Heel Pain In CT: 2012

Thursday, December 27, 2012

I've Got a Pain In My Heel!

A heel bruise is commonly known as a stone bruise, policeman's heel, or a calcaneal fat pad contusion and is caused by sudden impact or repetitive pounding on the bottom of the heel. The fat pad cushions normal heel strikes and prevents the heel bone from serious injury. Repeated pounding of the heel can cause the fat pad to be pushed up against the side of the heel, leaving less of a protective layer, causing heel pain. This is a common injury in sports which require a lot of impact onto the heel. Other common ways people bruise their heel include:

Jumping and landing from a high place.
Running with a heel strike instead of forefoot landing, as in barefoot running.
Stepping on something.

The fat pad can be contused (minor bleeding into the tissue), partially disrupted (split in half), or completely disrupted (torn away from the bottom of the heel bone).
So what can you do about a heel bruise? First, you need to rest and stay off the injured foot. This is the most important course of treatment we can recommend. We know it's difficult to stay off your feet, but when your health depends on it, do the best you can! Begin an icing regimen with 20 minutes on the affected area and 40 minutes off. Those with mild pain should start with putting an insole in their shoes to help with shock absorption. If you are a runner or athletes, change your shoes. Part of your problem could be that your shoes were worn out and did not offer the support you needed. Some patients may improve with a walking boot or cast.
If you ignore the pain and wait for it to get better, you are only causing more damage and preventing your injury from healing. When you have a heel bruise the best thing is to rest and ice right away. By ignoring the pain, your fat pad may become completely destroyed and may never heal. So take care of yourself!
If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Risk Factors For Heel Pain

Factors that increase your likelihood of developing plantar fasciitis include:

Age. Plantar fasciitis is common between the ages of 40 and 60.
Sex. Women are more likely than men to develop plantar fasciitis.
Certain types of exercise. Activities that place a lot of stress on your heel and attached tissue, such as long distance running, ballet, baseball, and football, can contribute to an earlier onset of plantar fasciitis.
Faulty foot mechanics. Being flat-footed, having a high arch, or even having an abnormal pattern of walking can adversely affect the way weight is distributed when your standing and put added stress on the plantar fascia.
Obesity. Added pounds put extra stress on your plantar fascia.
Occupations that keep you on your feet. Factory workers, teachers, nurses, and others who spend most of their day on their feet walking or standing on hard surfaces such as concrete can damage their plantar fascia.
Improper shoes. Avoid thin, loose shoes, as well as shoes without enough arch support or flexible padding to absorb shock. If you regularly wear high heels, your Achilles tendon can contract and shorten, causing strain on the tissue around your heel.
Tight muscles. Tight calf muscles affect the ability to stretch and flex your feet and toes.
Increase in activity. Increasing activity in sports or time on your feet will be a risk factor for developing plantar fasciitis.

If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Quentin Groves Out With Plantar Fasciitis

The Arizona Cardinals posted a 38-10 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, ending a nine game losing streak. However, they lost linebacker Quentin Groves with an injury to his right foot. He was seen with a walking boot in the locker room after the game.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic is reporting that Groves actually has plantar fasciitis. Losing him would be a significant loss to the Cardinals, but with just two games left in the season, the team may elect to put him on the injured reserve.
Groves has played fairly well in his first season with the Cardinals, compiling 44 tackles, four sacks, and one blocked kick in 14 games. His sacks were the first he's recorded since his rookie season in 2008 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
If the Cardinals do decide to place Groves on the injured reserve, they will have left Reggie Walker and rookie Zach Nash to fill in the outside linebacker role. First stringer O'Brien Shofield was placed on the injured reserve in early November after his left ankle injury required surgery.
If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Heel Pain Stretch of the Week: Hip Capsule Stretch

While seated on a chair, put your left ankle over the right knee. Keep the ankle in place as you let the left knee fall downward until you feel a stretch in the hip. To increase the stretch, push down gently on the left knee. Reverse legs and repeat.
Hold 30 seconds. Repeat 5 times for each leg, 1 time per day.
If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.

