Albert Pujols Thinking About Surgery For Plantar Fasciitis

Albert Pujols has had enough with his plantar fasciitis. Any fan watching an Angels game can clearly tell that Pujols is in terrible pain, especially when he's trying to run the bases. 

Pujols is batting .244 with 13 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .736 OPS in 83 games this season and is nowhere near the production he has provided in the last ten years. This the worst he has played in his career.
While suffering from his latest bout of plantar fasciitis, he has played designated hitter in 52 games. His usual position, first base, has seen the likes of him just 31 times.
Several weeks ago Pujols told Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times that, "When we get to that point, we'll talk about it. I'm definitely going to try to do something after the season to help me out and not play in that pain I've been playing in. There's no doubt I'll be a full-time first baseman next year."
What Pujols needs, at this point, is to be on the DL for a lengthy period of time to rest the inflammation he's experiencing in his foot. It's admirable that the Angels player wants to continue playing, but he's playing worse now at DH than he was at first base. Comments from fans have included that "my grandfather runs better than Pujols" and "there's a difference between being admirable and idiotic [and] Albert is being idiotic at this point." Even the fans, who always want to see their star player at their best and on the field, recognize that Pujols needs to take a break in order to get back to his All-Star form.
Reference: NBC Sports
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 like our page on Facebook.

Is Heel Pain An Epidemic?

We treat a lot of heel pain in our four offices, and it's obviously a diverse enough topic for us to dedicate an entire, weekly blog to it.
But is heel pain an epidemic? Diabetes is certainly an epidemic, but heel pain?
Past president of the American Podiatric Medical Association Michael King, who practices in Fall Rivers, Massachusetts, argues that it is, saying that he "sees 18 to 20 patients a day with plantar fasciitis. Heel pain is epidemic." As for a number of how many people who have this condition he can only guess. "Some people just tolerate the pain and try to get by."
Think about it: if you've had heel pain in the past, how have you dealt with it? Have you immediately made an appointment with a podiatrist, or have you said to yourself, "Well, I'll wait and see if this gets better. It's not that bad right now."? 
We've blogged a lot lately about athletes who have had multiple, recurrent cases of plantar fasciitis and heel pain. Joakim Noah has been in and out of basketball, Pau Gasol tried to ignore it and he ended up tearing his plantar fascia, and Albert Pujols has been suffering for seven years. Seven years!!! 
What frustrates podiatrists most about heel pain and plantar fasciitis is that it can be completely preventable when you take care of your feet and see a doctor right away. Who really wants to wake up in the morning and not be able to get out of bed because they can't move their feet? 
One of the culprits of heel pain is the flip-flop, the podiatrist's nemesis. "Flip-flops seem to be a major source of foot pain. People walk into the office wearing shoes that they should have replaced months ago," says podiatrist Elizabeth Kurtz, who practices in Chicago. 
King sees it too. "I see a lot of people with pain in the fall because they've been wearing cheap flip-flops all summer," he says. 
Heel pain doesn't just affect those who don't wear proper footwear. Runners and walkers are often hit with heel pain if they've recently increased their mileage or pace. It also appears in middle-aged people who live sedentary lives and have a little extra weight. 
If you've tried over the counter products, you'll find that they only provide temporary relief. Some will purchase heel cushions to try to ease the pain, but the source of the pain isn't actually from the heel- it's from the arch. Orthotics, whether over the counter or custom made by a podiatrist, will be the best fix for your heel pain, as they will ease the pain.
When looking to recover from heel pain, remember that it's going to take longer than a week. The damage that created the pain took longer than a week to develop, so it will likely take several weeks up to several months. Don't go barefoot and don't wear flimsy shoes, especially flip-flops. Our Bristol office offers shockwave therapy, which can reduce the inflammation and pain. Traditionally shockwave therapy has been used to break up kidney stones.
Reference: LA Times.
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 like our page on Facebook.

