Sore heels/Achilles after elk hunt

[satchamo]

Last fall I went on my first elk hunting trip to Colorado. We did a week long venture. On day two, I did probably around 6-8 miles and we were in some very rugged country which varied from about 11,000-13,000 feet. Towards the end of the day both of my heels felt like they were extremely bruised and were really starting to bug me. I got back to camp, took my shoes off but I could not replicate the pain. No bruises on me heels nor were they sensitive to touch or pushing. So the next morning rolls around, still no bruising or pain until i strap my boots on. BAM, I go to walk and the pain was nearly unbearable around my heels SPECIFICALLY when I would bend my ankles/walk on any sort of grade. If I was able to not flex my ankle much the pain wasnt as bad. This got me thinking that maybe it was something in my achilles, the was just so specific to the very top of the heel that I just assumed it was a deeply bruised heel. I should also note that I never saw any swelling. I hunted like this all week with no relief

A bit of a background... I wore Lowa Rangers with a high arched insole by pinnacle with first lite compression socks. When the pain first started I was probably only carrying around 25 lbs on my back.

Once I got back home the pain persisted for a few months in certain shoes when I would go to flex my ankle or walked on a hill. I think it has finally gone away for good as I havent noticed it at all lately....

SO at this point I am preparing for the upcoming season and would rather prevent this from happening again so I was hoping to tap your guys experience to see anyone has dealt with anything like this and would be able to point me in the right direction as to what it is or what could have caused it? I don't know if it was a tear? Lack of preparation for walking up/down hills all day, bad boots, or what?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[sr80]

I experienced this after coming home from a 10 day sheep hunt last august. Didnt seem to bother me during the trip, just when I got home. And just for that specific boot. I tried everything, different insoles, socks, lacing techniques. My pain was on the back of the heel at about the bottom of the achilles where that pointy bone is. Finally I had enough and bought a new pair of boots, stiff boots. Ive had them for a few months and have put on quite a few miles and the pain is gone.

 

[IdyllwildArcher]

Did it hurt on the bottom of your heel or the back of your heel. If it was the back, which is what it sounds like you're describing, then you're describing Retrocalcaneal bursitis, or Achilles bursitis.

You can buy these sock like inserts that have a donut shaped pad around the bursa and they will help, but you need to wear them in prevention. When the pain flares, takes Motrin or Aleve and ice the hell out of the spot that hurts. The key is not flaring though. You need to do more hill-type training in the boots you're going to be using. Also, you need to stretch your Achilles tendons every day year round. If you really want to get a good opinion, take your boots with you to an appt with a Podiatrist. If you don't have insurance, be prepared to drop a couple hundred bucks on the appt and another hundred on feet xrays. He's probably going to recommend custom inserts that cost 500 bucks each so if you're not prepared to drop that money, don't go and take my free advice.

When the pain flares, you can have the bursa injected with cortisone which will temporarily cure your problem, but it's not without risk as the cortisone can be accidently injected into the tendon which increases the risk of tendon rupture. I've done the injection on a handful of people and it's cured their problem completely and right away, but that doesn't help you if you're at 10k feet.

It's possible that it's your boots that are putting too much pressure on the back of your heels, but it's quite possible that your condition will return with any pair of boots. The first thing I'd do if I were you would be to buy the donut ankle sock things and go replicate a day of elk hunting at your local hill/mt.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

That fact that you experience this with different footwear would suggest you need to see a podiatrist. Could be anything from diabetes to a nerve issue to a bone spur. I'd want an x-ray and perhaps even an MRI before I hit the mountains again.

 

[satchamo]

Did it hurt on the bottom of your heel or the back of your heel. If it was the back, which is what it sounds like you're describing, then you're describing Retrocalcaneal bursitis, or Achilles bursitis.

