IMO, Moss May Have His Career Shortened By Nagging Injury

[Stout]

I just read where Randy Moss' injury is Plantar Fascitis, and that it hasn't gotten any better with rest (and I assume the normal stretches, etc-that's what they always assign). This does not bode well for Randy. Some people with plantar fascitis react well to rest/stretching. Others don't, and try orthotics. For some, orthotics work, for others...well, I've had plantar fascitis for over 2 years, and it's not going away...it's getting worse, in fact. Now, Randy is getting orthotics and is going to try and go on it, but this makes me wonder. If it's not going away, what's going to happen to his career? Heck, I can't even run or play raquetball anymore!

This was on KFFL, btw, if anyone was wondering.

 

[azdad1978]

Vikings | Moss Wearing Orthotic Inserts - from www.KFFL.com
Wed, 5 May 2004 13:58:12 -0700

Kevin Seifert, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings WR Randy Moss (foot) is wearing orthotic inserts in his shoes to help soothe the pain from plantar fasciitis in his foot. Moss is wearing the orthotics in hopes of getting more involved in team drills with this weekend's minicamp approaching. "Randy doesn't feel any better than he did two months ago," Vikings head coach Mike Tice said. "So his point to me is, 'Why keep resting it? It's not getting any better.' These orthotics are going to be what helps. They seem to be taking a lot of the edge off."

 

[abomb]

Anyone want to post a quick explaination of this condition?

A-Bomb

 

[Ryanwb]

This is a common injury in basketball

 

[cardsunsfan]

Penny had it for a little while...but then again he had a lot of injuries for a little while and some for a long while....

 

[SMAC]

I believe this condition is commonly referred to as heel spurs. It's very painful usually worse in the morning and has no known cure.

 

[Stout]

I believe this condition is commonly referred to as heel spurs. It's very painful usually worse in the morning and has no known cure.

I'll try and find a full writeup in a few moments. Not necessarily heel spurs, as I've asked before and they've told me it is not a heel spur, but plantar fascitis. YES, it is worse in the morning---far worse. For some, stretching before they get out of bed helps. Cures? Orthotics, stretching and strengthening exercises, and rest help some people, and may cure it. I don't know, as I've not been cured, that's for DAMN sure.

 

[Brevity]

This is a condition where the tendon connecting the heel and the ball of your foot tightens and begins to tear away from your heel bone. You can feel this tendon by placing your finger on the arch of your foot while flexing your toes upward.

SMAC is right, it is very painful in the morning. Overnight the tendon becomes tight and the first few steps are stretching it out and tearing it away from your heel.

However, a spur is different. A spur is a bone fragment that grows from the arch side of your heel. It usually grows downward toward the planar tendon. Surgery can correct a bone spur.

Planar fascitis is correctable by a couple different ways. The first option is to use ultrasonic waves to try and loosen the tendon. At the same time you will be fitted with orthotics.

If this fails, surgery is an option. The surgeon will completely severe the tendon from your heel and allow it to grow back by itself. When it grows back it will be longer and more flexible. This procedure is known as the Steinleder (sp) Release. At this point orthotics are still necessary.

So, a lot depends on how severe his condition is and how much pain he can tolerate.

BTW, I slept at Holiday Inn last night!

 

[Stout]

THE INJURY
The plantar fascia is a fibrous sheath that runs most of the length of the sole of the foot. It attaches between the heel bone and the bones at the base of the toes, covering the small muscles in the sole of the foot. During walking and running, as you 'toe-off', the plantar fascia becomes taut and helps the foot act as a lever to push off with force.

Plantar fascitis refers to inflammation of the plantar fascia, usually at the point where it attaches to the bone. This condition usually occurs in older individuals, where the movement in the joints of the foot has become restricted. It may also occur in individuals who do a lot of standing, walking or sporting activities, usually as a result of overuse.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Pain is common over the inside of the heel and usually radiates down the inside of the sole of the foot. The pain usually occurs with activity and is also typically present in the morning when taking the first steps of the day.

Plantar fascitis can be diagnosed by a doctor or physiotherapist, if pain is present on touching the affected area, and/or on stretching the plantar fascia (by pulling the toes up). Occasionally it may be necessary to get an x-ray to rule out other conditions such as a bony spur on the heel bone or a fracture of the heel bone.

TREATMENT
Plantar fascitis is inflammatory in nature and the key to successful treatment is to determine what is causing the inflammation and address this problem. In most sporting individuals the cause is overuse and the remedy is simply to allow adequate rest, which will allow the affected tissues time to heal. In other cases there may be a problem with the biomechanics of the foot, contributing to the problem. If this is the case (which is likely if rest alone does not rectify the problem), it is wise to seek the advice of a podiatrist.

The podiatrist will assess the mechanics of the joints of the foot (there are over thirty of them) to see if they are functioning correctly. It may be that these joints are stiff and can be treated by mobilisations, where the physiotherapist gently moves the joints manually to remove the stiffness and restore the normal range of movement. Conversely, there may be too much movement in the joints of the foot and the podiatrist may insert an orthotic (shoe insert) to correct the problem.

