anyone have experience with one of these? i can't walk without crutches and i'm wondering how long it's really going to take to heal. my next doctor's appointment is in three weeks and i should be walking normally by then.

http://sportscenteraustin.blogs.com/the_view/2005/02/if_you_have_pla.html is the best article i've found so far.

i was playing basketball, hit a shot and as i pivoted to run, something snapped in my foot. now i can't put ANY weight on my heel or lower part of my arch. it's lots of fun.

any advice/experience?

4/10/2008 12:46:07 PM

I tore a ligament in my foot, but I am not sure if it was the same one because I stupidly went to student health - not a good idea to get good advice.

I'm thinking it was the same one, because mine happened in a very similar way - I stepped off of something and twisted my foot, something snapped, and I collapsed in pain, then couldn't walk at all for about three days. Then it got to where I could hobble a little better if I was wearing a brace.

My injury was almost three years ago, and I still have a lot of trouble with it. Granted, since I went to student health, I wasn't properly advised on what type of exercises I needed to do to make it heal properly. So my best advice is to make sure you have a good doctor or physical therapist and be sure to do the recommended exercises.

I still can't stand in sandals or heels or really anything other than sneakers for more than an hour or two without having some pain. And even if I do wear good shoes, running or walking all day still hurts.

4/10/2008 1:07:03 PM

I would take Skwinkle's advice and consult a physician about proper physical rehabilitation.

4/10/2008 1:14:52 PM

as a fellow ligament problem sufferer i wish I had some advice for you, alas I do not.

4/10/2008 1:51:46 PM

Yeah, they pretty much blow.

4/10/2008 1:52:23 PM

You need to visit a pedobear podiatrist. A regular physician might work, but then again he'll probably just refer you a specialist anyway, and you'll be out of the time and money of visiting him. Unless you have insurance and you require a reference first.

4/10/2008 2:06:59 PM

those are the ones that run lengthwise under your arch right? i fucking hate those, mine messes up from time to time, feels like, burning pain

[Edited on April 10, 2008 at 2:18 PM. Reason : s]

4/10/2008 2:15:12 PM

Foot problems are the worst. Approaching 4 months for me...

4/10/2008 2:23:13 PM

i saw a podiatrist yesterday, i was told to rest it for a few weeks and then i should be able to walk to do exercises to improve it. i found a well known solution from heel that pain and ordered a pair of those to put in my shoes when i'm walking to improve the strength and keep it from happening again. i have a feeling i'll miss the rest of basketball season and maybe all of softball too.

4/10/2008 2:37:42 PM

that sucks. the exercises do help, you have to keep up with them even when it's not bothering you though. good luck.

4/10/2008 7:14:27 PM

once you're healed you'll probably want to do some calf stretches against a wall to keep the fascia nice and loose. since you sprained a ligament, i don't think stretches would be the best thing at this point though

4/10/2008 8:44:03 PM

thanks for the advice guys. i've already told myself that i'm done for this season of basketball and probably softball which covers the next few months, but hopefully things will heal faster than expected. i'll use this time to really kick in a healthy diet and do situps and one footed pushups to have some activity without doing something stupid.

i was just getting in the groove of diet, gym, basketball and softball and SNAP goes my ligament. i have a very high tolerance for pain and i'm not taking any pain meds, just anti-inflammatory meds, but the mental aspect is the hardest...watching the games and not being able to play...

any support would be very appreciated.

[Edited on April 10, 2008 at 11:21 PM. Reason : /]

4/10/2008 11:20:23 PM

^put a brace on and go swimming, it'll keep your heart healthy and your entire body working

4/10/2008 11:43:40 PM

^thanks. yeah i thought about that today. i think i could pull that off without a brace if i only swim with my arms...my brother suggested that as well based on how lifeguarding at a summer camp helped him lose 25 pounds.

a coworker also suggested VERY light mountain bike rides on a flat surface (i live right at umstead park). bike shoes are pretty rigid and are made to keep your feet from flexing and that would help bump up the blood flow in my feet. i'm kind of skeptical of that though because i could see something happening and having to clip out and catch myself with my left foot and have a major setback.

4/11/2008 12:09:20 AM

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_archpain_rex.htm

4/11/2008 4:03:05 AM

i can relate, right around when i really started to enjoy running and wanted to do a triathlon or marathon i hurt my ankle. a combination of bad student health center advice and me trying to work through pain made a moderate problem one that last nearly a year and half, sometimes just nagging, but sometimes pretty bad.

its hard to just stop working out, so try to mix things up and find something you like that you can do for a few weeks until you heal up. (i eventually had to do physical therapy for 2 months).

also, i had plantar fasciitis (not so bad anymore). i would recommend some brooks running shoes, though im sure others have had luck w/ other brands.

4/11/2008 9:53:01 AM

^thanks and ^^thanks

it's healing fast. i can already put more weight on it and it's been three days, i only test it when i get out of bed and stand up, then i put a boot on and use crutches just to be safe.

4/11/2008 10:17:22 AM