Question
My daughter 18, is a college triple jumper.  She fractured her heel as a Jr in High School.  Treatment was to wear a cast and during the off season symptoms seemed to go away.  once the season began again the pain and bruising returned.  Now in college the coaches and trainer basically said that there is nothing she can do about the pain except deal with it.  After the first meet of the season she is bruising and swollen and in pain.  She wears a heel cup and ices after workouts.  She is not to the point where she is willing to give up the sport so is there anything that she can do to ease the symptoms?  would ultrasound treatments help?  Any homeopathic remedies?  Any new technology in heel cups?  She's a tough kid, maybe too tough.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer
Hi Sandra,

If your daughter continues activity with an injured heel she may end up with a real problem.  This is especially true if she is swelling and bruising.  Has a Dr checked to make sure she healed properely?

She may benefit from custom orthotic devices or a device know as an ankle-foot orthosis.  Has she had physical therapy?  If not that would be a good idea.

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com


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