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Natural Supplements For Heel Pain

Heel pain can be a very difficult thing to experience and you may not be interesting in having a cortisone injection or take ibuprofen. There are several natural remedies you can take which may help the pain and inflammation you're feeling from heel pain.
An effective, natural anti-inflammatory supplement to try is bromelain, which is an enzyme derived from fresh pineapples. You can't find this enzyme in canned pineapple, since it has been cooked and therefore destroyed. When you take it on an empty stomach, it goes right into the blood stream to treat your inflamed tissues.
Sometimes when people eat fresh pineapple, they'll notice that their tongue gets red, and they'll think they're having an allergic reaction. However, this is typically not the case. Bromelain works very quickly, often dissolving right away in your mouth, and your mouth and tongue can become irritated when the protective barrier is dissolved. 
Another option for pain relief is glucosamine sulfate. Glucosamine is a popular supplement often recommended for those who have joint or arthritic pain. The heel is wrapped in connective tissue, and glucosamine works by giving your body the raw materials it needs to repair the damage tissues. It is also a great anti-inflammatory. 
Topical pain relievers can be great as well at treating your symptoms, like Boswellin cream, which has natural pain relieving herbs that soak in and relieve pain faster than taking something orally. Many people feel relief within minutes.
Hot linseed oil packs work best when they are heated. Once the oil is hot, saturate a cloth in the oil and apply the cloth to your affected heel. If could also place a heating pad over the cloth to keep it warm.
When you are taking a bath, consider adding some arnica and chamomile, both herbal remedies thought to be very healing.
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 like our page on Facebook.

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Plantar Fascia Rupture

You're running, playing your favorite sport, or simply going up the stairs at your house, when suddenly you feel a snap in your heel, followed by intense pain. Ouch! The pain is so severe that you head to the emergency room, where they tell you you have a ruptured, or torn plantar fascia and refer you to a podiatrist for further treatment. 
Your plantar fascia stretches from your heel bone to your big toe and is the largest ligament in your foot. When you hear someone say, "I have plantar fasciitis and it really hurts!", they're talking about inflammation of the plantar fascia. 
Ruptures of the plantar fascia are not common injuries, but they are often seen in conjunction with someone who has plantar fasciitis. Someone with plantar fasciitis will sometimes have small tears in the ligament which can progress to complete tears when there is too much stress. That's why when we're doing movements that are quick or sudden, our plantar fascia can rupture. 
Sometimes when you have a plantar fascia tear, you may not even feel the tear. You may notice that your foot is swollen, particularly near your heel, and have extreme pain, which is more severe in the morning than the rest of the day. The pain may ebb when resting. 
To know if you have a plantar fascia tear or just plantar fasciitis, the difference is typically that pain with a tear is extreme in the morning, and while it lessens during the day, it never goes away. In plantar fasciitis, the pain will usually go away throughout the day. You will also feel localized pain on the bottom of your foot. Pain that travels elsewhere is likely not a plantar fascia tear. 
The causes for a plantar fascia tear are excessive strain and overuse. When we experience weight gain, are obese, wear worn out shoes, or exercise too vigorously, or have inherent arch issues, we are prone to plantar fascia problems.
Your podiatrist will recommend icing to reduce swelling and inflammation and anti-inflammatory medications to ease your pain. Some will tape your plantar fascia to provide stability and recommend custom orthotics to correct arch issues. Severe cases of a plantar fascia rupture will require cortisone shots or surgery to repair the tendon.
Reference: eHow
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 like our page on Facebook.

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Heel Pain In the Morning

The alarm clock goes off. You sleepily swing your legs out of your bed and place your feet on the ground. You stretch, and rise to get up out of bed... and you collapse on the floor. Your feet are in terrible pain and won't work right!

You hobble over to the alarm clock and turn it off and continue in to the bathroom. As your body warms up, so do your feet and throughout the rest of your day the pain in your heels dissipates. Maybe it was just a fluke. And then it happens the next morning. And the next. Maybe not a fluke.

If this is something that's happened to you, you have heel pain, but you also have post static dyskinesia, a general term which refers to pain after rest. Post static dyskinesia can happen any where in the body, but it is most commonly connected with heel pain. 

The injury itself actually occurs when you take that first step out of bed in the morning. You have been sleeping all night, and your foot relaxes and goes into the plantarflexed or downward position. This position releases the tension on the plantar fascia and over the night, the ligament shortens. So when you take that first step, the ligament has to lengthen and it snaps at your heel bone. This injury causes the pain and inflammation associated with plantar fasciitis. 