You can buy these sock like inserts that have a donut shaped pad around the bursa and they will help, but you need to wear them in prevention. When the pain flares, takes Motrin or Aleve and ice the hell out of the spot that hurts. The key is not flaring though. You need to do more hill-type training in the boots you're going to be using. Also, you need to stretch your Achilles tendons every day year round. If you really want to get a good opinion, take your boots with you to an appt with a Podiatrist. If you don't have insurance, be prepared to drop a couple hundred bucks on the appt and another hundred on feet xrays. He's probably going to recommend custom inserts that cost 500 bucks each so if you're not prepared to drop that money, don't go and take my free advice.

When the pain flares, you can have the bursa injected with cortisone which will temporarily cure your problem, but it's not without risk as the cortisone can be accidently injected into the tendon which increases the risk of tendon rupture. I've done the injection on a handful of people and it's cured their problem completely and right away, but that doesn't help you if you're at 10k feet.

It's possible that it's your boots that are putting too much pressure on the back of your heels, but it's quite possible that your condition will return with any pair of boots. The first thing I'd do if I were you would be to buy the donut ankle sock things and go replicate a day of elk hunting at your local hill/mt.

It's actually at the back/top of my heal where the bone sticks out much like sr80 said.

View attachment 22360

I should also note that I am only 27 and fairly healthy so I can definitely so i hope it's not diabetes! What makes me think its just the boots is the fact that it was in not just one, but both heals.... Wouldn't that be a bit... ironic to get bursitis in both achilles?

As far as stretching goes, are you talking just grabbing your toes and pulling them towards you or???

I am definitely going to give the socks a shot

Worst case scenario I will make a trip to Lathrop and Sons to get fitted as they are very close to where I live. I just don't want to drop the coin on new boots unless it is a must....

 

[LJ Buck]

I have had this issue and the only thing that helped was to strengthen my leg specifically my calf!!! Trust me this will fix the problem, your putting to much tension on the tendons and with getting stronger you will gain more stability in the area. Save yourself the money on all the differnt socks and different boots and get strong.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Go to L&S, they are podiatrists!

 

[IdyllwildArcher]

It's actually at the back/top of my heal where the bone sticks out much like sr80 said.

Then it's almost assuredly Retrocalcaneal bursitis. Look it up. The internet is not helpful when you need a diagnosis, but when you have one, there's good information out there. The way you describe it rules out things like diabetes. And heel spurs are a symptom of something going wrong, not the origin of it and hurt in the bottom of the heel, not the top. MRIs are not necessary to make the diagnosis. Like all the different bursitis diagnoses in the body, it's made by pressing over the bursa and is made empirically.

The origin of the problem is the Achilles tendon smashing the bursa. The more your toes rise, the more tension on the Achilles. Some shoes/boots put pressure over the bursa which makes it worse, but going uphill is a common complaint as the toes have to rise and the calf muscles flex to propel you uphill, causing more pressure over the bursa.

People who develop this problem usually have an issue with ankle dorsiflexion and/or don't do a lot of lifting of the toes as is done when walking uphill. Try this: From a standing and seated position, bend your ankle up keeping your toes straight. Compare how much it goes up with several other people. If it's less, than just stretching out your calf/Achilles, over time, can help a lot.

Odds are good that just daily stretching and the donut sock thing will take care of your problem. There's a possibility though, that custom inserts, new/different boots, formal Physical Therapy, and/or a cortisone injection will be needed. There's no way to know for sure. Three months of daily stretching and the sock should give you an idea when you hit the local hill/mt and do 8 miles to test it. At that point, if it's still bothering you, don't waste anymore time getting in with the Podiatrist. New boots are only going to hurt your pocket and possibly not your feet.

 

[zman]

Last fall I went on my first elk hunting trip to Colorado. We did a week long venture. On day two, I did probably around 6-8 miles and we were in some very rugged country which varied from about 11,000-13,000 feet. Towards the end of the day both of my heels felt like they were extremely bruised and were really starting to bug me. I got back to camp, took my shoes off but I could not replicate the pain. No bruises on me heels nor were they sensitive to touch or pushing. So the next morning rolls around, still no bruising or pain until i strap my boots on. BAM, I go to walk and the pain was nearly unbearable around my heels SPECIFICALLY when I would bend my ankles/walk on any sort of grade. If I was able to not flex my ankle much the pain wasnt as bad. This got me thinking that maybe it was something in my achilles, the was just so specific to the very top of the heel that I just assumed it was a deeply bruised heel. I should also note that I never saw any swelling. I hunted like this all week with no relief

A bit of a background... I wore Lowa Rangers with a high arched insole by pinnacle with first lite compression socks. When the pain first started I was probably only carrying around 25 lbs on my back.