Related articles

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Knicks' Marcus Camby Suffering With Plantar Fasciitis

New York Knicks' Marcus Camby has plantar fasciitis and hopes the pain in his left foot won't keep him out for long.

"A couple of days," Camby said on Wednesday. "I'm receiving treatment and then we'll see how I am in a couple of days."

Camby did not play against the Bobcats or the Heat, so we'll see if he's better for tonight's game. It's unlikely he'll make a miraculous recovery, and if he does play, it will be in pain. Camby signed a three year contract last July with the Knicks and has been used sparingly in his second tour. He missed most of the preseason with a calf injury, which could be related to his plantar fasciitis. Even when Camby has been healthy, coach Mike Woodson has not used this veteran center. Camby is the fourth oldest player in the NBA.

"I know I haven't been playing, but I'm still working on the side, three on three and running. I woke up and it was kind of sore, and the other day I had an MRI during the game and they said I had some plantar fasciitis, and just to monitor it and get some treatment on it," Camby said.

"It's tough," Camby said. "I've been a starter like 15, 16 straight years. It's tough when you want to be out there. But the bigger scheme of things is we're playing well. Amar'e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert are around the corner and things are only going to get better."

Oddly enough, minutes before Camby addressed reporters Woodson denied that Camby had an MRI. Last week Woodson also denied Jason Kidd had an MRI on his back. Could it be an organizational policy, or are they trying to deny they have a lot of older players on their team?

Friday, December 7, 2012

Seahawks' Bryant In Pain With Plantar Fasciitis

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant has been dealing with plantar fasciitis and has been out of practice several times in the last few weeks. Bryant had been watching from the sidelines with a boot on his right foot.
Coach Pete Carroll said, "His foot is really bothering him. He's got a plantar fascia issue that he's dealing with. He's had it for a while, it's just kind of flared up here in the last few weeks."
Carroll said the injury has affected Bryant to the point the he has to slow him down in practice. Bryant was listed as available for Sunday's game, however.
If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Massage Exercises for Plantar Fasciitis

1. Rock.
You may find it beneficial to use a heat pack before you begin any sports massages for plantar fasciitis. Before you begin any exercises, start with a warm-up. Rocking can aid in mobilizing the area and relieving the tightness which causes pain. Place one hand below the heel, supporting the ankle, and grip the ball of the foot and toes with your other hand. While holding the heel stable, use your upper hand to rock the foot side to side and front to back, stretching the foot and promoting circulation.
2. Glide. Apply pressure to the ball of the foot, face up, and use your thumbs, knuckles, or even your elbows to glide from the base of the foot to heel several times, moving across the entire arch. Apply gentle pressure across the entire foot as you smoothly glide down the foot. This will help loosen the tendon and direct tissue towards the heel to either prevent or heal a bone spur, a condition which often goes hand in hand with plantar fasciitis.
3. Strip. Stripping and stretching is another great way to relieve plantar fasciitis with sports massage. Apply firm pressure with your upper hand against the ball of the foot and toes, stretching as far as you can without causing too much pain. Use your thumb to "strip" the plantar fascia, moving from the ball of the foot to the heel. Unlike gliding, you should use the pad of your thumb, directing firm pressure to a small area and slowly moving across the width of the foot. This may be painful but is extremely helpful.
4. Stimulate. Cross fiber friction sports massage techniques can help to release tight plantar fascia. Place your hand on the top of the foot, gently pulling it toward you to shorten the plantar fascia and use the thumb of your lower hand to apply cross-fiber friction near the heel of the foot where the fascia attaches. This technique may also be painful, however, apply as much pressure as you can tolerate.
5. Wring. Complete the sports massage by lying face down and gently lifting your leg to a 90 degree angle, bending at the knee. Have someone put one hand on the heel and the other on the ball of the foot, and twist, as if you were wringing water from a towel. Start slowly, and increase speed and intensity as the muscles loosen.
After you are done with your massage, ice for 20 minutes to reduce inflammation.
Parts of this blog post were adapted from Livestrong article written by Anna E. Dyer.
If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.

