Originally Posted by esskreemr

I've had that before. It takes forever to go away. Switch from your usual fencing shoes (most don't have adequate protection in that area, to a cross-trainer until the pain goes away. As said above, heel cups are a good alternative, but ofter don't provide the cushioning in the right area. Memory foam worked for me.

I've had intermittent foot pains over the years and what has really helped are those gel insoles you can buy. I have them in both shoes, and I also put one of those gel heel cups in my front shoe. Most of my foot pains have gone away as a result. Plus, the insoles prevent you from wearing out the shoes' built-in padding, which helps.

I was worried that those gel pads wouldn't be able to hold up to the stress of fencing, but they've done remarkably well.

All in all, it's $8.95 you won't regret spending.

Dan

[Zilverzmurfen]

Oh no, you have that?!

I'm afraid there's no cure for you Kismet. The only solution is to amputate. But don't worry too much, prosthetics are very well developped these days!

(Ok, I was just joking.)

To me it sounds like you were not lunging correctly (like Telkanuru said).
I also suggest that you have a closer look at your shoes. It could be they're not offering enough support, in which case I suggest you either get a heel cup/gel soles or buy a new pair of shoes.

Hope it gets better soon!

[telkanuru]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

To me it sounds like you were not lunging correctly (like Telkanuru said).

That's not exactly what I said...

[vraptor]

It sounds to me like you have developed a condition called plantar fasciitis. This is a condition where a plane of connective tissue in the foot, the plantar fascia, becomes inflamed. I know this because I develop it from time to time and it can be exquisitely painful. The symptoms are as follows:

1. Extreme pain in the heel upon putting weight on the foot for the first time after getting out of bed.

2. Pain lessens as the foot is worked.

3. Pain returns after sitting or taking weight off the affected foot for a period of time.

I recommend going to a podiatrist. They can give you exercises or prescribe physical therapy that will relieve the symptoms. He may also recommend that you change your shoes, or give you orthotics to put in your shoes to help with the condition. You can also use NSAIDs (Ibuprofen works for me) to reduce the inflammation.

It does eventually go away if you do what the doctor tells you. People with flat feet are especially prone to this condition, but it can happen to anybody.

[sabreur]

Originally Posted by vraptor

It sounds to me like you have developed a condition called plantar fasciitis. This is a condition where a plane of connective tissue in the foot, the plantar fascia, becomes inflamed. I know this because I develop it from time to time and it can be exquisitely painful. The symptoms are as follows:

1. Extreme pain in the heel upon putting weight on the foot for the first time after getting out of bed.

2. Pain lessens as the foot is worked.

3. Pain returns after sitting or taking weight off the affected foot for a period of time.

I recommend going to a podiatrist. They can give you exercises or prescribe physical therapy that will relieve the symptoms. He may also recommend that you change your shoes, or give you orthotics to put in your shoes to help with the condition. You can also use NSAIDs (Ibuprofen works for me) to reduce the inflammation.

It does eventually go away if you do what the doctor tells you. People with flat feet are especially prone to this condition, but it can happen to anybody.

I second what Vraptor said--I've had plantar fascitis twice, and both times, it took a new pair of orthotics (and time) to get rid of it. The symptoms are pretty much what you're describing, Kismet....

So go to a podiatrist. Even if it isn't plantar fascitis, if the pain is as bad as you describe, you need to see a doc.

MR

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I too have experienced the pain that vraptor described, where upon getting out of bed, it feels like there are bits of shrapnel within the ankle and heel. I always walked it off and took an ibuprofen, and after about a week, it went away.... occasionally coming back. Also, try not raising your foot upward so much when you lunge, and dont smash down on the floor so hard. When I was in the habit of doing that, it seemed to come back much more often.... think... silent lunges.

[latenight]

plantar fasciitis-yup.

Three out of four fencing netters can't be wrong.

I'm not a Dr., but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.



