Climbers foot?

[mike1]

Yeah... Okay, I made that up.

So I had this pain for the first time while hiking out from an attempt on Stuart last season. I started feeling it near Ingalls and by the time I was on the trail to the parking lot it was causing me some good pain (maybe an 8). It was a deep pain in the front sole of my right foot just at the back edge of the ball or at the beginning of the arch and centered. It only really hurt on flat ground, but I felt fine when it was unweighted. Since I felt fine after the trip and never felt it again I figured it was some minor foot injury that healed... until yesterday. I did a 9 mile gorge hike and began to feel it again on the decent, though no where near as bad. But now I know it's not gone. I had done other climbs and hikes and jog 6 miles a day without issue. After a search of previous discussions, I see a few possible diagnosis. Bursitis and Morton's Neuroma. Does anyone have any other thoughts? Since this has only happened twice and over a good 9 months apart I'm having difficulty deciding on seeing a Dr. yet.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Mike

[Jeff W]

Sounds like it may be Morton's Neuroma. I "suffer" from it but mine is mainly located between 3rd and 4th toes on one foot. However one website I checked says "Morton's Neuroma is a common foot problem associated with pain, swelling and/or an inflammation of a nerve, usually at the ball-of-the-foot between the 3rd and 4th toes. Symptoms of this condition include sharp pain, burning, and even a lack of feeling in the affected area. Morton's Neuroma may also cause numbness, tingling, or cramping in the forefoot." What I find helpful is wearing shoes/boots with laces tied loosely creating more room in the toe box. It has really become a problem lately. Next on my list is orthotics.

[davidk]

Doesn't sound like Morton's Neuroma to me. I would guess it's related to plantar fasciitis, only yours is affecting the front of the tendons instead of where they attach at the heel (most common). Were the shoes you wore significantly different as far as arch support compared to your running shoes?

[layton]

could be micro stress fractures

[Egardner]

I'm going to agree with a neuroma and disagree on the plantar fasciitis. I've had and treated neuroma's. Mine only bothered me on climbs and during the descent when all the weight was on the forefoot. After resting for just a few minutes it went away, until I started descending again. It never bothered me when not climbing, until about a year ago. I finally had to have surgery as it continued to bother me even when not climbing. You can try shoes with a wider toe box. Orthodics probably won't help as it has to do with the amount of space between your metatarsals, to little space causes the nerve to get inflamed. Was it a burning feeling? Can you feel a "clicking" deep in your foot. It is normally between the 3rd and 4th toes but can be between any of them. Have someone squeeze your foot. Then grab the metatarsals (the bones in your foot right above your toes) on each side of where you think you were having the pain. Move them up and down in opposite directions. Can you feel a catching or a clicking

 

Best thing you can do is go in and have it diagnosed, not try to guess what it or have someone try to tell you when they haven't seen the problem. If it is a neuroma and it's left untreated for to long then it can continue to grow and cause more problems. If you catch it early then things like anti-inflammatories, wider shoes, etc.. may prevent problems further down the road.

Edited June 29, 2009 by Egardner

[akhalteke]

Plantar fasciitis with possible neuro complications. Rest, Ice and motrin and stretch out the calf muscle. If this fails to work, see a specialist for diagnosis/ orthotics.

 

PF test: Does it hurt like a mother when you wake up in the AM? This is pretty much diagnostic in the vast majority of PF cases.

 

PF can cause neuro symptoms as can most inflamatory disorders in tight/ complitated joint structures. Take away the problem and the symptoms should resolve.

[layton]

try morton's test

[mike1]

could be micro stress fractures

That was my first thought, but wouldn't I feel pain from that more often - especially running?

 

PF test: Does it hurt like a mother when you wake up in the AM? This is pretty much diagnostic in the vast majority of PF cases.

I've never had pain in my feet in the mornings. So far - only that day descending from Stu and the slight feeling during the gorge hike. But I did pick up some orange superfeet and stuck them in my Scarpas, then did Ruckle Ridge yesterday. My feet felt fine on the ascent, but I noted a few times on the descent where I felt this electrical or numbing sensation shoot from the ball of my foot into my fourth toe. Both instances I was stepping down on steep terrain on sharp rocks at odd angles. It didn't hurt and other than that, I made the entire descent with out pain. That sounds like a swollen nerve being pushed around...