Bulls' Hamilton Has Torn Plantar Fascia

An MRI revealed Sunday that Chicago Bulls guard Richard "Rip" Hamilton tore his plantar fascia in his left foot. The team's official PR release stated: "Chicago Bulls guard Richard Hamilton had an MRI today that revealed he has a torn plantar fascia in his left foot. He will return to play as his symptoms permit."
Hamilton injured the foot in the third quarter of the Bulls' win over Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. The injury occurred with three minutes left in the quarter and was helped off the floor by teammates Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng, putting no weight on his foot.
Hamilton said after the game, "I heard something pop." He sat out 38 games last season because of a myriad of injuries, so he was rightly upset about the tear.
"Just the simple fact that there was nobody around. They always say the worst injuries are when nobody's around and you didn't fall down on nobody's foot or anything like that so it's just one of them things that when it happened scared me. When I felt it I didn't want to put no pressure on it, but it wasn't a whole lot of pain. That's why it was so freaky to me," said Hamilton.
Hamilton returned to the game Saturday night (we don't know how), hitting three of four free throws in clinch the 93-88 victory. "When Rip came back trainer Fred Tedeschi said we could use him if needed," said coach Tom Thibodeau. "We needed him. I have not talked to them about the injury, we wanted him out there for the free throw situation."
There is some debate as to who will start in Hamilton's place while his plantar fascia heals. It will likely be Jimmy Butler or Marco Belinelli, but Nate Robinson works well with Hinrich.
If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Derrick Favors Suffering From Plantar Fasciitis

Heel pain and plantar fasciitis are common injuries NBA players suffer throughout the season. Most try to play through the pain, but end up doing more damage than good. Look at Washington Wizards player Nene, whom we've blogged about before. His plantar fasciitis was so bad it kept him out the end of last season, out of most of the Olympics, and out nine games this season.

Utah Jazz power forward Derrick Favors is the latest NBA player to fall victim to this debilitating foot condition. Before Saturday's game Favors predicted that he would play in Monday's game, crediting his Wolverine-like healing powers. His wolfy powers must have failed him, since Favors missed the second straight game because of his foot injury.
Favors tried playing through the pain, like so many other NBA players, telling the pain in his right foot for five straight games to go away. He played for five minutes in Friday's loss at Oklahoma City and never came back.
He underwent an MRI on Sunday, which was inconclusive, but an ultrasound done on Monday confirmed the plantar fasciitis diagnosis. Coach Tyrone Corbin was hopeful the MRI would reveal "something. You don't know. He's having some discomfort. Hopefully it's just a short-term thing and he can get back on the floor quickly."
Favors' injury was the second hit to the Jazz rotation during their three game road trip. Marvin Williams hit his head on the floor Wednesday night in New Orleans still has concussion-like symptoms and is listed as day-to-day.
During the preseason and first month of play, the Jazz had great depth in their line-up. They'll have to rearrange the line-up and allow other players to step up if they want to continue their winning streak. "We'll have to move things around. Some guys will have to play some extended minutes. We'll have to ask some guys to play different positions a little bit, but guys will get minutes on the floor. This is what they work for. You work for your opportunity. The opportunity is upon us now, so you've got to be ready to respond to it," said Corbin.
The absence of Favors and Williams will be tough on the defense, says Corbin. "It's a bigger hit on the defensive end than on the offensive. They're two guys that make their hay on the defensive end. They're two good defensive players. They not only play their man well, they help on the rotations because they do a good job of being in position of helping and recovering back to their guy."
Let's hope in the meantime Favors rests, stretches, ices, and goes to physical therapy to heal his heel.

If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Heel Pain Stretch of the Week: Adductor Stretch

Sit on the floor with your back against a wall, keeping your back straight. Put the soles of your feet together and your hands on your knees. Push your knees down towards the floor until you feel a stretch in your inner thigh.
Hold 30 seconds. Repeat 5 times a day.
If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Does It Hurt? Cortisone Shot in the Heel

