Broken Bones, Broken Olympic Dreams
On an average day, it would be hard to imagine splitting your heel bone in half. Can you begin to think of the pain? Now, imagine experiencing this injury one day before your debut at the Olympic Games. Sadly, this happened to Katie Ormerod in 2018 while she was preparing for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. What caused this devastating injury? Ormerod, who is a British snowboarder, came off a rail too early while she was training. The injury immediately put her plans on hold for making a debut. Instead, she watched the games in a hospital. She would later undergo surgeries and months of rehabilitation. She returned to competition in March 2020. At this time, she would earn a World Cup snowboard title. The achievement made her the first Briton to hold this honor. What’s next? The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
At PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center, we know that most of our patients will never experience this uncommon injury. However, broken bones in the feet and ankles are more common than you think. A heel bone fracture is caused by a high-impact event. The heel takes the force of the entire body. A common example is a car accident injury or taking a fall.
What is a fracture?
The simple response is a break in the bone. The break can cause severe pain, or some people may dismiss it as something else. Regardless, a broken bone is a serious concern. Left untreated, the injury can cause future discomfort. From hairline fractures to compound fractures, a trained specialist will help you spot the difference. They use tools like X-rays and ultrasound technology.
What is the treatment?
In Ormerod’s case, her fracture was very severe and painful. She needed surgeries and months of rehabilitation. She shares that she had to learn how to walk again on the recovering foot. The treatment option depends on the type of fracture. For this reason, we always recommend that you contact a podiatrist before making any treatment decisions. If you are unable to get to a podiatrist quickly, refer to the R.I.C.E. method. Rest your foot, apply ice, add compression, and elevate your leg to help reduce swelling.
Our board-certified team of foot and ankle doctors at PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center has experience with addressing foot needs, including bunions and hammertoes, pediatric foot care, custom orthotics, heel pain, diabetic foot care, and more. The team includes Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, and Dr. Laura Vander Poel. We have two locations in Hartford County: 1379 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT, and 1350 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, CT. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.