Biting the bullet

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Well, I've lived with this heel bursitis/posterior heel spur long enough. I'd cross-train, feel a little better, run, and it would hurt again. Sooooo....I'm getting a cast on Tuesday--date of my appt. This would involve three weeks, and now the only question is whether to go with a removable cast or the hard kind that requires crutches. I really just need to get this dealt with and I figure three weeks isn't forever. Forever is what it has been taking and will take if I keep going like this. So--*SIGH!*--here goes. I just hope it works!

The dr. favors the hard cast/crutches approach. Says it will force me to rest, and that with the other type, that doesn't happen as readily. At this point, much as I hate the thought, I'm willing to do it that way--IF it truly is the better way to go. But here are my questions:

--can you do ANY type of exercise while wearing a plaster cast? (obviously it rules out swimming or stairstepper, but what about stationary bike or rower?)

--I am concerned about the effect of using crutches on other parts of the body--posture, etc.--isn't there as much risk of injury from changing the way I hold myself and move around? Someone I talked with who does stretching/strengthening therapy said that crutches can cause other problems while they're solving the problem for which they're used.

--I'm still uneasy about having a cast and needing crutches while working on the ninth floor of my building. I know that's not exactly the 100th floor of a skyscraper or anything but after WTC, I get paranoid about wanting to escape danger easily--and sure no planes are likely to fly into a university high-rise that isn't all that high, but fire alarms do go off for other reasons (most of them false alarms--and if I'm on crutches and someone sets off a false alarm, do I have permission if I find said person to hit them with one of my crutches? hmmm...might almost make it worthwhile to have them. heheheh) Wink

Pro's for removable cast:

I started working w/ this guy who is EXCELLENT at sports massage/stretching/strengthening. (Also quite a fast runner and wins/places pretty regularly). Did one session with him and he not only did some deep tissue work (OUCH!) but after he scraped me off the ceiling, he showed me some really helpful exercises and stretches, also looked at my stride and pointed to things I could change--and that helped pretty quickly. My foot had relief fr/ this session--no magic cure or anything, nor did i expect there to be, but it did help. My thought would be that if I'm working with him and wearing a removable cast the rest of the time, it might do more good than just having a hard cast and having no work done. Still, maybe I'd be better off really calming this inflammation down w/ some rest, then starting again after that w/ this guy--and hopefully by then doing injury prevention work.

I'm very open to either approach, but would like to get some ideas from anyone who's had some experience w/ one or t'other.

Thanks much!

The Pinball

hi lioness1!!

no experience with cast stuff here, just wanted to say hey and wish you well with the heel thing.

three weeks isn't that long to be in a plaster cast. i'd go for the cast/crutches just cuz it seems like a better chance at healing up right the first time??

i know you'll be anxious to get back out there and that "deep tissue" guy sounds like the ticket to me! work with him and i'd bet you'll be back better than ever in no time.

good luck

Posted: 08/12/02 - 22:26 Post subject:

Had another session w/ the "deep tissue" guy today, and his view is that there's some very tight muscle which needs to be worked on if it's going to get better. His recommendation: have a removable cast so as to do the stretches he prescribed but keep it on except for that. His thought was get the cast for the three weeks that the podiatrist mentioned, and use the "running time" on my schedule to stretch instead, don't run a step. It's just that I don't want to think that by doing this I'm wimping out of something tough but effective. Well, tomorrow I see the foot guy and I'll be leaving with some sort of cast. That's at least one step in the right direction.

Frightened Inmate #2

I'm clueless on your cast situation too, but I'm curious. Is this deep muscle massage/therapist covered by your insurance?

Sounds like something I should look into.

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Biting the bullet

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