The answer to that question, is unfortunately, yes, for most people, getting a cortisone shot in the heel will hurt. However, the relief the shot provides outweighs any pain associated with the injection.
Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory medication, not a pain-killer. The injection is designed to disrupt the chemical process that leads to inflammation, the actual cause of the pain in heel pain. By reducing inflammation, pain often subsides. Cortisone injections are very safe to perform. Side effects tend to be very rare and minor. However, there are a few potential side effects of a cortisone injection that patients should know about.
Systemic side effects occur as a result of a small amount of the cortisone entering the bloodstream and affecting your entire body, not just the location where the cortisone was given. Unlike taking oral steroids, or having cortisone injected directly into the bloodstream, only a small amount of a local injection is absorbed by the body. And since the body actually produces cortisone naturally, most people do not experience systemic effects. Those who do may experience:
Elevated blood sugar
The most common systemic reaction is seen in diabetic patients. Patients with diabetes should carefully monitor their blood sugar as cortisone can cause a temporary rise in their levels. Patients taking insulin should be especially careful, checking their blood sugar often and adjusting the insulin doses, if necessary.
Facial flushing
Patients may experience flushing sensation and redness of their face. This reaction is more common in women and is seen into up to 15 percent of patients. This can begin within a few hours of the injection and may last for a few days.
Local side effects
Local side effects are those that are only experienced in one area of the body. The local side effects of a cortisone injection are also rare.
Pain
Some patients have discomfort after the injection and may experience an increase in pain 24 to 48 hours after being treated. This usually subsides quickly and can be aided with an ice pack and anti-inflammatory medication.
Infection
Whenever there is a break in the skin, like when a needle is used to administer cortisone, there is a chance of infection. Your doctor will sterilize the skin to minimize the risk of infection.
Skin pigment changes
Patients with darker skin should be aware that cortisone may cause skin around the injection site to change. This is not harmful.
Loss of fatty tissue
High doses of cortisone can have detrimental effects on some tissues in the body. When injected into fatty tissue, cortisone can lead to a problem called fat atrophy. Fat atrophy causes loss of fatty tissue, which can lead to dimpling of the skin or the thinning out of fat. Patients who get cortisone shots in the heel to treat plantar fasciitis may find walking painful as fat that cushions their steps may thin out.
Tendon rupture
Cortisone can also cause weakening of tendons. This is one reason your podiatrist will limit the number of cortisone injections administered. Cortisone can also lead to tendon rupture.
If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Jay Ratliff Still Suffering From Plantar Fasciitis, Not An Excuse

Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff is still suffering with the plantar fasciitis that plagued him in the preseason.
He says he'll have to deal with it all year. Ratliff has also been dealing with the recovery from a high ankle sprain last season and a normal ankle sprain a few weeks ago.
"Any time you get hurt, yes, it's frustrating, but I've been down this road before," he said last Friday at Valley Ranch. "From experience, you can't really sit here and dwell on that. All you can do is just move forward, even if the injury is fresh. It's still behind you, you just got to figure out a way to get it done and adapt. In this business, being hurt is not an excuse."
Ratliff is 13th on the team with 17 tackles, one for loss, and has seven quarterback pressures despite playing just four games. He missed the first four healing from the worst pain of his plantar fasciitis and suffered an ankle sprain right before halftime last week but returned for the second half. He returned to practice last Friday on a limited basis.
"I've got a love for the game. I just want to do the best that I can. Even if you're hurt, there's no excuses," Ratliff said.
He talked about the effect of his injuries on his left leg. "If you hurt a part of your body, the rest of your body is going to compensate. Unfortunately, I had a few things go wrong on this leg. The plantar fasciitis, the high ankle sprain, and now just the regular ankle sprain. But that's nothing that's going to stop me."
When asked if the plantar fasciitis was completely cleared up, Ratliff replied, "It's just one of those nagging things that you have to play with through the year. So it's really nothing, you know what I mean? You really want to hear about that? I really don't want to talk about it."
Ratliff laughed. "It's all good." Hope you're doing your stretches, icing, and keeping off it as much as you can, Jay! If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Heel Pain Stretch of the Week: Piriformis (Trunk Twister) Stretch

Sitting on the floor, cross your left leg over the right thigh. The left foot should be on the floor outside of the right knee. Place your right elbow on the outside of the left knee. Gently stretch by pushing the elbow into the knee, keeping your back straight. Reverse legs and repeat.
Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat 5 times for each leg, 1 time per day.
If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and friend or like our page on Facebook.