To prevent plantar fasciitis and post static dyskinesia from worsening, you should call a podiatrist immediately. They will prescribe anti-inflammatory medication and recommend icing to decrease the inflammation and pain. You will also be told stretches that will help ease the pain. 

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 like our page on Facebook.

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Padres' Forsythe On the DL With Plantar Fasciitis

It was just three weeks ago I blogged about San Diego Padres' Logan Forsythe, and how he hoped resting for a few days would clear up his plantar fasciitis.
I guess none of these athletes read up about plantar fasciitis, because they would know this is something that does not go away after a *couple of days rest*. Try a couple of months, if you are diligent about icing, resting, stretching, and wearing orthotics.  
Forsythe went on the 15 day DL last week after playing just three innings last Tuesday in a loss against the San Francisco Giants after being out since March 7th. 
Padres manager Bud Black said he had no choice but to take Forsythe out, saying, "It was really painful at the start of the game and with the intensity of the soreness, we had to take him out. The pain got worse the more he was on it."
Forsythe was the leading candidate to start third base for the injured Chase Headley on Opening Day, but now it's looking like it's likely he'll be replaced by Gregorio Petit. 
Reference: Tracking Blog 
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 like our page on Facebook.

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Albert Pujols Dealing With Plantar Fasciitis

Albert Pujols' surgically repaired knee is feeling so wonderful, he believes himself ready to play first base on Opening Day, April 1st, against Cincinnati. But Pujols didn't even make his spring training debut until last Tuesday and it was revealed that he has been dealing with plantar fasciitis.
Manager Mike Scioscia said after the game that "The foot is giving him more trouble right now than the knee. But the fact that his knee is OK give us more comfort than anything else."
Pujols has dealt with plantar fasciitis on and off for seven years, playing with it during the 2004, 2005, and 2006 seasons and never going on the disabled list. During those three seasons he hit .330 and averaged 45 home runs and 125 RBIs.
"I've had it for the last seven years; it that a problem? It's one of those things that comes and goes," Pujols said.
Pujols is wearing custom orthotics for the first time in his career and is spending more time in the training room.
"I think the whole reason it flared up this spring is because of my knee. I tried to protect the knee and put more pressure on my left side. But it's nothing that will keep me from being in the lineup. I've played whole seasons with it," Pujols said. "It gets sore, but nothing really dramatic to where I say, 'Man, I can't play.'"
Pujols even phoned up Red Sox DH David Ortiz, who is also suffering from heel pain, for tips on playing DH.
"I'm too young to be a DH, but if I have to do it, I'll do it. I just want to be in the lineup and help the team win," Pujols said.
Reference: LA Times and LA Times
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 like our page on Facebook.

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David Ortiz Still Frustrated By Heel Pain

Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz did not participate in batting practice on Monday as anticipated due to continued heel pain. 
"Just waiting for the inflammation to go away and we'll be good to go. I haven't been able to play and do what I'm supposed to. It's not fun. Just trying to deal with it. The setback is what pretty much frustrates me the most because you think you're doing the right thing to get better. It's like walking backwards. That's the part of this game I don't like. We're approaching it differently and hopefully we get to the point where we don't have to worry about it anymore," said Ortiz.
Manager John Farrell said of Ortiz, "When he was shut down, there was that five-to-seven-day period where we're going to take a look and see how the medication took hold, how the anti-inflammatory and other treatments were bringing that along. To what extent there's being progress made, some, but not to the point obviously where he's ready to take some swings in the cage."
Ortiz (along with Red Sox fans) is frustrated about missing spring practice, especially after working so diligently in the off-season and missing several months last season.
"It's been a big part of my frustration, busting my tail in the offseason just to make sure you're good to go by now and then not being ready. It's frustrating, but it is what it is," Ortiz said.
Ortiz isn't looking to hurry back before he's ready though- he made that mistake last season, going back to the lineup in August when he was still injured.
"The season is not just Opening Day," Ortiz said. "The season is six months longer. If I can be there for the next 5 1/2 to five months of the season, I think I'll cover more ground than just be there for Opening Day and then miss the rest of five months. We're going to be there at the right time."
Ortiz signed a two-year contract with the Red Sox in December that is potentially worth $30 million if he spends 20 or fewer days on the disabled list this season.
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 like our page on Facebook.

