Right Heel And Left Thigh Problems From Erging

[[old] bill keating]

For the past three months I have been dealing with pain in the upper muscles of my left thigh just where they connect to my hip. It occurs after three or four thousand meters and expresses as moderate discomfort which usually then has me adjusting my sitting position or some other aspect of my stroke. Lately I have also become aware that the muscles where my left cheek hits the seat usually are uncomfortabe at the same time these upper thigh muscles begin to deliver their message. Usually I just stop and walk around. It hurts as I get up and take the first few steps and then it disappears until I return to erging and reach three or four thousand meters.<br /><br /><br />My right heel never bothers me when I row. <b>My memory says it began about the </b>same time my upper thigh problem began. It just causes significant problems after I sit for a long period or when I first get out of bed. I am always, however, walking with a slight limp caused by my not planting my right heel when I walk. Instead I favor it and land on the ball of my foot.<br /><br />I should also mention that I was rowing shoeless and strapless for the best part of a year when this all developed. I have returned to wearing shoes and I usually put the straps on when my left thigh problems begin to speak to me.<br /><br />Remedies tried: no rowing for four days, taking ibuprofen during this period and letting my foot sit on a heating pad for at least an hour a day. This latter remedy gave the most improvement. But, just returned to rowing today and my heel is worse than ever.<br /><br />Finally had the insight today that indeed both problems were probably related--duh! Indeed the left thigh at my hip is one exteme of my extension and my right heel is the other extreme on the opposite side. This connected with the pain on the left side of my butt had me wondering if somehow I have unconsciously been overweighting on my left side. So, today I consciously weighted on my right side, actually even tilted my head to the right for added emphasis. It enabled me to get to 5,000 meters without pain in my left thigh and my seat was pain free. <br /><br />Since my heel never hurts rowing, I thought I had resolved the problem. I may have resolved the thigh problem but my heel is back to being as bad as ever.<br /><br />I have not given much thought to pt because I still believe both problems can be solved by adjusting my stroke.<br /><br />I would be grateful for any and all suggestions<br /><br />Bill Keating<br />xiexieusa@aol.com

[[old] Mark Keating]

Hi Bill;<br />I don't have any specific remedies but I have had very good results, at least initially, with <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... s&n=507846' target='_blank'>The Trigger Point Therapy Handbook</a> with my most recent bout of back spasms.<br /><br />Very interesting book, it is worth a try in my opinion.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Mark

[[old] Yoda1]

Bill,<br /><br />It sure sounds like a limb length descripance (spelling). It sounds like you are making body position adjustments depending on what you are doing. This isn't unusal. We all have one limb longer than the other. You might have it checked by your doctor. Best of luck.<br /><br />Yoda

[[old] deppe4]

<!--QuoteBegin-bill keating+Sep 27 2005, 03:02 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(bill keating @ Sep 27 2005, 03:02 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->For the past three months I have been dealing with pain in the upper muscles of my left thigh just where they connect to my hip.  It occurs after three or four thousand meters and expresses as moderate discomfort which usually then has me adjusting my sitting position or some other aspect of my stroke.  Lately I have also become aware that the muscles where my left cheek hits the seat usually are uncomfortabe at the same time these upper thigh muscles begin to deliver their message.  Usually I just stop and walk around.  It hurts as I get up and take the first few steps and then it disappears until I return to erging and reach three or four thousand meters.<br /><br /><br />My right heel never bothers me when I row.  <b>My memory says it began about the </b>same time my upper thigh problem began. It just causes significant problems after I sit for a long period or when I first get out of bed.  I am always,  however,  walking with a slight limp caused by my not planting my right heel when I walk.  Instead I favor it and land on the ball of my foot.<br /><br />I should also mention that I was rowing shoeless and strapless for the best part of a year when this all developed.  I have returned to wearing shoes and I usually put the straps on when my left thigh problems begin to speak to me.<br /><br />Remedies tried: no rowing for four days, taking ibuprofen during this period and letting my foot sit on a heating pad for at least an hour a day.  This latter remedy gave the most improvement.  But,  just returned to rowing today and my heel is worse than ever.<br /><br />Finally had the insight today that indeed both problems were probably related--duh!  Indeed the left thigh at my hip is one exteme of my extension and my right heel is the other extreme on the opposite side.  This connected  with the pain on the left side of my butt had me wondering if somehow I have unconsciously been overweighting on my left side.  So,  today I consciously weighted on my right side, actually even tilted my head to the right for added emphasis. It enabled me to get to 5,000 meters without pain in my left thigh and my seat was pain free.  <br /><br />Since my heel never hurts rowing,  I thought I had resolved the problem.  I may have resolved the thigh problem but my heel is back to being as bad as ever.<br /><br />I have not given much thought to pt because I still believe both problems can be solved by adjusting my stroke.<br /><br />I would be grateful for any and all suggestions<br /><br />Bill Keating<br />xiexieusa@aol.com <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi Bill,<br /><br />I'm no expert, but your comment about "I am always, however, walking with a slight limp caused by my not planting my right heel when I walk" made me think of plantar fascia. There's a discussion on the C2 forum - I tried to find the conversation where someone provided a link to exercises that may help those with plantar fascia. I've got the links just not the disccusion.<br /><br /><a href='http://www.plantar-fasciitis-treatments ... rcises.php' target='_blank'>http://www.plantar-fasciitis-treatments ... php</a><br /><a href='http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/ar ... ciitis.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/ar ... htm</a><br /><br />I have plantar fascia and walking barefoot, especially in the morning, is painful in my heels. So, I do exercises and wear very comfortable shoes and that helps for the most part.<br /><br />You could also have hurt your achilles heel, stretching helps and there's lots of info on the web.<br /><br />-deppe4

