Plantar's fasciitis?

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
This is not true and very misleading. The doctor will examine your feet and will apply pressure to the area where the plantar fascia meets the heel to gauge the pain/response (redhen: it is the inside front corner of the heel) but a diagnosis is made from a combination of the examination, the patient's reported symptoms, any tests that may be ordered (many doctors will want to rule out the potential of a spur being present by having scans done, just in case) as well as the patient's response to the prescribed treatment -- if it doesn't work there may be other things going on. And pain in the foot, even in that specific area, is not automatically indicative of plantar fascitis even though it is a common ailment.

 

[emvickrey]

Although there are other symptoms the doctor will ask about, like is it painful when you first stand up after resting. But I have seen several doctors about mine and the place they always press is on the bottom of my heal in the middle of my heal. It hurts like the blazes when they do it. Like I've said. I've had this for 11 years. My doc said that it will cripple me eventually. I can have surgery where they clip the tendon but that can be more painful than leaving it alone. I am not trying to mislead anybody. This is my experience with it. My best friend also had it but was able to have hers cured with the shoe insert. She always wears it in every shoe she has. She is about 100 pounds lighter than I am too. I always worked where I had to stand on my feet and to alot of walking. It was impossible for me to stay off my feet because I had to work. From all the years of walking on the outsides of my feet I have developed alot of leg and knee pain. The doc tried special inserts for my shoes to make me walk/stand normal with both feet flat n the ground but it just made things worse. So I have this foot problem and it will not be cured according to my doctor. I've had it too long and it's caused more peoblems other than the bottoms of my feet. Although I've lost 70 pounds, it hasn't helped a thing. My doctor said my weight doesn't help it any but anybody of any weight can get this. Being over weight doesn't help any though. When I got this I weighed about 150 pounds lighter. I've gained over the years from my disc pain and my feet pain. It's nearly impossible to exercize from the pain it causes. I don't even go places and do things anymore that require walking. Going shopping is even a rarity for me. And I refuse to use those electric wheelchairs to shop.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

The pain can last a long time and it really is not possible for most people to stay off their feet. I couldn't, I had to work. But I am telling you, a good shoe such as Danskos made the healing process much faster.

It was hard to get used to them at first because the shoes are very firm but now I love them.

The OBGYN recommended them to my daughter when she was pregnant due to hormonal triggers that loosen the bodys ligaments during pregnancy.
The shoes help to give the arch in the foot the proper support needed to avoid fallen arches originating from the hormonal releases.

I own no stock in Dansko LOL but I know they were a huge part of the healing process. If you OP can't take anti inflammatories then they need all the help they can get from other sources.

I just purchased bulk ginger also. Great herbal anti inflammatory.

And stretching. Of the foot and the calf. In fact stretch everything, it's good for you!

Last but not least, you have to be very regular with the shoes, stretching and icing. Don't stop because it is feeling better. Keep it up everyday for at least a few months AFTER the pain is gone and then continue to wear good shoes. Although it goes away, this is a condition that can return if you don't monitor it and keep it at bay.

 

[alaskachick]

I had it in my left foot only. I work in an big emergency room with hard floors doing 12 hr shifts. I was in killer pain. I tried everything and finally bought some orthotics for my shoes and it went away in about a year. It hurt every morning when I stood on the floor. I stretch my foot by pulling my toes forward before getting up and it still hurt but not at bad. I basically babied that foot until it healed.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
It is inflammation of the plantar fascia that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the ball. The plantar fascia works as a sort of suspension system for the arch of the foot. When you put weight on the foot the arch gets lower and longer, the fascia has to extend. When you have inflammation of the plantar fascia pain is usually on the inside, front corner of the heel just behind the arch and will extend up through the arch towards the front of the foot. Generally the pain will be at its worst when you wake up in the morning, after a good workout session and/or after resting for a little bit after you've been on your feet for a long period. It can be associated with heel spurs as a heel spur can touch, rub and irritate the plantar fascia but heel spurs are much less common than plantar fascitis, most is caused by things other than heel spurs. Keeping your feet flexed to stretch the fascia is a great help as that is where much of the pain stems from, the shortening and inflammation of the fascia when the foot is at rest and relaxed then hurts when you step on the foot and it is forced to stretch back out. Anti-inflammatories in combination with stretching, whether you choose them in medicine form (ibuprofen being common) or just use ice can be very effective. Many people, once they reduce the inflammation don't see a recurrence of symptoms for a long time, if ever.

