swelling on heel and arch

duckfeet

Barefooters
May 3, 2014
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Erie, Pa
Hi,
I have been running exclusively barefoot for 3 years now, and ran barefoot part of the time for 2 years prior to that. I have never had an injury other than some occasional blood blisters early on from overdoing it. However, about 10 days ago, I was walking out of work when I began noticing a painful swelling developing on my sole over the heel and on up into the medial longitudinal arch. Over the next few days, the pain got worse and my whole foot ached like a toothache. The heel was very tender and I could not walk on it. The symptoms have gradually been getting better, but I am still unable to walk for much more than a mile before the symptoms kick up again. There was some discoloration on up into my ankle on both sides, and tenderness. I am assuming that I had a hematoma deep within my foot, but am unsure of the source of bleeding. I have never had any plantar fasciitis issues. My feet felt fine leading up to this episode.
Has anyone had any similar experiences?
 
i have never experienced anything like that. other than what you have likely already thought of (freak muscle pull), maybe some little critter bit you, like a spider or bee or something? dunno. regardless, i hope it heals up quickly for you.
 
Wow, Duck, that sounds bad. Can you rest it as much as possible? I know you have responsibilities and work, but as much as you can. It may just take some time to heal. As long as it's not getting worse and slowly improving, it seems it will continue to do so.
 
i have never experienced anything like that. other than what you have likely already thought of (freak muscle pull), maybe some little critter bit you, like a spider or bee or something? dunno. regardless, i hope it heals up quickly for you.
Thank you BroadArrow. I don't think this is any kind of critter bite, since I was wearing shoes all day at work (unfortunately) :)
 
Wow, Duck, that sounds bad. Can you rest it as much as possible? I know you have responsibilities and work, but as much as you can. It may just take some time to heal. As long as it's not getting worse and slowly improving, it seems it will continue to do so.
Thanks TJ, Yea, I prop it up during the evening and have been applying heat. It seems to be getting better slowly. I will be afraid to test it when the time comes though.
 
Thanks Sid. I'm happy to say that whatever this is has gotten much better by icing it, staying off it as much as possible, and with several days worth of motrin. I plan on testing it modestly in the next day or two, and plan on seeing a sports medicine dr. to have him evaluate it. I'd like to know what caused this.
 
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