Pain on the sole of the foot in front of the left heel.
April 1, 2011 | 10,00 EUR | answered by Christian Klein
Hello,
I went to boxing training on Monday and I can remember stumbling once, however, without any painful symptoms. One day later, my left foot started to hurt on the sole directly in front of the heel. The pain radiates towards the inner foot, only occurs when under pressure, for example when walking, and has increased since Monday until today. What's going on? How long of a training break should I expect?
Hello,
Since the complaints were only noticed the following day, a serious injury is rather unlikely. If the pain is accompanied by swelling, it is most likely a strain or overstretching of the plantar fascia, i.e. the tight tendon plate that stretches from the heel to the forefoot. If you have a flat foot or fallen arches, there may also be overstretching of the flexor tendons of the foot, which run from below the inner ankle to the inside of the foot.
In cases of pain without significant swelling, a biomechanical issue such as a blockage in one of the foot's tarsal joints or nerve irritation such as tarsal tunnel syndrome may be present. In short, all of the above causes are typically treated conservatively with Voltaren gel dressings, relative rest, ice pack massages for approx. 10 minutes 3 times a day, and short-term use of Ibuprofen tablets. Supportive (sports) insoles with support for the inside of the foot would also be helpful.
If the pain does not disappear or even worsens after a 7-10 day break from boxing, depending on the pain, further examination by a specialist is necessary.
Regards,
Dr. Ch. Klein
