skippy Posted November 21, 2003 Report Share Posted November 21, 2003 Every now and then on a Thursday i wake up, go to walk and get a pain in my right heel ( just before the start of the arch, directly below the inner ankle joint). Yesterday was particulary bad and i really have had trouble walking and am having trouble again today. Only this time round my heel is swollen and a lot more painful. I am not sure if this is something to do with my pointe shoes or what but the pain always starts after my two hour ballet class on a Wednesday evening. The first hour we study the advanced foundation (RAD) so we wear soft pointes and pointe shoes in the second hour i join the intermediate class and do everything on demi point, again wearing either soft points or pointes. Would the insole of the shoes be causing the pain or could i be looking at a different problem all together. I dont really want to go to a doctor just yet as they have always told me in the past that if i stopped dancing i would not get these injuries or problems...... Please Help it is driving me mad, i am trying to rest it but tomorrow i am back to work for a twelve hour day on my feet plus i will be on stage for a week starting next Friday for the pantomime.. Skippy Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 21, 2003 Report Share Posted November 21, 2003 Sounds like an overuse injury, what with all the standing you do in a day, combined with the ballet classes. Tell you what, take 3 days of classes off, by reason of injury, and speak to your supervisor at work to see if you can be given a part of your job which can be done seated, again, giving the same reason. You will want to apply the R.I.C.E. first aid. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. If things aren't better by the end of 72 hours, then consult a physician. Quote Link to comment
Jaana Heino Posted November 21, 2003 Report Share Posted November 21, 2003 Skippy, the place you describe is the insertion point for plantar fascia (not sure if this is the correct English name for it), and is a point that can get inflamed etc because of too much or wrong kind of work. It is, however, impossible to say if this or something else is the cause of the problem without seeing you and examining the foot, and if we started guessing on the forum we might very well just cause you more problems with completely wrong diagnoses. Thus, I really suggest you get yourself to a doctor or a physiotherapist (or both), if at all possible to someone with experience of treating dancers or athletes. (Ask for tips of good ones from your ballet school, from teachers and people you take classes with.) You should probably also describe the problem to your Wednesday teacher and have her check if you or your shoes do something that could cause the problem, if you haven't done this already. (Only read what Mr Johnson said after writing the above. Since this a recurring problem, and always manifests after a particular class, I didn't consider it necessary to wait the three days, as it seems to me that even if it will go away with RICE etc now, it will most likely recur again when you resume your regular schedule. However, now that Mr Johnson mentions it, I can see no particular harm in trying resting first, other than it might be helpful for the doctor to see the acute phase of this problem. So if you decide to get to a doctor, try and book the time for a Thursday. ;)) Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 21, 2003 Report Share Posted November 21, 2003 Yes, excellent idea. Book the doctor's appointment for next Thursday, but if the R.I.C.E. does prove to be a successful protocol, you can always cancel. Quote Link to comment
skippy Posted November 23, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2003 Thank you for all the advice and information it settled my nerves a little. Unfortunatley my job involves serving food and drink at thirty seven thousand feet up in the air so i was unable to sit down for any period of time yesterday, saying that i was able to work round. The pain has eased of quite a bit today but i think the idea of getting it looked at is a very good one. I did contemplate going sick yesterday (twelve hours on my feet was not the best idea) but the rugby world cup final was yesterday and work would have put my sickness down to that and not the injury. Mind you it would have been worth it as we are now the world champions (i am a huge rugby fan)..........yippee Sorry going of the subject. Thanks again for all the advice. skippy x Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 23, 2003 Report Share Posted November 23, 2003 That's what we're here for, Skippy! Now, as your work entails altitude, bear in mind that altitude and lowered barometric pressure can aggravate the pain of an injury. Even with the cabin pressure stabilized at ten thousand feet, you're going to feel things more, even if the wound itself isn't made worse. For other readers, here's the RAD homesite: http://www.rad.org.uk Quote Link to comment
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