niggling 'pain' in the left heel

[mckenzie]

I'm a runner which is why i put it in here, and not in health.
It's not a pain as such more of an awareness that it feels different to the right heel and it's uncomfortable. It doesn't hurt when i run but I'm just being very very cautious because Ive had so so mucht ime off with back issues, the last thing i need now is a problem with my heel.

Any ideas what it can be? it's the edge of my heel and as it turns to go up to the ankle a little.

TIA

The only thing that comes to mind is plantar fasciitis, I've had problems with that but the pain heads from heel toward toe rather than up the ankle.

If your could afford it a trip to a sports physio would probably be worth while. I went when I had ITB problems and although there was no magic cure it was good to have it confirmed what the problem was and how to manage it.

Running injuries are the bane of every runners life aren't they!

thank you. I've just found a sports injury book on the back of the shelf! I'll look up PF and see if that fits the bill. I think you may be right though. Sports Physio will be best huh?

My achilles tendonitis started as a vague feeling in my heel. A sort of tenderness that I couldn't put my finger on.

Then went out for a 15 mile run and it fully flared up when I was at the half way point - but I still finished the run

The following day I could barely walk. That was it for my training for that year's London Marathon (and as I'd deferred the previous year, that meant I lost my entry )

I didn't see a physio then (complicated working/living situation at the time - although inronically enough, was working for the NHS). As a result, when it flared up again a few years later when I had time to start running again, and I did get round to seeing a physio, I was told there was a lot of scar tissue around my tendon. Have had a couple of flare-ups since.

I have now started running with sorbothane insoles again (which I had used the first two times I did the London) and am very good about doing my stretches after a run Touch wood, it hasn't flared up since.

Sorry to hear all that prettybird. I'm definitely going to make an appt to see a physio.

Could be plantar fasciitis, could be Achilles tendinopathy.

You could also see a Musculo skeletal Podiatrist. They specialise is this sort of thing.

In the meantime, stop exercising for a while. Take anti inflammatories, ice twice daily and put a small lift in your shoes. Don't walk barefoot and do calf stretches.
Do those and you will speed up yur recovery massively.

thanks very much TheAE. I do walk barefoot at home all the time. Off to warm my legs up and do some calf stretches. Then put some wedges on perhaps (with my pjs!. That'll be a good look)
I'll start with a sports physio but I know he has links with the foot clinic and i trust him to refer me if he thinks it necessary.

Mckenzie ask him to check your foot posture to see if your excessively pronating. If you are a referral would be good, but often tight calf musculature or excessive training is enough to cause the problem.

I have upped my running training lately in a bid to improve my 5 km time so that's most like the cause. I pronate slightly, but its never caused a problem before. Due to back issues I've had to drop my mileage right off and knock the long runs on the head hence my having a 5km improvement as my current challenge. I have perhaps got a bit carried away with the training (I've been enjoying it )
Thanks very much for your advice. You sound very knowledgeable.