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Hi,

I picked up an injury playing tennis, I was running back for a ball and felt like I had banged my heel, although it was the pain I recall not anything specific about the incident, I didnt fall over for example. It didnt hurt much more immediately and I played on for another 30mins. When I had finished my heel was very stiff and now 10 days and 1 physio and 1 doctors appointment later they are telling me it is likely to be PF, although it they confirmed my own interent diagnosis. It's only in my left foot and is sore to walk on to the point where i dont feel comfortable to run on it and after a 10 mins or so it's very sore. I do get some soreness in the morning but also whenever I stand on it after being sat down .
It seems that most people get this slowly over time, so I am curious if my "trauma" based injury is worse or likely to be less severe. I have always been quite unsupple, calves are tight and I was suffering a little with shin splints before this, does anyone think this may have brought this on and is general stretching the answer? I was stretching my feet \toes upwards to try and stop the shin splints and then next time I played i did this! I have bought orthitics now for my tennis shoes for when i do play again and have been wearing them in other sports shoes for general walking. When i do wear them my left arch feels a little sensitive to it, a bit like the princess and the pea when I put them on even though my right foot is fine.

I'm 39 and keen to get back to sport as soon as possible, i am about 5 foot 9 and 12 1/2 stone (175lbs \ 79.5 kg) so a little but not that much overwieght! I had lost a good 14 lbs from playing tennis over the last year and generally my health has been good other than a football knee injury when younger and a calf strain a 2 or 3 year ago.

Has my impact injury made me jump the queue with the way PF works and therefore I have it chronically or is this a light case?
Should stretching be done now or just i wait until the pain goes away, is the time to recover a year from fully fit or just for the pain to go?
For example, I've tried Voltarol gel today and the pain seems to have gone temporarily (only to return when it wears off)

lots of questions but I am struggling to get my head round being fit one minute and immobilised the next.

I would appreciate any input or advice

Thanks

H

While not a tennis player I too experienced the same in that this pain & soreness came out of no where.
Since my father was plagued with arthritis, this was my first thought, but internet research and podiatrist treatments seem to cinfirm otherwise.
I use the word 'seem' as while all the stretching, PF, shots, splints, pads, and orthodics seemed to progressivly help my pain, all of the sudden I am back to where I was 6 months ago, I only wish I could tell you why. It came and went then came back again! No falls, excessive standing/activity etc. Very frustrating, I'm not that old and at times I am hobbling around like my 90 year old grand-mother.

Harry,

You probably don't have PF. Pf is rarely brought on by a single incident. Often a person with PF had a previous ankle sprain, and it has gradually altered the foot mechanics. Add in scarring and fascial adhesions, and you get PF.

It is most likely that you have a bone bruise to the heel. The one and only solution is to stay off of it as much as possible. Depending on the severity of the bruise it can take 4-6 weeks to heal. Ice is your friend. Stretching is important to keep the calf muscles from adaptively shortening. This will heal, it just takes time. Good gel inserts in your shoes so that when you have no other choice but to walk or stand, you can reduce the pain.

I would still suggest investing in good shoes. You're not going to have to give up tennis forever, just until this heals.

Kaelyn