All this said, addressing the source of the problem will help that be true. If it's poorly supportive shoes, buy better ones, for instance. If extra weight is to blame, try ot lose some of it (easier said than done, trust me, I know!). And so on and so forth.

See, that's why I wonder if mine really is PF, it doesn't hurt AT ALL when I get up in the morning, but it does bother me during the day a lot. Like when I sit down and stand back up, it will take a while to stretch back out.
My pain is like the 'front' (closer to toes) of my heel, and it goes all the way across (L to R) that part. Think of it like the backside of the arch, that's where mine bugs me. I went to the doctor because it was starting to make my calf muscle cramp as well, when my foot would really bug me, my calf would cramp up.
Also, it seems like the way I 'hold' my foot bugs it, if I'm sitting on the bed with my foot on its side it will hurt more, that makes no sense to me.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I've thought about getting those new Dr. Scholl's inserts, but they cost like $50. I have never paid that much for anything that goes on my feet!

I've read a couple that related these to heel spurs. I've been reading a lot about PF heel spurs. What I've read says that PF is not caused by heel spurs, often people have heel spurs with no pain. PF is over-stress to or small tears in the plantar fascia.

I had generic crocs for about a year until I wore them out, for the past year I've been wearing muck boot sandals for the most part. This is probably part of my problem. I do have some Reeboks, but the last time I wore those, they made it hurt much more than normal. They used to make it feel better, but I guess my foot has gotten used to the sandals.

Normally, I end up walking on my toes (left foot). It seems I can't fully extend it when it's bothering me too badly. That's probably why I wore my crocs out, they wore out on the ball of my foot

I've had pain in this foot for quite a long time, but it's only gotten this bad in the past 6 months or so.

 

[mangled]

Ah, PF, how I despise it.

I've had it for 4 years. It has taken away all my pretty sandals and my favorite flip-flops.

I had custom orthopedic inserts made. Ran me $387, but it was the best money I ever spent. I can wear any cheapie shoe, as long as I can fit my inserts in them.

My Dr. recommended Crocs as well, and I tried them for a while. They did help, and were a less expensive solution, but they are just not the shoe for me. Too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter. I opted for the custom inserts.

I have stretches and exercises to do as well, and I see a sports medicine/chiro guy twice a month.

I've been a nurse WAY too long. The old gray mare ain't what she used to be, and I'm not even 40 yet!!

Blessings-
Em

 

[NurseELB]

Shelleyd-
Have you had an xray yet? I'd bet the difference in the pain you are feeling is a bone spur.
I had PF in my Left Foot off and on for 10 years, and my Right foot for the last 5 of those. My life was fairly miserable without pain medication.

My doctor sent me to physical therapy for one last-ditch effort to fix it, and this therapist used ultrasound and a special taping system called Kinesio Tape.
Worked like a charm. I remember to do my gentle stretches every morning before I get out of bed, and NEVER walk around barefoot on hard surfaces. Haven't had a problem in 4 years (knock on wood)!

Good Luck!

 

[shelleyd2008]

No, no x-rays yet, the doctor just examined it. She said if the Motrin didn't help she would send me to a specialist, but I haven't been back yet...I need to go.

 

[bburn]

Okay, I am jumping in the mix.

I have had PF for several years. Burkenstocks. I can wear them and my feet do not hurt. The arch is high enough to support my foot. I have orthotics also to wear in other shoes.

Do not get out of bed barefooted...ever. Step into a pair of good shoes. My arch no longer hurts but I still have pain in the heel of my right foot. I don't know what Danskos are but will go and look at them. Basically I will try anything. But my Burks do it best for me so far.

If I could get the heel pain to go away!!

I stood on my feet for almost 30 years. Was a hairdresser. The last eight years I worked as a clerk as a second job. Now I work as a Union Laboror. Nice to be off for periods of time in between jobs.....but steel toes boots...OMG. I wear my orthodics but when you work 12 hour shifts for 7 days a week for two months nothing helps your feet.

I do feel like I have had some success in that the arch no longer hurts. Would like to lose the pain in my heel now!! I do the streches every day. I do know that the cause of mine were excessive standing on tile and concrete floors and wearing shoes that were nothing but fluff for years. I see a hairdresser clicking along in heels and think to myself....there is PF waiting to happen.

Am heading out to look at Danskos.

However, I have to say this.....why in the world would Crocs be good for anyones feet??? There is no support in them at all. They don't press on your feet or bind in any way. But I think we need the 'support'.....my feet kill me in crocs!

Just sayin'.......