Help! Mystery pain & swelling - I'm kinda scared!

[RolliePollie]

Thanks for the excellent advice everyone! The good news is, I just got up (yes, I slept in a little late!) and it's not any worse this morning and the swelling went down quite a bit overnight. But I still couldn't walk on it for about 10 minutes.

I'm very relieved to hear folks say it doesn't sound like a blood clot! I guess I'll take it easy this weekend, take my Motrin, and go to the Dr. on Monday if it's not any better. It just seems so weird to me that I didn't do anything in particular...like twist my ankle...to cause this.

So I guess I shouldn't try to do a long ride this weekend? Just kidding...I think I'm off the bike for a bit. What a bummer. I was trying so hard to get to 3,000 miles before the end of the year.

[KnottedYet]

Plantar faciitis is a symptom of something else goofed up in the ankle/foot. Something is irritating the system. If the doc says "plantar fasciitis" and leaves it at that, ask him what he thinks *caused* the pf. Ask about physical therapy, especially with someone who knows cyclists and feet.

If I'm constantly hitting myself in the head with a hammer, and go to the doc cuz my head is bruising, and he diagnoses me with "a bruise" and gives me an ice bag but doesn't take the damm hammer out of my hand, well.... that's like a doc telling you "plantar fasciitis" and leaving it at that.

Edit: it is extremely common to have this kind of thing happen with no particular event causing it. Often it's an ankle or foot posture issue, added to a footwear issue, added to an activity issue, added to the vagaries of fate, and finally the straw that breaks the camel's back.

[Grog]

Edit: it is extremely common to have this kind of thing happen with no particular event causing it. Often it's an ankle or foot posture issue, added to a footwear issue, added to an activity issue, added to the vagaries of fate, and finally the straw that breaks the camel's back.

These words are very valid for so many situations of life....

[Bklynmom]

My plantar fasciatis symptoms were exactly like what you described -- and were completely cured by custom orthotics (which I wear in the bike shoes) and stretching the calf many time a day.

On the other hand, radiating calf pain can be a symptom of pulmonary embolism - which my sister-in law survived by the skin of her teeth (and a really great EMT and ER) last year. So do be careful please.

I come from a long line of amature physicians, so take this with a grain of salt .

Hope you are feeling better soon.

[Starfish]

Hey Sara, I don't have anything to add to the the actual discussion, but wanted you to know I'm thinking of you!! If you start to feel down about not quite making your 3000 miles, just think of me. I've only got 1000 for 2007!!

[RolliePollie]

Hmmm, the saga continues. You're probably all bored to tears with my whining, but whatever is going on with my foot/ankle, it's not going away, so I'm off to the Dr. tomorrow morning. I really want to know what is going on. Someone at work told me that her husband walked around in moderate pain for 3 weeks with a broken bone in his foot before he finally went to the Dr. for an x-ray. So I'm hoping it's not something like that!

Starfish - wasn't most of that 1,000 miles climbing straight up the sides of mountains?

[mimitabby]

Hmmm, the saga continues. You're probably all bored to tears with my whining, but whatever is going on with my foot/ankle, it's not going away, so I'm off to the Dr. tomorrow morning. I really want to know what is going on. Someone at work told me that her husband walked around in moderate pain for 3 weeks with a broken bone in his foot before he finally went to the Dr. for an x-ray. So I'm hoping it's not something like that!

Starfish - wasn't most of that 1,000 miles climbing straight up the sides of mountains?

let us know what the doctor says. And yeah, I second what you said about Starfish!