[[old] dmhayden]

The muscle pain in your upper thigh may be back related. Having injured my back about 3 weeks ago, by Chiropractor said that one set of muscles reach from the lower back around the front and connect ot the leg (or maybe pelvis). These were very sore for me, and he said it was from the muscles trying to immobilize my lower back.<br /><br />For what it's worth....<br />

[[old] Nancii]

<!--QuoteBegin-bill keating+Sep 27 2005, 03:02 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(bill keating @ Sep 27 2005, 03:02 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->For the past three months I have been dealing with pain in the upper muscles of my left thigh just where they connect to my hip.  It occurs after three or four thousand meters and expresses as moderate discomfort which usually then has me adjusting my sitting position or some other aspect of my stroke.  Lately I have also become aware that the muscles where my left cheek hits the seat usually are uncomfortabe at the same time these upper thigh muscles begin to deliver their message.  Usually I just stop and walk around.  It hurts as I get up and take the first few steps and then it disappears until I return to erging and reach three or four thousand meters.<br /><br /><br />My right heel never bothers me when I row.  <b>My memory says it began about the </b>same time my upper thigh problem began. It just causes significant problems after I sit for a long period or when I first get out of bed.  I am always,  however,  walking with a slight limp caused by my not planting my right heel when I walk.  Instead I favor it and land on the ball of my foot.<br /><br />I should also mention that I was rowing shoeless and strapless for the best part of a year when this all developed.  I have returned to wearing shoes and I usually put the straps on when my left thigh problems begin to speak to me.<br /><br />Remedies tried: no rowing for four days, taking ibuprofen during this period and letting my foot sit on a heating pad for at least an hour a day.  This latter remedy gave the most improvement.  But,  just returned to rowing today and my heel is worse than ever.<br /><br />Finally had the insight today that indeed both problems were probably related--duh!  Indeed the left thigh at my hip is one exteme of my extension and my right heel is the other extreme on the opposite side.  This connected  with the pain on the left side of my butt had me wondering if somehow I have unconsciously been overweighting on my left side.  So,  today I consciously weighted on my right side, actually even tilted my head to the right for added emphasis. It enabled me to get to 5,000 meters without pain in my left thigh and my seat was pain free.  <br /><br />Since my heel never hurts rowing,  I thought I had resolved the problem.  I may have resolved the thigh problem but my heel is back to being as bad as ever.<br /><br />I have not given much thought to pt because I still believe both problems can be solved by adjusting my stroke.<br /><br />I would be grateful for any and all suggestions<br /><br />Bill Keating<br />xiexieusa@aol.com <br /> </td></tr></table><br />

[[old] Nancii]

Had the same problem with my right thigh and left heel. Turns out my right leg is a lot longer than the left... physiotherapist gave me a prescription for an orthotic and the relief from the pain was immediate ! Interestingly enough the orthotic only corrected half of the difference, a year later and I wear the orthotic all the time, except when I wear high heels !!!! (probably not an issue for you )<br />

[[old] Yoda1]

Ahhhh, that Yoda is sure one smart dude.