Once I got back home the pain persisted for a few months in certain shoes when I would go to flex my ankle or walked on a hill. I think it has finally gone away for good as I havent noticed it at all lately....

SO at this point I am preparing for the upcoming season and would rather prevent this from happening again so I was hoping to tap your guys experience to see anyone has dealt with anything like this and would be able to point me in the right direction as to what it is or what could have caused it? I don't know if it was a tear? Lack of preparation for walking up/down hills all day, bad boots, or what?

Any help is appreciated!

Here is my two cents... Most of us wear footwear that has a heel. This keeps your heel up, toes down and the Achilles in a shortened position. Then we go in the mountains and walk uphill with a heavy pack. This stretches the Achilles big time and it is not used to it. You can spend all the money you want on podiatrists and product but try lengthening your Achilles first. Will take a few weeks. Start out by going barefoot around the house. See if you can pick up a pair of zero-drop shoes. Merrill is big on them now as are a bunch of other companies. This will gradually lengthen the tendon. Emphasis on the word gradually. Stretch as well.

I did a backcountry elk hunt a few months ago in a pair of lightweight Merrill boots with zero heel and felt great the whole time. Give it a shot before you spend money on a podiatrist who will undoubtedly try to sell you a $300 pair of insoles. Most people's feet aren't broke... its the shoes we wear 24/7.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Subscribed for the education.

 

[Montana Wild]

I second bursitis. I had this problem with my ski boots. Once it is flared up it often takes a while to go away. I had pain even in my tennis shoes untied when mine flared up bad. My problem was a bad fit in my boot putting too much pressure on the bursa in my heel when skiing and leaning forward. Letting the inflammation recede and getting into a better pair of boots should solve your issue.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Kinda sounds like Plantar Fasciitis.
Much like tennis elbow only in the heel. Very painful.
Caused by over stressing the achillies. Only cure is time and a heel support.
We've discussed this before.
Hunt'nFish

 

[IdyllwildArcher]

It's absolutely not Plantar Fasciitis. PF is on the bottom of the foot.

 

[couesbitten]

Agree with IdyllwildArcher, I've been fighting PF the last year, and it never once caused any discomfort on the back of my heel, always the underside of the foot at the back of the arch.

 

[Jason Snyder]

It's absolutely not Plantar Fasciitis. PF is on the bottom of the foot.

Yep. Also, PF is not shoe specific. You would know every single morning if you had PF.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Yep. Also, PF is not shoe specific. You would know every single morning if you had PF.

That I'll agree with.
But for me the pain was located at the rear of the heal and it was diagnosed as PF.
Good luck. Probably best to see a podiatrist.
Hunt'nFish

 

[Jason Snyder]

That I'll agree with.
But for me the pain was located at the rear of the heal and it was diagnosed as PF.
Good luck. Probably best to see a podiatrist.
Hunt'nFish

My PF pain was at the bottom back of my heel. I thought it was a bad stone bruise at first. It was there every morning and every time I sat down for an extended period of time, regardless if I was barefoot, in running shoes, hiking boots, or flip flops.

 

[mtswampfox]

had heal spurs once. thought surgery was the cure for this painful ailment but the doc just told me to do some stretching excersises and wrote me a scrip for new balance running shoes. it cleared up in couple weeks. told me it was the calf muscles tightening to the point of the ligaments on the heal of my foot pulling off bone from the heal. body is an amazing machine......

 

[satchamo]

Thanks for all your help guys! Im going to be doing some stretching as well as overall strengthening

 

[IanF.]

Why on earth wouldn't you just go see a doctor? You prep all year for a 10 day hunt that can be brought to a screeching halt with a foot problem.....Dr, dr, dr, dr,