[at-l] Heel Spurs/plantar fascitis

[orangebug74 at yahoo.com (Orange Bug)]

Jan writes:" And yet another question - I know in
horses a vet can take a portable ultrasound to a
tendon and find a tear, etc. They can review it again
in a month, and assess healing progress.
Do they do that for lame people? Who should I see
(what type of diagnostician) for a diagnosis?
A physical therapist sounds good, shouldn't I get
things diagnosed first? Who can "envision" the problem
internally? Do they do x-rays, or what?
I've been calling it plantar fascitis, but it's just a
guess."

I'd get a diagnosis from a good podiatrist or sports
medicine specialist, followed with a prescription for
PT to regain your level of function. A good physical
exam coupled with information about how you were
injured and where you hurt is much easier to do with
you than with your horse. 

You also have Latin on your side. Plantar Fascitis
means inflammation of the connective tissue on bottom
of your foot. Since your foot is a great deal smaller
and less specialized from a horse, you aren't having
to worry a great deal about the specific location and
type of inflammation - just how to reduce and heal the
problem.

Good luck with the stretching, just be careful to
avoid pushing into more pain. You have completed a
huge physical task over the past couple of years. Your
body will demand the opportunity to recover and adapt.
This is just one more step along your reentry.

Bill....