Diving and foot pain

[DivetheRock]

Has anyone ever had the misfortune of having severe, and I mean absolutely severe, foot pain after diving? Last week, I did two dives on Sunday, and three on Monday. By Monday late night, I was in excrutiating pain - the bottoms of my feet felt like they were crushed. I attribute it to a few factors: multiple dives in cold water (my feet were cold by the end), walking on the beach rocks with soft sole booties, and using more weight (heavier steel tanks) than usual.
It wasn't funny at the time, but I literally had to crawl around my house (three stories) for one full day, and it wasn't until last Saturday that the pain subsided. I have recently purchased hard sole booties, though.
Anyone else ever had this happen? (I'm assuming the above listed variables are what affected me this way.)

 

[fisherdvm]

Sounds like heel pain or plantar fasciitis. You might consider doing heel stretches. Stand facing the wall and stretch your archilles tendon by backing away slowly while keeping your back and legs extended. Consider using cushion heel pad to protect your heel.

I believe it is due to the prolonged hyperextension and constant contraction of your calf muscle and archilles tendon. By stretching it before and after you dive, you might minimize the pain.

Any minor injury to your ankle joint will cause you to guard the ankle. This causes excessive weight bearing on the heel, and can lead to heel pain.

 

[Thalassamania]

Plantar fasciitis, I've had it also. Best thing I found was to take Advil and roll my foot on top of a frozen water bottle. I can take weeks to go away or may be gone the next day.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi DivetheRock,

Couple of questions:

1. This was an isolated incident, correct?

2. Was the pain mostly localized in the heels or did it primarily involve the soles of the feet?

3. Was the pain worse after taking your first steps upon getting out of bed or after sitting for an extended time?

4. Has the discomfort completely resolved?

Thanks,

DocVikingo

 

[DivetheRock]

DocVikingo, I can see you're headed somewhere with this.
This was "sort of" an isolated incident. I have found that a couple of my toes (none in particular) often feel like they've been crushed or otherwise injured after I dive.
Now, I have felt this pain in the bottom of my feet before (after I dive). However, this past dive I've referred to above was by far the worst.
It wasn't a muscular pain, as the lads asked above. It wasn't caused by muscle strain from finning, it was primarily located in the soles, and the toes. When I stood, I could feel the soles of my feet were swollen, I could see that they were swollen, although there was no discolouration as one may expect from bruising. My feet felt "tight", and as if the blood was painfully rushing through them immediately upon standing up.
The pain was bad for the first couple days even while I was lying in bed, and after that anytime I was standing or putting any pressure on my feet. The "top part" of my feet were a little achy, but I believe this was all combined pain.
The pain has since subsided, but I know if I were to run or do something strenuous, it wouldn't be too good for my feet.
I'm also a firefighter, and a few days after this happened I got a call and ran to the truck (forgetting about the present pain), and paid for it later that evening.
BTW, I'm not a small guy. I weigh 260 lbs, 6' tall. I find I'm still playing with my weighting (I'm a floater), as a newbie to diving. And where we dive there are rough beaches of rock on which one must walk to access the water - this was a huge factor as I was wearing soft sole booties. I've since purchased hard sole booties.
Thanks.

 

[fisherdvm]

I think you should get a good exam by an orthopedist, family doctor, or a podiatrist. One problem can lead to another, the toe symptoms could be tendonitis, strained ligaments, or arthritis.

Pain in the toe area will lead to heel walking, and lead to heae pain and plantar fasciitis.

A good skeletal exam will give you a quick diagnosis. Then you can google all the stretches and exercises you want. A quick cure is not an answer, but a dorsi-flexion splint can be purchased if your doctor recommended it.

Let us know what your doctor find.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi DiveTheRock,

Based on the descriptions to date, the earlier, hastily given, suggestion that "heel pain or plantar fasciitis" may be responsible appears poorly supported.

In any event, such discomfort can lead to compensatory ambulation changes that can create their own set of problems, not to mention the inadvisability of repeatedly traumatizing the area.

Given the situation described, consultation with an orthopedist or podiatrist would be prudent. Until a definitive diagnosis has been arrived at, treatment involving exercises or prostheses might best be avoided.

Please let us know how events unfold--it's how we learn.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual and should not be construed as such.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[DivetheRock]

Well, I'm going for a few dives this weekend, weather pending. I'll be wearing my new booties, so we'll see how they work.
I have a 10 mth. old baby that has his regular check-up in a couple weeks, so I'll ask then. I believe it's unnecessary at this point to waste taxpayers $ for an appointment just for that reason. I'll update you all when I hear what, if anything specific, is causing this.
BTW, DocVikingo, I agree with you relantar fasciitis being unsupported at this time. It just doesn't fit the description of the pain I was having.