janis’s AchillesBlog

Hi Janis,

I’ve been sneaking around with 2 shoes at home (well crocs). My heel is very sore. In fact quite painful when I’m barefoot on tiled floors. For me, I do think it’s extra sensitive, but it’s also that I can’t put weight onto the forefoot. So my heel takes my entire bodyweight. I’m only a couple weeks behind you in recovery. I’ve read on many posts that this is normal and that it gets better. Fingers crossed. Also, I wonder how shaving part of our calcaneus affects the bone. It makes sense that it would be sore as if we had broken a bone. But I’ve never broken a bone before, so I don’t really know….

Anyway glad you’re doing well, You’re my inspiration on this blog.

Thanks Adrienne!

I think I need to wear some sort of shoe around the house for sure. Your not putting weight on the forefoot theory makes sense.

The short answer to “Anyone else have bottom of heel soreness after going two shoes?” Is “Almost EVERYbody!”

Squishy gel footbeds or gel shoes like Crocs help. Rolling your foot over a tennis ball helps too. It usually resolves on its own, but it can blossom into a heel spur (PFasciitis), maybe in response to “pushing through the pain” too much.

Good to know, Norm.

I’m going to get myself some “around the house shoes” for now and try not to do too much too soon. Thank goodness it’s not summer, so at least it’s not too tempting.

Janis,

First, congrats on the move to two shoes! Major milestone in this marathon, for sure. I had heel pain when I was in the boot and for a couple of weeks after moving to 2 shoes, but then it subsided. I didn’t walk around barefoot at home because we have wood floors, but I’m pretty sure it would have been uncomfortable.

Adrienee and Janis - I also had a big hunk of Haglund’s shaved off. That area still feels weird to touch, not painful, but sensitive in an unfamiliar way. I’m told there are lots of nerve endings there and it may feel odd (not painful) for many months.

The best thing so far about having this surgery, is that I can walk normally the minute I get out of bed in the morning, or after I’ve been sitting or driving. The past two years, it was an effort to get over the Haglund’s, tendinosis limp and move forward after sitting for any length of time. It’s still a pleasant surprise to get out of the car and not limp.

That is funny, because I just mentioned to my husband that I have the same funny little limp (for now), but without the pain.

It is so nice and puts a smile on my face every morning when I put my feet down flat on the floor, no tiptoes needed, no pain.

I was trying to describe the sensation to someone under my incision and the best I could do was that it feels like there is a strip of scotch tape under there. Just the faintest pulling sensation.

Congrats though Janis.

Agreed..that is normal, but should subside in a week or so if you do not over do it. I would also pad your foot with something whenever possible - the tendons, etc.s are still trying to fire up, build, etc.

Regarding the opposite leg fatigue, that is normal because it has not been active for a month or so. and that’s why apathy and other exercises are important to do early on - the facilitate the gait transition. (learned that from Norm, not in those words, though…LOL).

I suggest doing good leg heel raises, work on sitting and standing (without help pushing off), standing on your bad foot (using you good for for balance when necc.), and siting heel raises to start building walking muscles.

Keep in mind that the muscles from your toes to your hips have not been used much on both legs, as well as the tendons, nerves, etc., so there will be some “firing up” in your future.

Congrats on 2 shoes, and the work really starts now. However, the worst part about graduating and moving forward to 2 shoes, is it that it physically feels like taking 2 steps backwards (at least initially). But the work really does start now - i.e, 2 shoes to gait\walking, to running, etc.

Keep us posted.
Ron

Janis, how did your PT sessions go?

It went very well! Thanks. Are you hanging in there?

http://AchillesBlog.com/janis/2014/01/27/first-pt-session/