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Bruised or Broken Heel Bone Experience/Wisdom?

Original Post
Josh Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 20

The condensed version is I blew a piece of gear and fell about 20 feet landing on a slanted ledge. Both of my heels were injured but the left hit the hardest. I hobbled out on one foot and after numerous beers and a bag of ice donated from the bartender I slept great, awaking unable to bare any weight on my left foot.

Medical Experience:\

- Day 2 :
Went to ER next morning. Attending Doc took x-rays, said he didn't see a break and sent me home with a small script for Vicodin and crutches " till able.".

- Day 11: Went to my regular doctor who ordered more x-rays saying he was concerned it was more than a bruise since I was unable to bare weight nearly two weeks later.Referred to orthopedic doc.

- Day 15: Appt sceheduled for two weeks out (Aug 5th.)

Concerns:

1.) I'm a father to a five year old and by necessity I am walking on my left foot using only my toes ( like a drunken hooker). If I can move with minimal discomfort this way am I hindering recovery?

2) I've read other MP forums stating it is hard to diagnose a break via x-ray until it is 4-5 weeks into the healing/calcification process. Could my heel be broken?

3.) Does anyone have other advice about what I should request/ ask at my ortho appointment.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts. Our season was off to a great start until this.

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974
Josh Brown wrote:The condensed version is I blew a piece of gear and fell about 20 feet landing on a slanted ledge. Both of my heels were injured but the left hit the hardest. I hobbled out on one foot and after numerous beers and a bag of ice donated from the bartender I slept great, awaking unable to bare any weight on my left foot. Medical Experience:\ - Day 2 : Went to ER next morning. Attending Doc took x-rays, said he didn't see a break and sent me home with a small script for Vicodin and crutches " till able.". - Day 11: Went to my regular doctor who ordered more x-rays saying he was concerned it was more than a bruise since I was unable to bare weight nearly two weeks later.Referred to orthopedic doc. - Day 15: Appt sceheduled for two weeks out (Aug 5th.) Concerns: 1.) I'm a father to a five year old and by necessity I am walking on my left foot using only my toes ( like a drunken hooker). If I can move with minimal discomfort this way am I hindering recovery? 2) I've read other MP forums stating it is hard to diagnose a break via x-ray until it is 4-5 weeks into the healing/calcification process. Could my heel be broken? 3.) Does anyone have other advice about what I should request/ ask at my ortho appointment. Thanks in advance for any thoughts. Our season was off to a great start until this.
Can you afford to get a CT scan?
Josh Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 20
Mark E Dixon wrote: Can you afford to get a CT scan?
I have great insurance, I'll encourage the ortho to request a CT scan. Thank you, any info about how to best use this appointment is helpful.
Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974
Josh Brown wrote: I have great insurance, I'll encourage the ortho to request a CT scan. Thank you, any info about how to best use this appointment is helpful.
See if you can get the CT before the Ortho appt so he/she can give you the best advice then. Otherwise there's a real risk the Orthopod will just say "get a CT and come back."
Harrison Harb · · Portland · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 145

rest. pedal a bicycle lightly for 20 min at a time, this will push the blood into the injured area and stimulate healing. This happened to me once. I couldn't walk for two weeks, then all of a sudden in two or three days it was better.

Will S · · Joshua Tree · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 1,061

Experience:

Jumped a small gap on a descent, in climbing shoes. Drop was about 3'. Landed on one heel. Hurt, but not too bad. Next day hurt more, but kept climbing. By day 3, I was in serious pain just walking in a regular shoe. Fractured calcaneous.

Sat around on the couch for two more weeks, then started walking on it a bit, was climbing again by 4 weeks. Mine was just a hairline fracture. Hurt like a mofo for about 3 weeks. Gave me slight pain for about a year. 8 years later, never notice, no lasting effects...except not jumping any more gaps in climbing shoes.

djh860 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 110

You could buy a padded heel cup to wear in you shoe

Scott E. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 20

I broke my calcaneous ("heel bone"). There was no doubt that it was broken...none. X-rays were vague and swelling was HUGE. But my point is that there was no question in any ones mind, especially mine, that it was fractured. Weight bearing on that foot was literally impossible. If yours is broken, consider yourself lucky if you are able to bear weight on it...meaning that it can't be that bad...hopefully.
Good luck.

Oh, and yes, get a CT scan. The calcaneous is hard to see in x-ray.

Josh Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 20

Thanks for all of the insight, I really appreciate it.

Called ortho about a CT scan and I can't get one until the he does his own x-rays and deems it medically necessary ( insurance won't authorize unless he requests it)

I have the gel heel cups in and I still can't bare weight on the heel at all.

I'm hoping it is just a bruised heel and will slowly start peddling on the bike. I've done far too much sitting (and drinking) so something to focus on will be good for me.
Josh

Will S · · Joshua Tree · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 1,061

I could bear weight, and also thought it was just a bad bruise or bone bruise.

But if I grasped my heel in a "pinch" from behind, grasping the sides, and applied pressure to the sides...YOWZA! Excruciating pain. Not too bad just bearing weight on the bottom, but squeezing it on the sides like that, which is one thing the doc did when checking me out, and I would be in tears.

amarius · · Nowhere, OK · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 20

Did you see this thread on "Broken Heel Bone"?