While the plantar fascia is still painful it may be treated with ice packs (never apply ice directly to the skin) and anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by a doctor. Once the pain has subsided it is thought that stretching the plantar fascia (by pulling the toes towards the shin) is effective in encouraging the tissue to regain its strength.

 

[Ryanwb]

Stout I didn't know you were a doctor and had examined Moss' foot

 

[Stout]

Stout I didn't know you were a doctor and had examined Moss' foot

I'm a witch doctor with bad plantar fascitis who has decided to plague a high-profile athlete with the same symptoms I have, and emulate any top new techniques they try that work...and the fools are trying orthotics. Silly doctors...those haven't worked for me

 

[Brevity]

...and the fools are trying orthotics. Silly doctors...those haven't worked for me

What finally worked for me was surgery.

 

[CardinalChris]

Hurts like no other, and especially when pushing off of the foot or walking up an incline. It is managable though.

 

[vikesfan]

What finally worked for me was surgery.

1. How long is the recovery from surgery?
Sounds like a long time. Too late to do it now.

2. Does sugery always work?

3. Maybe they should have traded him when they had the chance.

4. Vikes curse lives on.

5.

 

[AzCards21]

Dr. Steadman has a new procedure for fixing this.

 

[Stout]

What finally worked for me was surgery.

Really??? Was it a release of the plantar fascia, which I have heard suggested before? From all I read, the surgery they have today is very iffy and has some bad potential long-term effects.

 

[Stout]

Dr. Steadman has a new procedure for fixing this.

Does he really? I'd be interested to hear about it. He gets a bad rap for ending some football careers, but the work he's done has been phenomenal for other athletes, and he's a credit to the profession.

 

[azdad1978]

Dr. Steadman has a new procedure for fixing this.

 

[az jam]

There has been lots of crap in the media about Moss but the bottom line is has never missed a game in his pro career of six seasons. He has and will play in pain. He will be in the starting lineup for the Vikings when the season opens. He is not a David Boston!!

 

[Stout]

There has been lots of crap in the media about Moss but the bottom line is has never missed a game in his pro career of six seasons. He has and will play in pain. He will be in the starting lineup for the Vikings when the season opens. He is not a David Boston!!

I'm not saying he won't be playing. I'm saying this is a condition that may become worse, and if it does, it WILL be career-threatening. Playing with pain is one thing, and I was known for the same when I played organized sports---I played to the point where I even made injuries worse.

I have the same injury Moss had, though mine is obviously worse at this stage. I once said screw it, I'm going to run and get in shape---the injury's not getting any better with rest. Big mistake. I could barely walk for weeks afterward.

I'm not saying Moss is even near such a point, just that there's a concern with this. It may not go away. He may also be able to keep it at bay and have a full, productive career. Who's to say, at this point?

 

[joeshmo]

What finally worked for me was surgery.

My mother had the surgery. She was off of here feet for 2 weeks, then in a walking boot for 6 weeks. She could have taken it off in 4 but doctors orders. Didnt completly fix the problem but it did help a lot and made 75% of the pain go away.

 

[ajcardfan]

Plantar fascitis is a tough injury for an athlete. It WILL get better with extensive rest, but that is tough for an athlete to do. When Penny took most of that season off here, fans, and even people around the team, questioned if the injury was real. The tough part is, an MRI can only show so much. When that was going on, I heard an orthopedic surgeon interviewed and he said that the bottom line was what the patient says about the pain is the most important part of the diagnosis. So, in a sense, you are stuck taking the athlete's word for it, you can't prove it's healed.

 

[40yearfan]

I'm a witch doctor with bad plantar fascitis who has decided to plague a high-profile athlete with the same symptoms I have, and emulate any top new techniques they try that work...and the fools are trying orthotics. Silly doctors...those haven't worked for me

Stout, do you have a hot tub? I opted for one of those instead of a pool and use it almost every night. I had plantar fascitis in my left heel a few months ago and it kept getting worse. I started holding it up in the hot tub and letting one of the jets blow against the most painfull area. I did this every night and within a month the pain disappeared and I haven't been bothered since.

 

[Stout]

Stout, do you have a hot tub? I opted for one of those instead of a pool and use it almost every night. I had plantar fascitis in my left heel a few months ago and it kept getting worse. I started holding it up in the hot tub and letting one of the jets blow against the most painfull area. I did this every night and within a month the pain disappeared and I haven't been bothered since.

I wish I did...I have an apartment with a shower stall---not even a bathtub!

 

[AzCards21]

Does he really? I'd be interested to hear about it. He gets a bad rap for ending some football careers, but the work he's done has been phenomenal for other athletes, and he's a credit to the profession.

No he doesn't as far as I know. I was just throwing some levity out there. My reference was only to the Cards players that never recovered. Bad joke, my appologies.