is this a bone bruise or plantar fascitis?

September 5, 2006 4:22 PM

my right heel hurts all the time when i put pressure on it, even when i'm sitting down with crossed legs (and the right is the bottom leg). it's a burning awfulness. i suspect it is a bone bruise (last week i put all of my weight on a small pebble, ow), but could it be plantar fascitis? (i don't exercise.)
posted by sdn to health (8 comments total)

get it checked out.

it might very well be a bone bruise like the ones I got from too much running a while ago, though mine were in both knees. those would go away given proper rest and time but it might very well be something more sinister.

I see you are in new york, thus permit me to recommend my orthopedist. he's the best one I have met so far and being as addicted to running as I happen to be, I've been to a few.

Donald J. Rose, M.D.
1095 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10128
Phone: [phone]

(disclaimer: I am neither a medical professional nor do I get anything from endorsing this guy. all I can say is he treated me well and efficiently. this guy doesn't waste time and doesn't attempt to get you under the knive when it's not absolutely positively necessary. as far as I am concerned, when it comes to knees and ankles, that's important.)
posted by krautland at 4:56 PM on September 5, 2006

Years ago, I was diagnosed with heel spurs, a common complication caused by plantar fascitis in which little bone knobs grow on your heel, making it feel like you have a pin poking it when you step or stand on it just right.

This is embarrasing, but the reccommended treatment was to stop being such a cheap ass about shoes. At the time, all I wore were Sketchers and even crappier brands, often purchased from the clearance racks at discount stores.

The 30 Helens were right -- It worked.

For work now, I'm particularly fond of Earth shoes, with the negative heel. I don't skimp on hiking or excercise or comfort shoes, either.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 6:07 PM on September 5, 2006

I had heel pain for a long time and second MC Lo-Carb's point about cheap shoes. No more shoes from Target for me. Rockports, Clark's no problem. And, when it hurts roll the heel of your foot over a bottle, ball (like a tennis ball) or rolling pin, it seems to stretch thing out and make the heel feel better.
posted by Miastar at 10:09 PM on September 5, 2006

IANAD, but six months ago I jumped over a fence and landed heavily on my left heel. It felt exactly like what you're describing- dull pain all the time that became very intense as soon as I put any pressure on it. I had an x-ray and it was bone bruising. I used a walking stick for a week or so, and it was gone within three weeks.
posted by twirlypen at 10:47 PM on September 5, 2006

get it checked out. it could be harmless, it could be not.

it's your health, listen to the lawyers just this once: reasonable doubt.
posted by krautland at 12:33 AM on September 6, 2006

A good indicator for plantar fascitis is the amount of pain you experience when you get up in the morning. Straight out of bed and your heel is agony? That sounds like p.f. - the flesh on the base of your foot has chillaxed over night and is complaining about being stretched by this walking thing.
posted by einekleine at 2:19 AM on September 6, 2006

I suffered through a bout of plantar fasciitis a couple of years ago and it is a classic symptom if it is worst in the morning as described above. It is also classic that the sufferer thinks it may have started when they stepped on a pebble or otherwise bruised their foot. Try getting some good shoes, that really helped me. If it is plantar fasciitis it should go away on its own, but it may take months. Seeing a doc is not bad advice, but this isn't the sort of emergency that screams "go to the ER right away!" In my case I didn't bother to go to a doctor and it went completely away on its own.
posted by TedW at 4:26 AM on September 6, 2006

aha! now i know it's a bone bruise. it doesn't hurt when i wake up (note time of post) ...

mefi worked for me!
posted by sdn at 4:45 AM on September 6, 2006