Ankle Pain (seeking help)

I'm inclined to think your present plan is good. I think you might back off on the duration and intensity of the program. Also, consider the surfaces you are using for the jogging part. Concrete and gravel tracks are not good, though they usually affect knees and even hips before the ankle. You might also take a look at the shoes you are using. In other words, it sounds like a muscle or two are not yet up to the demands you are placing on them.

Grammar, schammar. Your post was clear and complete.

Hey RK

Is it your anke .... bone-wise or could it be the achilles tendon? Is it to the side of the ankle or at the back?

If I were you, I would get it checked out before doing further exercise just in case you end up doing some damage.



(Grammar - ha, you're grammar is ticketyboo hun!)

I would get it checked out, and not stress the ankle. If the pain is annoying, you might want to consider wearing one of those lightweight one piece pullon Ace bandages, in order to stabilize the ankle.

IZZIE!!! *claps*
Thank you Roger, and Phoenix as well.*bows*

The slight pain seems to emanate from the top-right side of my foot at my ankle (my right side).

I will definitely take it easy on my ankle, but I must continue my exercises.

Thank you all. :wink:

RK ((WAVES))

Take it easy hun and don't hurt yourself OK!

Ankle strap sound a good idea if you exercise.

Good for you for exercising. (bows)

Izzie

Me, I'd see a good orthopedist.

I could hardly walk once after a vacation that involved a lot of walking in the city of San Francisco, both up and down hills and over miles of concrete.

I can't remember if he even did an xray, as it was now many years ago. He suggested that since I have quite high arches it was likely a problem of the pad of foot (yes, that's where it hurt) slapping against hard concrete with less mobility than others have.. and suggested getting some running shoes with arch support. I did, and the foot was immediately better.

I know that is not your problem, but your problem does sound recurring and you might as well find out what is going on. Thirty years and many pairs of a certain running shoe later, my feet are in pretty good shape.

It could be a shin splint -- are your running shoes wearing evenly on both sides, both shoes? I ask because I get shin splints plus I tend to turn my feet in so sneakers, for me, need to be replaced more often than for most folks.

Also make sure you're using the right gear for the job. Walking sneakers for walking, runners for running. Cross-trainers are decent for most things. Anyway, runners push your feet forward so if you walk in them too much (e. g. not use them for their intended purpose), you can injure yourself.

Feel better soon.

Hmm!

Gee Jespah; I did not know that! For as long as I can remember I have worn running shoes as my main footwear. I don't think that's the source of my right-ankle problem here, but I'm glad you told me! I think I'd rather get one pair of walking shoes and one pair of running shoes than use cross-trainers, because I have at times been fond of my running shoes. I examined the wear of the bottom of my shoes, and found that for the most part they are even, however there is a small amount of deviance. So...I think I'm ok there. Thank-you Jespah...I do appreciate it.

perhaps you land slightly more heavily on your right foot than your left (I know I do!)

Or - you're leading too much with your right foot in line dancing or the hokey-pokey!!

Consider a brace if it continues - but I'd be inclined to get it checked.

Margo said -

Ossobuco said -

Phoenix said -

Izzie said -

Ok...I have a rather...uneasy feeling about going to doctors, but your combined insistence has convinced me to do so.

Although I do not like it ; I am thankful to you all for your persuasive words.

Actually...I know an ex-physical-therapist. I think I will go to her first (I think my doctor-phobia may be showing! ). Of course...she will probably tell me that I should check with a doctor too!

Sincerely...I appreciate all of your words so very much.

RK ((WAVES MORE))

So glad the folks have advised you to see someone. Please rest the ankle up 'til you know what the problem is hun. We all have our fears - and if docs are one of yours - try not to fret. We can't diagnose the physical side of stuff or make the pain/discomfort go away - but we can help you to sort out the "head" stuff hopefully about seeing a doc.

It may be a simple problem with your ankle that can be remedied without too much intervention, so seeing the PT would be a great start. They may come up with something straight away to put your mind at rest.

The folks here have the best advice - and different views are good - I think that if you need to go see a doc at a later stage - well, you just come on back here hun and talk it through. Can someone go with you if needs be? It always helps to have someone with you if your anxious.