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Padres' Forsythe Hopes Resting Will Help Plantar Fasciitis

It's the first plantar fasciitis case of the brand new 2013 baseball season. 
The San Diego Padres' infielder Logan Forsythe is resting for several days because of plantar fasciitis.
"He's got a foot issue and we're going to stay away from it for three or four days. We're having it looked at," said Padres manager Bud Black, after Forsythe missed a second straight day.
Forsythe, 26, is in line to be a starter at either second or shortstop as well as a backup for Carlos Quentin in left, and is known to have a history of foot problems.
Last spring after suffering a stress fracture, he had the sesamoid bone in the ball of his left foot removed, a procedure he had done in 2007 on his right foot when he was at the University of Arkansas.
He spent the first two months of 2012 on the disabled list, which delayed his promotion to the Padres. After joining the Padres on June 3, he finished the season with an admirable .273 hitting average with six homers and 26 RBIs in 91 games. He started 73 of those games at second base. This season, rookie Jedd Gyorko is competing for the job and Forsythe has made two starts at shortstop. He had a slow start to this spring training season because of a sore right knee.
The Padres medical staff hopes the three to four days off and the cortisone injection will help settle the inflammation he's experiencing. He was seen Monday in a walking boot. We know however, that someone with persistent, nagging plantar fasciitis will need more than a few days rest and a shot. Since this is an ailment Forsythe seems to have frequently, he must have some foot structure issues. We would want him to switch shoes, and add orthotics to his treatment plan.
We'll keep an eye on him in the coming months.
Reference: UT San Diego.
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 like our page on Facebook.

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Spurs' Neal Suffering From Plantar Fasciitis

San Antonio Spurs guard Gary Neal has had a rough time of it lately.
Neal, 28, has suffered a lacerated finger due to a suitcase zipper, a torn-up forehead after a run-in with his medicine cabinet, and a scar on his abdomen from an infected appendix. And this was all in the last 15 months.
But all of those things seem like a walk in the park compared to the pain Neal is now feeling from plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis in his left foot.
Neal told the Express-News after Sunday's 11-75 victory over Detroit, "I just have to keep treating it and keep trying to push it out. Not making any excuses. If you're on the court, you're healthy enough to play."
Neal has been dealing with the pain all season and it's negatively affected his scoring numbers. He's averaging career-lows at 40.8 percent and 35.7 percent from the 3-point range. The third-year bench player could see his free-agency value go down at the end of this season because of it.
When Neal is feeling healthy, he is known as a lethal and quick-strike scorer. The team's official medical report has him listed with tightness in his left calf, which is only partially true.
Neal guesses it has been since late November that he's been playing in pain. It's been so long that he's forgotten what it feels like to play pain-free. Neal watched footage from the February 22nd loss against the Golden State Warriors and realized that overcoming injuries is not just mind over matter.
"I went for a layup and didn't even jump," Neal commented.
Neal has a history of being consistent: he averaged 9.8 points as a rookie and 9.9 points last season and shot 41.9 percent both seasons from the 3-point range. In the 14 games played in November, Neal shot 47.7 percent and averaged 11.6 points, tying for the highest month of his career. He hasn't been over 38.8 percent since.
Coach Gregg Popvich sidelined Neal for three games after the game against Golden State hoping his injuries would heal with rest. And like we've seen in the recent past with basketball players and plantar fasciitis, the time off just didn't cut it.
"It doesn't do much but make you lose your conditioning," said Neal.
Neal had originally planned on taking time off in December to rest his foot, but injuries to small forwards Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Jackson put him in the starting lineup. He felt "It was an opportunity for me to start and show what I was capable of. So I kind of just treated the injury and played through it. Before I knew it, I'm 45 games in with the injury bothering me."
Neal has consulted with team doctors and fellow teammates Tony Parker (who is currently out four weeks with an ankle sprain) and Tim Duncan, both of whom have plantar fasciitis in the past. Neal believes he will need a complete offseason to recover. He's done an orthotic in his left shoe, iced, and stretched with little relief thus far.
Neal is hoping to make it to the end of the season and be able to bargain for a new contract. More than that, he's hoping to be pain-free soon.
"Honestly, I'll be able to fight through this injury and stay on the court, and get to playing my basketball," he said.
Reference: My San Antonio.
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 like our page on Facebook.

