Forums >Health and Nutrition>Gnarly Heel X-ray
I hope the image shows up. This is a pic of my left heel, taken more than 2 years ago. I had another x-ray taken around the two year mark and there hasn't been significant change. The official diagnosis is heel calcification and insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Before an unrelated back surgery, I was consistently running 30 mpw and now I am back up to 20 mpw. I am a 50 year-old male.
The heel hurts and sometimes it affects my run, but for the most part, I run without issue. The worst pain is if I bump my heel against something. The doctor said he doesn't recommend surgery and says I can run to tolerance with no restrictions otherwise. He also said I am at no significant risk of an Achilles rupture. In other words, don't worry about this chunk of your heel hanging there.
As runners, would you folks accept this and keep buggering on without a care in the world? I also backpack once a year or so in fairly remote areas and have nightmares about my Achilles finally letting go, leaving me alone in the woods to await my fate at the paws of a bear or at the hands of inbred mountain men with two first names, drunk on corn liquor and bad intentions.
Yeah, well...sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
I see it. Ugh. I also have insertional achilles tendinopathy with the classic Haglund's pump bump. All of the doctors I have talked to have said the same thing, rupture risk is low with running and leave well enough alone. Hang in there. Right now I am up to 40-50mpw without significant issue for comparison purposes.
"Shut up Legs!" Jens Voigt
Thanks, RIS. I am continuing to run with no significant issues, but have to say I am bewildered by the notion that I can do so forever without this becoming a problem. I don't even play a doctor on tv, but it doesn't seem to make sense to look at the x-ray and say yeah, it's all good.
Well there are problems and then there are problems. I'm in somewhat the same boat, but trying to run much higher mileage. Yet, rupture is not a concern.
Thanks...I don't think I'll ever return to more than 30 mpw, but only because that's about what I enjoy. And if everything stays connected to what it's supposed to, that's all I need.
I'm glad to see this post, I just had an xray 2 days ago and have the same thing although mine doesn't look quite as bad. I'm really concerned that the bone is going to just keep rubbing at the Achilles and eventually tear it. I agree that the worst is if I bump something. For a time it was really bad just laying in bed with the back of the foot touching the mattress but that has improved. My chiro ordered the xray, ART wasn't helping and he needled the area the other day. I'm also in PT and having dry needling, my calves have been very tight and I can't stretch due to the pain at the heel. I really don't know what to do. Did you see an ortho or a podiatrist? I can't figure out how to post a picture here but mine looks a little smaller.
I do find that just about any pressure, including simply laying my heel on the mattress is unpleasant. Not painful, but I won't stay in that position. I saw an orthopedic doctor, who assures me I won't rupture and to run to tolerance. I had two x-rays two years apart without noticeable change.
The bump on the back of my heel is very pronounced and I have some discomfort. Other than that, it's business as usual. I guess this is an instance where it's not as bad as it looks.
The back of my heel doesn't have a large bump but it is a little puffy in the area. It hurts to run mostly at the beginning but it gets better as I go along. I have started using a moist heat pack on it before I run to loosen it up. Back in the summer I was running around 45 mpw but this was more painful and was affecting my gait which messed up my hip/pelvis. I cut back but have struggled to run as much as I was. Part of the problem is the middle joint of my foot is also tight so not moving as well as it should was making me land flat with no push off from the toes. I think that aggravated it. I guess I have to decide if I want to spend the money to see a specialist who may just say, it's ok to run. Like you, I have concerns that I'm going to be miles from home and it's just going to tear right off.