ziggydcat

For about the last 3 weeks I have been getting severe pain in my left foot (Bottom of foot, mid point of arch to heel. Tender to touch. 4 to 7 out of 10) after I ride. It will get worse as I walk throughout the day. But not every day or after every ride. Fee

ziggydcat

Umm OK, my post posted itself...weird.

Anyhow, it feels like I stepped on something large and hard, but I don't remember doing something like that. Any suggestions or remedies would be appreciated. Can't get in to see the Doc for about 2 weeks.

MikeWinVA

If you don't use bike shoes/clipins make sure you are using a stiff soled shoe that has good arch support, is laced snuggly and has a well padded sole. I use Columbia hiking shoes to bike in, when I used running shoes, my arches hurt. Also pedal so the axle of the pedal is over the ball of your foot or slightly forward of that.

ziggydcat

Sorry, I didn't clarify that Mike. I ride in a pair of Specialized BG Mountain Bike shoes with Time Attack XS pedals. The pain starts well after Im out of the saddle for the day

achoo

How does it feel first thing in the morning when you first put weight on it? If it's bad right then, there's a real good chance it's plantar fascitis. Even if it feels fine in the morning, there's a good chance it's plantar fascitis anyway as there's not much else on the underside of the foot that it could be.

Only treatment for that I know of is give it time to heal, although ice made mine feel a lot better.

TrojanHorse

I have a night splint for plantar fascitis... keeps your foot at a roughly 90 degree angle to keep that tendon a bit looser.

Another home remedy is to roll a golf ball under your foot, you can do it at your desk at work if you want.

Note: I don't have plantar fascitis, I had side effects from getting a plate put in my foot that were similar so I couldn't tell you if that's what you have.

ziggydcat

Thanks for the suggestions. After reading up on plantar fasciitis, I'm pretty sure that it's what I have. At first it felt like I stepped on something on the arch/heel area and bruised it. I do quite a bit of walking for work and I can feel the tendon going as I walk. I have the luxury of wearing whatever kind of shoes I want at work (flip flops, boots, Leopard skin stillettos) none of which seem to make a difference. Its the pushing off motion of the toes that sets it off. I cant wait to see the Doc and get something started on this.

Joe Bicycle

I am currently dealing with this condition and am doing two things that have helped me get better:
The Strausberg Sock. I stumbled on this product while reading about this problem other people were having in another post, Though I can't remember if it was on this forum or the Road Forum. It is a full coverage sock that has a strap and will hold your foot at a 90 degree angle for however long you care to use it. I use it over night. A google search will get you plenty more information on it. I got mine and a local store that specifically catered to Runners and Marathon/Triathlon people. One suggestion I have is to wash the thing a couple of times before you use it. I did not do that and my legs broke out in a rash that required me to use lotions like I had Poison Ivy before it cleared up and I could continue to use the sock.
Change out the insoles in my shoes for more arch and heel support. This has helped a lot though it took a lot of getting used to. I use Super Feet in my cycling shoes and am experimenting with Dr Scholes Athletic insoles for my everyday work shoes. I have tried some other brands but so far these have been the best I have found for me. YMMV. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

atcfoody

I'm not a physician, but I have been seen on television in a white lab coat.

Now that the legal bit is out of the way. There is one other possibility, you may have a hypomobile (non-mobile) cuboid. It is one of the bones of your mid-foot, that is right above where you described. The symptoms of this are very similar to those of plantar fascitis. Big difference, PF is an overuse injury, that creeps up on you over a long period of time. With a hypomobile cuboid, the pain starts very suddenly. Treatment of this involves going to see either a chiropractor (which I rarely recommend) or a physician with the letters "D.O." after their name (Doctor or Osteopathic Medicine). Both can perform a "cuboid whip", a manipulative technique that puts the bone back in place and restores mobility. If this is the case, the pain in your foot will go away immediately.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

D

ziggydcat

Ugg! More to consider. Did 17 hilly miles yesterday and 25 this morning and no pain yet, but only did a little walking yesterday. The walking is what seems to get me. I ride enough, I'm getting a wheelchair and training my 12 year old son to push me around all summer break.

"Boy, fetch Daddy's chair!"

Steve530

I suggest you see a physician.

I had plantar fasciitis a few years back. I could hard walk in the mornings. I went to my primary care physician, followed his advice, and the problem went away in 8 or 10 weeks.