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Nets' Johnson Latest Plantar Fasciitis Casualty

Basketball players are succumbing to plantar fasciitis faster than we can say "Stretch, rest, and ice!"
The latest casualty is Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson, who sat out for the first time last Friday against the Houston Rockets because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He missed Sunday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies as well.
Interim coach P.J. Carlesimo said Johnson, 31, was in pain after Wednesday's victory over Milwaukee, when he scored just eight points. The night before Johnson had made the game-winning jumper to beat the Bucks.
C.J. Watson replaced Johnson, who plays a team high 38 minutes per game and is second in scoring, with 17 points per game.
Net general manager Billy King told ESPN New York's Mike Mazzeo Friday that Jonhson's plantar fasciitis doesn't seem like a long-term issue. "It's better than it was two days ago. They've got him on medication and I expect him to be better tomorrow, and we'll see how it is Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies," King said.
"If it's still tender and sore, we may have to keep him out, because it's a marathon we're trying to finish, not a sprint. If it were a playoff game, he'd probably push it," King added.
Carlesimo said after the game Sunday that "Trainer Tim Walsh and Joe, I think, are both encouraged that it's gotten better, it's improving clearly. What's he gonna feel like tomorrow, whether he practices tomorrow, or how he feels Tuesday, I don't know. But again, we're gonna err on the side of caution. When he's ready to come back, we'll bring him back."
Our recommendation is to definitely err on the side of caution. If you've been following basketball this season, you've seen how many players have been sidelined with plantar fasciitis, and how long they've been out. Taking just a few days off isn't enough to stop this condition- you need to rest, stretch, ice, and rehabilitate this injury, unless you want to end up like Pau Gasol, with a plantar fascia tear.
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

• Marcus Camby Out 2-4 With Plantar Fasciitis
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Lakers' Gasol Has Partial Tear In Plantar Fascia

Paul Gasol just can't seem to catch a break.
First he was dealing with plantar fasciitis in his foot, which seemed to clear up. In the meantime, he was out several games, and the games he played in, his performance was lackluster. Fans and sports writers alike were calling "Trade! Trade! Trade!" Now Gasol will be out six to eight weeks because he partially tore his plantar fascia.
Gasol heard a pop in his foot Tuesday evening in the game against Brooklyn when he attempted to contest a shot at the rim by the Nets' Brook Lopez. He stayed down on the court for several seconds and remained in the game after a 20 second timeout but started to limp after trying to run. He headed to the locker room with 3:52 left in the game and left Barclay Center on crutches.
After the game he said, "I'm worried about it. I never felt anything like I did tonight. It kind of felt OK a little bit putting my weight on it without walking or running. But once I started running, I was limping, I was really sore and even if I tried, I just couldn't go."
Kobe Bryant, a longtime friend and proponent of Gasol's said he was "very, very concerned it to say the least... We can't afford to lose Pau for a long stretch. We need to get him back. I don't think his spirits are going to sag. He and I talk quite a bit. He's determined. He's going to figure this thing out, what's wrong with his foot, with his fascia, and he's going to see what he can do. He's not going to be deterred."
Gasol, 32, reinjured the injury January 30th at Phoenix, where he worked with trainers for a long period after a 92-86 loss. He tweaked the injury again Tuesday night during the first half and the muscles finally gave out during the fourth quarter.
Gasol has several options: one is to rehab the injury, which would cause him to be out six to eight weeks, or have surgery to repair the tear, and be out 10-12 weeks. He had an MRI on his right foot Wednesday and flew back to Los Angeles yesterday for further examination by Lakers team doctor Steve Lombardo and foot specialist Dr. Kenneth Jung.
The injury is a blow to an already injury-stricken Lakers team, which will go from a small team to an invisible team. Dwight Howard has been dealing with a shoulder injury and Jordan Hill had season ending hip surgery last month.
Gasol has averaged 14.3 points and eight rebounds per game this season, coming off the bench six games. His strong play recently has helped the Lakers to their longest steak of the season, winning six of seven games. He has missed several games this season- eight because of tendinitis in his knees and five because of a concussion.
He tweeted Wednesday night, "I'm hoping to recover ASAP so I can be back with the team and keep fighting until the end of the season."

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.

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