 

Best thing you can do is go in and have it diagnosed, not try to guess what it or have someone try to tell you when they haven't seen the problem. If it is a neuroma and it's left untreated for to long then it can continue to grow and cause more problems. If you catch it early then things like anti-inflammatories, wider shoes, etc.. may prevent problems further down the road.

Good advice. I'm planning about 8 days in the Pickets this season so I'm going to make an appointment with the doc tomorrow to get a diagnosis.

 

Thanks you guys!

[mike1]

Diagnosis: Neuromas.

Treatment: cortisone injection (each foot), 500mg. Neproxen to manage pain if needed, orthotics (doc seemed to think this was the ticket).

Prognosis: unknown...

 

Will update after pickets trav.

[treknclime]

I went through the whole Morton's Neuroma thing...and eventually had it fixed (they go in through the top of the foot, and clip the neuroma out; it creates a numb area between the two toes...one gets used to it very quickly, and it's a non-issue). I understand that folks that don't have it treated...end up compromising their lifestyle...some to the extent of hardly walking at all.

 

PM me for my doc's name if you're looking for a reference (if you're in the South Sound area). It's worth getting someone who's talented with the knife for the cutting to avoid complications. It's a quick rehab with good results if the doctor rec's are followed.

 

Women mostly get Morton's Neuroma...from wearing tight shoes. Makes sense that climbers get it too, especially if ya wear yer rock and running shoes on the tighter side.

 

Good luck!

[TMO]

I believe what you suffer from is called "Cascadian Couloir Syndrome"! I just came down it yesterday and am developing the same symptoms as you.

 

Good luck, heal fast.

[G-spotter]

Cortisone shots treat symptoms, not problem.

Your tendons will rot and you'll end up crippled.

[mike1]

Ha! but this one shot will get me through the Pickets over the next week and a half and likely the winter season too! Actually the doc thought that this one set of shots "could" cure the problem. I'm skeptical... I'll ultimately have the nerves clipped like treknclime did, after the symptoms reoccure of course.

[danhelmstadter]

i've been surprised a couple times how effective RICE, massage, and streching is. maybe a wrong arch or somthing in your shoe is agravateing your foot. good luck getting it taken care of.

[justinp]

Morton's Neuroma... huh thought I was just being a puss all these years?

[Sherri]

Morton's sucks. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis Mikester, but at least you know what you're dealing with now. I developed this 20 years ago after hiking up Half Dome(I was a runner at the time, not a climber).

 

Anyway, tried a couple bouts of cortisone only to have the cursed thing come back with a vengeance. Then tried to have it fixed surgically, which probably would have worked had the procedure been done properly(it was done overseas). Had to have surgery again(to remove scar tissue around the nerves) a year later and spent a lot of money on orthotics to keep things at bay. After all this, the neuroma CAME BACK.

 

Finally, I hit just the right combo of new orthotics(from a local guy who also supplied them for the Seattle Supersonics) and physical therapy(daily self-massage of trigger points in the calves). I've enjoyed a neuroma-free life for the past five years--I can run, climb, and skip barefoot without any pain.

 

It's important to keep in mind that neuroma's can seriously derail an active lifestyle, but it's not necessarily a life sentence. Be thorough and diligent in your pursuit of a cure or treatment.

 

Good luck!

 

 

[mike1]

(daily self-massage of trigger points in the calves).

I probably won't get your response until I'm back - but I'd be interested in hearing more about these trigger points.

Thanks in advance!

Mike

[Sherri]

No worries, Mikester. A google search containing both "trigger points" and "morton's neuroma" will give you plenty to start with. Have a great trip!

[billcoe]

I don't know sh* t about it, I just wanted to wish you well.

 

Good luck Mikester.

 

Bill

[mike1]

Thank you!

We got out a few days ago after a successful traverse. The feet did awesome, aside form a couple blisters - no pain. I'm sure it was due to the shots, but hey, the trip was good so I'm happy! What next? We'll see...