Josh Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 20
amarius wrote:Did you see this thread on "Broken Heel Bone"?
Yes I did, thanks. I actually bought the Dorco heel wedge because of that thread, although it is still too painful to walk with that.
The info here has been greatly appreciated. Hoping to try to bike for 20 minutes tonight.
Caccia Equipment · · cottonwood az · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 85

I would get the CT scan I just got a CT of mine done on 7-27. Found 7 breaks in there from my accident I had 7-23 the x-ray i had doNE the day of the accident only showed a few of the breaks. On 7-28 they went in and put k wires in 3 of my toes and a external fixatior on the metacarple of my big toe. I'm so lucked to have raised an awesome 8 year old daughter who is helping me tremendously when I need something and I'm still laid up from the injury. Here's a pic of my x-ray and the CT. the CT shows a a lot more detail and is much clearer except for the fact I took the picture of the screen with my phone.

Xray
Ct1
Ct2
Ct3

Josh Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 20
dave jr wrote:I would get the CT scan I just got a CT of mine done on 7-27. Found 7 breaks in there from my accident I had 7-23 the x-ray i had doNE the day of the accident only showed a few of the breaks. On 7-28 they went in and put k wires in 3 of my toes and a external fixatior on the metacarple of my big toe. I'm so lucked to have raised an awesome 8 year old daughter who is helping me tremendously when I need something and I'm still laid up from the injury. Here's a pic of my x-ray and the CT. the CT shows a a lot more detail and is much clearer except for the fact I took the picture of the screen with my phone.
Damn Dave, what did you do to shatter your foot like that? I'm stuck on the CT scan since it would be an out of pocket expense at this point and beyond my means. I'll probably print this thread out and take it to my ortho so I remember to ask all these great questions!
Caccia Equipment · · cottonwood az · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 85

I was out on the dirt bike looking for a camp spot out at the canyon we climb in and took a turn to fast. I ran off the road and impacted the side of a hill where the road was cut out of it and my foot found the one rock protruding from it and my foot got smashed between that and the foot peg at somewhere between 50 and 60 mph.
I hope your heel turns out to be minor and you can get back on the rock soon. I'm gonna be jealous cause im 6-12 months from climbing again.

Josh Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 20
dave jr wrote:I was out on the dirt bike looking for a camp spot out at the canyon we climb in and took a turn to fast. I ran off the road and impacted the side of a hill where the road was cut out of it and my foot found the one rock protruding from it and my foot got smashed between that and the foot peg at somewhere between 50 and 60 mph. I hope your heel turns out to be minor and you can get back on the rock soon. I'm gonna be jealous cause im 6-12 months from climbing again.
Ugh, that would do it. No wonder it was smashed up so bad
Josh Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 20

Just to be helpful for any other folks experiencing similar injuries in the future, the outcome of my orthopedic appointment (which actually turned out to be a podiatrist who specializes in surgery for foot trauma) was a diagnosis of at least two fractures in my calcaneus. He ordered a CT scan to make sure there were not other injuries involving the joint. In the meantime I'm in a non-weight bearing cast and on crutches for 4-6 weeks. He said if the CT shows it is just the two fractures I would be able to ice climb this winter without issue.

Caccia Equipment · · cottonwood az · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 85

Glad to hear your on track to be out on the ice this winter. Just be careful not to push yourself to early and aggravate your injury and have to start the healing process all over again.

Brandon Emery · · Custer, SD · Joined May 2014 · Points: 25

I just did the same thing but blew a nut and fell 30ft. By some miracle I didn't break my heel, or anything else for that matter. It is just bruised. I wasn't given any medications or anything for pain, which for the first 3 days was pretty miserable. I've been soaking it in Epsom salt and 4 days later its bearable to fully weight. Lucky for me I don't remember the fall as I was knocked out cold so I won't be scared to go back and give it another go! lol

Josh Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 20

The Saga Continues... experiences of your own appreciated.

So I finished a month in a non-weight bearing cast and crutches. The podiatrist cut the cast off and said it is healed enough to be done with the cast. I asked about PT but he said I didn't need it. I limped around for a week thinking it was just stiff. Called the podiatrist back and the nurse told me they had me marked down for an orthotic boot and thought I was wearing it. I'm now nearing the first week with the boot and still no change in pain/ mobility. I've requested a PT referral and am asking my records be sent to another orthopedic office in VT for a second opinion.

For those who have had non-surgical calcaneal fractures what was the length/scope of your recovery post cast? Did you walk really slow and with pain for a few weeks until it eventually lessened or did my doctor miss something since I'm still struggling even in the boot. Thanks to all for any insight. I'm doubting ice this winter since I'll need several months to get back into shape and can't imagine being able to climb since I can't even walk.

Brandon Emery · · Custer, SD · Joined May 2014 · Points: 25

I didn't even fracture mine, and every morning I still limp around once I get out of bed because it's so sore from the previous day. I think they just take a long time to heal

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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