Hurt foot/ knee brace :(

[SyrU_dancer]

Anyone ever bruise the ball of their foot?
-Just curious how long it takes to heal?
- Should I take time off or just take it easy?

Does anyone know of a good stabalizing knee brace you can wear dancing to prevent medial patella inflection (knee bending inward)?

Yes as a first responder I know that everything is subjective to the particular persons body, but a rough idea is helpful.

[LucyDiamond]

I've bruised the ball of my foot before and it has never taken more than a few days to heal. I guess it would depend on how bad the bruise it though. Mine have never been black and blue, I can just tell by the way my foot feels, no visual sign.

[waltzgirl]

I found dance sneakers let me keep dancing when I hurt the ball of my foot (more than a bruise, so took longer to heal). I don't like them otherwise, but the thick sole protected the injury and kept me dancing.

Sorry, don't know about knee braces.

[fluffy]

Does anyone know of a good stabalizing knee brace you can wear dancing to prevent medial patella inflection (knee bending inward)?
My first partner had a hinged knee brace with ****l support at the sides and velcro straps - sorry I can't remember the make but it was bright blue. I'm sure any decent range will carry a similar model. However, I'd advise trying to built up the supporting muscle, ask a good physio exercises you should be doing. Wearing a knee support does not allow the muscle to strengthen. When my knee is dodgy, I dance on it until it feels bad, and then I wear a knee support - I use a regular neoprene with a hole for the patella. That works for me, but I have a different problem!

[tangotime]

Medical advice , should ALWAYS, come from a Dr. You should not make comparisons with others, on matters of health .

[White Chacha]

Medical advice , should ALWAYS, come from a Dr. You should not make comparisons with others, on matters of health .

I can't agree with this enough. I cringe every time I see people offering advice here. Of course there are normal aches and pains from the strains of every day movements, lifting, whatever. But what we do as dancers isn't every day stuff. Especially where our feet are concerned.

If you love what your body can do, love your body and see a good doctor.

[samina]

Medical advice , should ALWAYS, come from a Dr. You should not make comparisons with others, on matters of health .

i think everyone has to rely on their own best judgment. IME, doctors have rarely been the all-knowing experts most wish them to be... more often than not, i've been better off sorting out my own business.

i think there is a lot of value in asking around, comparing one's experience with others'... and sorting out what is the best approach to take.
that's just been my experience, anyway...
:rolleyes:

wishing you a speedy recovery, SyrU...

[Joe]

Often, you know your body better than a doctor possibly can. That's not to say that they can't provide helpful advice.

[samina]

Often, you know your body better than a doctor possibly can. That's not to say that they can't provide helpful advice.

definitely. but they are generally last resorts in my world...

[Peaches]

Medical advice , should ALWAYS, come from a Dr. You should not make comparisons with others, on matters of health .

Generally speaking, and in an ideal world, very true.

However, it's been my experience that if you don't walk into a doctor's office with some idea of what's wrong and how to fix it, you are likely to get a brush-off. If you don't walk in with a boatload of research about what you feel is wrong, why, and how to fix it, they don't take you very seriously at all. Just IME.

For that reason, I often feel it's worthwhile to ask around and see what others' experiences have been. It's like brainstorming--perhaps someone will say something which rings a bell, induces more research, and leads to something worthwhile.

[samina]

i don't know when the last time was that i walked into a doctor's office and didn't already know what ailed me... and how to rectify it, if i hadn't already turned things around myself.

i think people generally underestimate their ability to find (and implement) their own solution, whether from within or thru other sources.

i agree with your brainstorming approach, peach... that also has worked very well for me. :)

[White Chacha]

I guess I'm just spoiled. I belong to a university HMO that has a steady stream of students, PhDs, faculty members, and staffers coming in, all of whom know how to do research. They also have a sports medicine clinic with a superbe physical therapist. They see lots of repetitive strain injuries. They mostly listen to their patients.

Maybe a doctor at a teaching hospital is the way to go.

[waltzguy]

I also think that seeing a doc is somewhat of a last resort.

[waltzgirl]

When I went to a doctor for a mild but persistent pain in the ball of my foot, his initial diagnosis was wrong, he put me in a shoe thing that was so bulky and heavy I had to use my toes to lift the front of it, which aggravated the problem that it actually was, and I ended up with a severe and persistent pain in the ball of my foot.

What cured it? Figuring out on my own how to tape the toe that was really injured, dance sneakers, ibuprofen, foot strengthening exercises, and patience.