Seriously though, I work in Nuclear Medicine, we used to see this all the time.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

That's not exactly what I said...

Dear me, you're right - that's NOT what you said! At all. *must get some sleep*

Sorry telkanuru, and sorry Kismet!

[hello?]

My achiles tendon was hurting and I started using foot supports AND gel heel supports inside my fencing shoes. It has made an amazing difference....I konw it's not the same heel pain you are talking about...but it sounds like heel supports inside fencing shoes can ease a lot of needless pain.

[Kismet]

Thanks for the replies guys. I had to go to work today and was limping around everywhere, hehe. It's not as bad as it was this morning though.

I guess if it doesn't go away within the next couple days I will make an appointment with my doc, because really, it sucks when you can't walk.

I hope it's not plantar fasciitis, the name of that just sounds scary.

[bwoodward]

Originally Posted by vraptor

It sounds to me like you have developed a condition called plantar fasciitis. This is a condition where a plane of connective tissue in the foot, the plantar fascia, becomes inflamed. I know this because I develop it from time to time and it can be exquisitely painful. The symptoms are as follows...

Here's something strange - I think I had plantar fasciitis BEFORE I returned to fencing a few months ago. Early morning heel pains, the whole bit. I did some research and found that one "cure" was to get a brace you could wear to bed at night that would bend your foot up and force it to stretch all night. The idea being that keeping it stretched and limber would keep it from getting stiff and painful.

After a few weeks of fencing, with all the emphasis my coach places on stretching and warming up, no more heel pain - AT ALL.

[SupportCrew]

Kismet,
Can I ask.....How old are you? I couldn't tell from reading the posts. If you are still growing, do a web search on Sever's disease...not as bad as it sounds, but it's related to tendons growing at a different rate than your bones. Sort of a lower Osgood-Schlatter's. Really, really, painful. On the other hand, if you're over 20, please disregard. To rate the pain: My child said "Wow, my stomach really kills" a couple hours before an emergency appendectomy. The heel pain kept her sidelined for 6 months.

[latenight]

ahhhhh Osgood-Schlatter', I had that!!!! Suxxxx!

[Kismet]

Originally Posted by SupportCrew

Kismet,
Can I ask.....How old are you?

I'm 20, and fairly sure that I am finished growing now. I WISH I would grow about 2 inches taller, but I doubt that will happen at this point. Damn.

It is ok at the moment, just a little sore. I will see if it is extremely painful again tomorrow morning. If it is, doctor time!

[noodle]

i've lunged so hard with such a downward force on my heel that i've caused some bruising.
it doesn't usually show up due to the extremely low blood flow to the heel.
and it hurts like CRAZY for a day or two.

but its always a good idea to check something with a doctor if you don't know specifically where it came from, like i did.

[Inquartata]

Faugh, plantar fasciitis, Osgood-Schlatter, indeed! Kismet, you are an epeeist. Obviously, it's the bouncing!

Seriously, when you've been around here a while you'll start to notice that whenever a person reports any sort of injury, cramping or pain in the footal area it immediately elicits the plantar fasciitis diagnosis. So many here claim to have had it that I'm beginning to think it's a podiatrist's catch-all for "pains I can't figure out".

If what you have is sort of a more or less dull pain and tenderness you may just have bruised your heel. I've done that before, which is why I wear both cushion insoles and heel cups in my fencing shoes. It can still take a good long while to go away.

[Bokken]

Originally Posted by latenight

ahhhhh Osgood-Schlatter', I had that!!!! Suxxxx!

In so many bad ways...I had O-S way back in 8th grade, after I'd sprouted six and a half inches in 3 months (summer break growth spurt). Talk about growing pains!
The damage it caused my knees led to patellar tendonitis and osteoarthritis at age 16. I'm grateful it wasn't rheumatoid, otherwise I would've had to have given up fencing and THAT would have sucked.

Advil is my friend now.