Everyone has fears about "stuff "- so c'mon back to the team up above and I'm sure everyone will help you if you stumble a little. We have great "virtual" hands if you need to reach out.

Meantime hun, not too much running a? :wink:

Let us know how you're getting on a?

And..... there are different running shoes for different feet. Way different shoes for different feet, depending on a lot of things. There are at least two online sites to figure out which shoe type is for you, and what shoes of what brands fit that particular type. For example, I don't pronate, so I don't need protection for that. I do need a high level of cushioning but not too soft cushioning, and I need serious arch support. I know Runner's World has one site for shoe finding, and Sozobe has posted about another. And, as I remember, Chai has a whole other opinion on shoes.

Your shoes may not be your problem but it's handy information anyway. Ragman knows a lot about all this too, as by now so does Joe Nation, our primo runner. Well, primo among primos...

I'll be back when I find some links about the running shoe type websites. or at least to the threads where we've talked about all this..

Here's the Runners World Link, if it still works -

http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/shoelabshoefinder/0,7154,s6-240-325-329-0-0-0-0-0,00.html
Yes, it works, I just tested it. (Click on the blue letters)


Here's Chai's thread (we all argue, but you may find the information useful)
http://www.able2know.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=104013&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=


A thread by myself about an LA Times Series about the Foot. I'm not sure if all parts of that series are now available or not. LA Times may or may not have its full archives open...
http://www.able2know.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=2490404#2490404




I can't immediately find an earlier extensive thread where I know Sozobe listed a really good place to figure out your feet re running shoes..
with any luck, she'll see this thread and comment.

you're sure it's not excessive dancing??

what this sounds like is a repetitive strain injury. you will probably have this for the rest of your life. There really isn't much you can do about it.

My wife is a squash player and sufferes from what sounds to be a similar mild or niggling pain.

We assume it is a tendon thing but may also be a stress fracture of a bone in the upper foot.

What seems to work is constant treatment with metsal or Deep Heat or any one of those penetrating creams. These seem to lubricate the tendons somehow and she also uses an elastic ankle support.

sorry if this is bad news.

Margo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae7c6JCYKyY

Dadpad:
My ex-physical-therapist friend thinks it may be an old injury sort of thing too. Frankly my first thought was that past stress and straining of the ankle must have healed improperly or just worn it out some. As you said; repetitive strain. I have had times in my youth when I felt the need to "tough it out" in sports.
I am pleased you told me this about your wife. It gives me reason to be more optimistic that it won't get much worse.
I am still going to take it easy until my doctors appointment (which is in three weeks from now). I'll only use the stationary bike is what that means. It doesn't stress my ankle when I pedal a certain way.
My friend suggested that I stretch the ankle more often and in various ways. I actually feel quite confident that with lots of focused, careful, and frequent stretching my ankle will become stronger with time. Maybe stretching would help your wife's ankle Dadpad.

Izzie your so kind and caring!

Osso:
I haven't had the chance to check out those sights yet, but I surely will. Thank-you. I am quite curious as to what type of shoes my body needs. I've seen different markings and labels on shoe boxes in the stores, but could never make heads or tails of them.

Margo:
I love dancing! That thing you said about walking more on one foot than the other; I think I might tend to do that. I saw this movie once called The Flight of The Phoenix (waves to Phoenix) . In it a person meant to walk in a straight line acrosss a desert, but ended up in the same place he started; someone said to him, "It's cause your right handed, and step bigger with your right foot!"

Hey RK (waves)

Well done for seeking advice so quickly - good for you. (claps and a wee jig ) Don't over exercise your ankle OK and, maybe, still just wear of those pull-on ankle support straps if you can get hold of one. It'd just help to prevent you straining anything whilst still being able to exercise and maybe assist in strengthening other muscles. (I'm not an expert - my ankles in plaster so whole different thing - just my opinion hunni) Do be careful tho a? :wink:

Pat yourself on the back - and let us know how you go hun. We'll walk you thru the doc'a'phobia thing - lotsa folk always around you here to help you to get thru that particular door.

Hey, think positive - and we'll help to deal with whatever they say, IF, they say anything. No worries girl - you'll be right. ((((posivibes))))

rk...

Hey RK (waves)

Checking in for an update...... how's the ankle