Dumb heel and/or ankle!

[sundial]

Ok, saw the ortho doc today and he said I have...........tendonosis. The tech x-rayed my ankle and there was no calcification. He said I have scar tissue that has been there for some time. He prescribed a air heel thing to wear and to try a different set of heel cups since my Blue Dot ones didn't help on my last mtb ride. We went over the stretching exercises and he wants me to try a compound that is to be applied twice a day on the site. As for orthotics, he wasn't interested in going that route and wants me to meet with my favorite bike shop guy to get fitted with a Sole (a shoe insole that is heated, placed in the shoe and worn during cycling while it cools to fit the foot). If I continue to have problems, he'll prescribe ultrasound therapy.

I hope I can get relief through the heel cup and such and not be sidelined for the upcoming cycling season. I'm just now getting into the groove of things.

[KnottedYet]

Can I make just one observation from my experience with folks who have used the heat-molded insoles?

You take an unhappy foot, and you make a mold of it. Then every time you take a step (or pedal stroke) on that foot you force it back into that unhappy position. Reinforcing the mechanical problem over and over again.

The heat moldable insoles are great for folks who don't have mechanical problems, I'm not against them for healthy feet.

[OakLeaf]

How does one go about finding a good pedorthotist?

I've just had bad luck in the past and I know it's because where I live, anyone who deals with feet does nothing but cut toenails for obese diabetics. An athlete's foot (ha, ha) is completely foreign to them.

I'm not thrilled with the idea of having to travel 75+ miles one way for however many trips it takes. (How many trips should I expect it to take?) But if I can get a really good pair of orthotics I'll consider it worth it.

[sundial]

Oakleaf, I wonder if a prosthetic lab could help you? Course you'd need a doctor's Rx to visit them for a fitting.

My doc actually wasn't excited about orthotics. He said they are expensive ($300 and up) and most insurances won't cover them anyway.

I'd rather have a good PT work on me. Maybe Knot has a suggestion about how to locate someone in your neck of the woods.

[sundial]

Just wanted to give a follow up on my achilles problem.

I tried using a different pair of mtb shoes on my ride and it helped my achilles somewhat but I ended up with knee pain. I felt I was nearing the end of my rope and decided to follow up with being fitted with an insole that my ortho recommended. So I went to my LBS and they fitted me with a heat molded insole. I gotta tell you I was very skeptical but I had tried everything else and on every ride my achilles would cause me grief.

I rode a pretty good distance using the Sole and I had no achilles pain! I rode the last 3 days and I am finally pain free. It was the best $40 I spent. I'm so glad to finally have relief.

[KnottedYet]

Hoooray!

Is this what you have? http://www2.yoursole.com/

[sundial]

Yes! That's it!