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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

Severe Heel pain

by Travis
(Alabama)

2 days ago I landed hard, flat on my heel while landed from a jump playing basketball (wearing tennis shoes). I did not roll my ankle or fall on it at an angle. I felt an immediate tingling sensation in my heel and up my foot, followed by serious pain when pressure was put on heel. Since the moment of impact I have been unable to put any weight whatsoever on my heel without crumpling to the ground in pain. That night I submerged my heel in ice water 20 minutes on and 30 minutes off for 3 hours to hopefully prevent swelling. At this point the only swelling noticeable was on direct bottom of heel, toward the front(toes) right before the arch.

I went to the doctor the next morning and all they did was xray to show no stress fracture. He gave me pain meds, cortisone shot in my buttocks, and anti-inflammitory. He said it was most likely a stone bruise.

When I curl my toes down, the pain is excruitiating. When I curl my toes up, there is not much pain.

Today - day 3 I started getting bruises popping up around the upper sides of my heel, all the way around the foot below the ankle. This is most noticeable on the inside (right foot) just below that protruding bone (ankle bone?). It is a round bruise about the size of a silver dollar and then makes a bruise line

around the foot to the other side. Below this area I have lost 50% feeling. I can still feel the touch, but its sensation is lessened, with a tingling feeling. I'm still unable to put any weight whatsoever on the foot having to borrow crutches from a friend.

RESPONSE
Hi Travis,

I suspect you are going to need an MRI to get a better look at what type of damage you may have done to your heel.
Sometimes simple "cracks" in the bone will not show up on an initial x-ray, but will on an MRI. Additionally, it sounds like you did some soft tissue damage as well. The fact that you get a lot of pain when you bend your toes, suggests that you did some damage to what is known as the intrinsic musculature (muscles inside the foot) where they originate in the heel bone. An MRI should also reveal any soft tissue damage that you may have done.
The fact that you are getting numbness in the heel also suggests you did some damage to the nerve that runs into the heel. More than likely this is a temporary issue.
I would suggest you get yourself on crutches and stay non-weightbearing on that foot and get yourself back to the doctor. I would recommend you see a foot specialist (if you have not) who will be better prepared to treat whatever damage you may have done to yourself.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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Comments for Severe Heel pain

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Oct 19, 2011
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MRI results
by: Travis

The MRI shows a heel fracture. The x-rays did not show this...looked at by 3 doctors, but the MRI sees all I guess. Off to get a cast tomorrow I go....sigh

Oct 17, 2011
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2 weeks from day of injury
by: Travis

Thanks for the response! It's now been 2 weeks from date of injury. I saw a podiatrist(sp) this morning and he confirms that I need an MRI. I have been on crutches since day 3 and still unable to put much weight on my foot.

Hopefully the MRI will shed some light on this!

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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Medicine

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Arthritis Foundation

University of Rochester Medical Center

Harvard Health

Drugs.com

American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

University of Maryland Medical Center

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Unknown location

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New Zealand

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Poland

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location unknown

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San Diego, CA

Dr. Mitnick, Just want to say thank you so very much for your quick response and very informative reply! After reading what you had to say, I called the doctor's office and was able to get in and see him the same day as my injury. Toe was x-rayed and luckily, it is not broken or fractured. Very badly bruised and will probably lose the toe nail. And although my toe and toe nail are still very black and blue and very sore, they ARE both starting to feel a little better. So again, thank you! I am so very happy that I came across your website. The service you provide is outstanding and immeasurable!

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Wonderful advice

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This is the best site for foot problem info.

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location unknown

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Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

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location unknown

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