Malleolar pain one foot

[Triinkii]

Hi everyone! Long time lurker driven to my first post through pain.

I got my Jackson Freestyles about half a year ago (first pair of non-rental skates ever!), they were heat moulded and fit like a glove for my casual coffee club lessons - until I skated with my more experienced friend who told me I wasn't tying them tight enough. Once I tied them tighter, I started noticing my right foot's inner ankle (malleolar) is pretty DEAD PAINFUL! It feels like a bruise is forming, just on the bone

Should I be padding it out? Resting it until it doesn't hurt?
I feel like I should let it heal somewhat but I can never wait that long to get back onto the ice again - during which time even stroking is painful

Any advice would be appreciated! One suggestion has been to cut a sponge into an annulus shape surrounding the area (a circle of foam with a circle cut out of it for the ankle to rest in) - I've looked at malleolar gel pads and they seem to have the same idea. Is the idea to spread the force on the pressured area to surrounding areas? I can't quite imagine how it should be helpful.

Thanks everyone!

[lutefisk]

Years ago I had this same problem with Jackson freestyles.  I used bunga pads with the gel disks that covered the ankle bones.  It seemed easier to keep the gel pads in place if they were part of a sleeve.  My current Jackson freestyles didn't give me that problem.  Don't know if the manufacturer changed the boot last slightly or not.  Kinda doubt it. 

One thing to think about is how tightly you need to tie your skates as you go up the hooks.  In my experience I need to tie the laces fairly tightly over the instep of my feet but after making a surgeon's knot at the top of the instep, I tie the laces snugly when getting to the hooks but not as tightly as over the instep.  You need support--but you also need to be able to bend your ankles.  It's a fine line but if you experiment you'll find what works for you support-wise without giving you soreness over those ankle bones.

[alejeather]

Did you tie them tightly when they were heat molded? Perhaps re-heat molding with them tied more tightly may help with the shape of the boot.

[Triinkii]

Thanks guys for the replies!

Yeah they were tight when they were heat moulded - the fitter at the skate shop did them for me.
I ended up cutting out a disc of foam and placing it under my sock when skating - from yesterday's session, it didn't hurt at all whilst skating, so I call that a win! Seems the padding is thick enough that the boot can't physically press against my malleolar in the same way it did before. Still feels like a bruise off-ice though.

Surgeon's knot was a good idea - I didn't even think of changing the way I tied, I just assumed it would hold. I think I am still experimenting with tightness. If yesterday was anything to go off, if I start with so tight I can barely bend and warm up a bit, then it becomes the perfect tightness after about 10 minutes. That is, until I start sweating a lot and it feels loose again xD.

Will update if anything magical happens!