Runners - quick heel question - no pain - but worrying issue. . .

[episodic]

Hi,

I've been a biker for 3 years. I recently decided to start running. I'm at the end of the 'couch to 5k thing' and I've got a 5k down now in under 23 minutes.

I've been wearing barefoot shoes day and night (except on the bike) for years, so the the transition to running was easy. I've always been a big walker in these style of shoes. I wear 0 drop minimal footwear.

Since I've been running, I've developed a painless popping feeling in my heel. This is going on even when I stretch well, and do bi-weekly yoga and morning down dog asanas. As I weight my heel, there is some tendon that compresses and 'pops' as if it were sliding by something really quick. It is totally painless, and only slightly annoying when I walk (poppity, poppity, poppity). If I press on the bottom of my heel with my hand repeatedly, I can make it happen with my hand pressure applied against it. Also, it comes and goes. I figure it has something to do with my running.

I've googled it, and when you google popping and heel - you tend to get alot of achilles tendon rupture discussions, because most people 'burst' them with one big pop it seems. This can't be that as there is no pain and no loss of mobility. Doing burpees doesn't hurt, running doesn't hurt, etc.

Is this worth a copay to ask a doc about - or is this something best saved for when I have other things and tossed in as an accessory question. I'm a fairly broke dude, and I don't live anyplace with magical free health care sadly.

Anyone have anything similar?

 

[neocpp]

When I saw this, the first thing I thought of was achilles tendinosis. But, you said that there is no pain/loss of mobility, which usually comes with that.

However, you also said that the tendon compresses and feels like its sliding by something quick. Does it feel like it is "squeaking" (a bunch of short jumps in motion), or is is one snap-through effect? I don't have the medical knowledge for this, but my tendinosis started with the squeaking effect -- it wasn't painful at first, but after continued running it got pretty bad. It took me a couple of months to fully recover.

I'd be careful with running, and more so if it gets worse.

 

[episodic]

Its just a weird feeling in my heel. If you an imagine me on a hard floor with my foot/toes pointed up and gently weighting my heel - when I place enough weight on it I get a sudden small painless pop. I can also take my heel in my hand and press the bottom of it for the same effect. I'm not sure how the squeaking would feel. I describe this as the kind of pop you get with other tendons - like my shoulder has a little crepitus in it and when I move it backwards, it 'pops' painlessly sometimes. Yea, I'm a wuss - there is no pain.

So what would you (or anyone else) reading this do? Assuming the worst I suppose, and I have the very beginning of achilles tendinosis - what would be done now?

When I saw this, the first thing I thought of was achilles tendinosis. But, you said that there is no pain/loss of mobility, which usually comes with that.

However, you also said that the tendon compresses and feels like its sliding by something quick. Does it feel like it is "squeaking" (a bunch of short jumps in motion), or is is one snap-through effect? I don't have the medical knowledge for this, but my tendinosis started with the squeaking effect -- it wasn't painful at first, but after continued running it got pretty bad. It took me a couple of months to fully recover.

I'd be careful with running, and more so if it gets worse.

 

[neocpp]

Yea, that doesn't really sound like the same thing I had. If it is the beginning of achilles tendinosis though, I would stop running as much and switch to cycling or elliptical (or swimming... basically something with less impact). Also, eccentric calf raises seemed to help a lot. I don't like the elliptical, so I just substituted running with cycling for a couple months or so.

 

[episodic]

Yea, that doesn't really sound like the same thing I had. If it is the beginning of achilles tendinosis though, I would stop running as much and switch to cycling or elliptical (or swimming... basically something with less impact). Also, eccentric calf raises seemed to help a lot. I don't like the elliptical, so I just substituted running with cycling for a couple months or so.

Sigh. Every time I start to do well running, something happens, then I have to back off. Then it takes me forever to get back to 5k territory - then something happens. This marks the 4th cycle of this. The first three times shin splints or knee pain got me. I finally got my weight down this time enough that it felt great to run. I was actually dreaming of trying for a half-marathon by Christmas. This rant isn't directed at you - just my dream of running in general. I really do want to be able to run. I stretch, do yoga, cycle, work on my core, all the things you are supposed to do, and it is always something.

 

[Vareldorf]

I am going through the exact same pop w/o pain. Past several years spent on bike, lots of milage and recently started running.

I know it's been I while since you posted this but as you mentioned elsewhere on the net is about tendinosis so wanted to ask what did you end up doing?

Thanks

Hi,

I've been a biker for 3 years. I recently decided to start running. I'm at the end of the 'couch to 5k thing' and I've got a 5k down now in under 23 minutes.

I've been wearing barefoot shoes day and night (except on the bike) for years, so the the transition to running was easy. I've always been a big walker in these style of shoes. I wear 0 drop minimal footwear.

Since I've been running, I've developed a painless popping feeling in my heel. This is going on even when I stretch well, and do bi-weekly yoga and morning down dog asanas. As I weight my heel, there is some tendon that compresses and 'pops' as if it were sliding by something really quick. It is totally painless, and only slightly annoying when I walk (poppity, poppity, poppity). If I press on the bottom of my heel with my hand repeatedly, I can make it happen with my hand pressure applied against it. Also, it comes and goes. I figure it has something to do with my running.

I've googled it, and when you google popping and heel - you tend to get alot of achilles tendon rupture discussions, because most people 'burst' them with one big pop it seems. This can't be that as there is no pain and no loss of mobility. Doing burpees doesn't hurt, running doesn't hurt, etc.

Is this worth a copay to ask a doc about - or is this something best saved for when I have other things and tossed in as an accessory question. I'm a fairly broke dude, and I don't live anyplace with magical free health care sadly.

Anyone have anything similar?

 

[deadlyapp]

I am going through the exact same pop w/o pain. Past several years spent on bike, lots of milage and recently started running.

I know it's been I while since you posted this but as you mentioned elsewhere on the net is about tendinosis so wanted to ask what did you end up doing?

Thanks

He hasn't been online in months, so unless he has email notifications, he may not see this response.

 

[Elissa Karen]

I am going through the exact same pop w/o pain. Past several years spent on bike, lots of milage and recently started running.

I know it's been I while since you posted this but as you mentioned elsewhere on the net is about tendinosis so wanted to ask what did you end up doing?


I have the same thing! Any answers? It's making me crazy!

 

[whm1974]

To be on the safe side, I would go see a doctor that deals with or at least knows something about this type of thing.

I wouldn't worry about the co-pay if spending it will prevent problems down the road.

Also take it easy for the time being until you find out more.