Question:
16 year old soccer player undiagnosed bilateral pain in calf and arches when playing soccer
My son 16 and was an academy soccer player at a premiership club in England. Eighteen months ago he had twisted his ankle and was unable to play or train for five weeks. Upon returning to playing he initially had pain in both Achilles, and then he began to get bilateral pin in both arches and calf. The pain would begin after approximately fifteen minutes in the arch and the immediately move up to the calf. As he tried to carry on playing the arch and sole of the foot would go numb and eventually due to the pain he would have to stop playing. The pain and numbness would cease within minutes of stopping exercise. During the past eighteen months he has had extensive physiotherapy, he has been tested for – -Tarsal tunnel syndrome, Nerve conduction test, MRI of lower lumbar spine, MRI feet ankle and calf, checked for popliteal entrapment Vascular MRI, Ultrasound for blood flow, Compartment pressure test of the deep posterior compartment. All tests have proved negative; none of the specialists he has seen can offer any further guidance or advice. At 16 his athletic life has come to a stop he can no longer run or play any competitive sport. We have tried every known avenue to resolve this issue with no success. We would be eternally grateful to anyone who could offer any genuine advice. Thank You Mike
Asked by michael341 - 7 answers - 14 weeks 3 days ago
Hello
When I recently trained in a technique called myofascial release (MFR), myself and another physiotherapist agreed that whilst this was not evidence based and therefore difficult to apply in a clinical setting, we would both consider it as a last resort treatment of patients with unresolved problems such as this one. Someone with a chronic Achilles problem who had also tried many treatments, asked if I would try it on her and it had a remarkable effect. I am certain it was not a placebo as this was not a person who pulls their punches: if it had not worked I am confident they would have told me so. So whilst I don't know how it works its certainly worth considering. I'm not skilled enough to use the technique yet as I have only just learnt it but you could consider contacting http://www.myofascialrelease.co.uk/ where you can find qualified practioners. My degrees are all science based so MFR didn't sit comfortably with me as a practicing physiotherapist but I'm open minded enough to consider the possibility of its effectiveness. If it didn't work, MFR practitioners wouldn't be in business. Hope this information helps.
Submitted 14 weeks 9 hours ago by Jane JohnsonMany Thanks for taking the time to reply
I had not heard of (MFR) but had looked at ART.
My concern in trying alternative therapies is if they do not work, Alex my son will continue to have further disappointments, we have now tried to find a solution for almost two years without success.
I would not discount (MFR) but my ideal would be to find someone who has had similar symptoms to Alex and has found a successful treatment.
Thank You Again
Submitted 13 weeks 6 days ago by michael341Best Regards
Mike
If this problem is connected with psychological or mental processes, I can cure that part. Sometimes physiological injuries and set backs produce mental stress and mental bi-effects which are experienced most similar to the original physiological ones after the injury is healed. If this is the case or part of the case, the mental challenges have to be cured before he will experience less physiological stress or pain, or fully take advantage of the physiological actions. If not cured, the mental situation may produce the same tension as before, when starting to train or play.
Therefore. Check out the mental state. If worried, pessimistic, depressed, afraid, tense etc (which often follow injuries and set backs,) take contact with a local mental trainee spesialized on perforance anxiety. And when starting training, do it in a good and relaxed mood (often difficult, but important), and do not push the mental to hard. If your own experts do not help, and it is psychologically connected, take contact. May be something might be worked out.
Best regards
Submitted 13 weeks 20 hours ago by phdaPhDa
Hi Jane
I think maybe my son has the same problem! He is a tennis player and suffers with chronic Achilles. He has it so bad that he can hardly walk on his feet. The pain is basically on the heal of the foot and has something to do with growing pains as well as the impact of the heel when training. I am also lookin for an answer as my son loves his tennis so much and we are now forced to stop. Maybe the shoe he wears has also something to do with it.
Henk
Submitted 13 weeks 20 hours ago by henk-sportMike, Take another look at MFR. It can have amazing results and is not just 'another alternative medicine'. After any injury, fascia is greatly effected and needs to be considered. There is plenty of evidence out there - look at the research being done by Robert Schleip in Germany, read Tom Myers. If you can find a good massage therapist in your area with MFR expertise I'm sure your son will find it helful.
Submitted 13 weeks 19 hours ago by Lesley DonHi,
Submitted 11 weeks 6 days ago by farrelly14Could I start by thanking everyone who has taken the time and trouble to reply.
For general information my son is now awaiting an appointment for a test for chronic compartment syndrome of the feet. Hopefully this will be confirmed as the problem and an operation should resolve the pain he suffers from when exercising.
In reply to PhDa, I had up to now discounted physiological problems, prior to this problem my son was a happy and confident young man. Since the problem and after so many setbacks he has become more circumspect and introverted. My belief was that the pain was a genuine physical manifestation of a physiological problem. I will now reconsider this if his next test fails.
In reply to Henk, having looked at all probable causes of my sons problems, I do not believe they suffer from the same condition.
I would suggest dependent upon age that it could be Severs disease this could be the reason for heel pain and does affect the Achilles. Which can be fairly common in young athletes, it is not serious and can be resolved by rest, and possibly orthotics and physiotherapy.
In reply to Lesley Don
Submitted 11 weeks 4 days ago by michael341I do appreciate your second comments; if the compartment test proves negative I will arrange an appointment for my son to see a MFR practitioner. I did not intend to disparage MFR but having little knowledge of it I was unsure of the benefits. You have however convinced me that it is worth trying.