Why do I have heel pain?

[Dianne-TX]

I've had heel pain for a few weeks now. The pain is only in my heel. It hurts to squeeze it and walk on it completely. It hurts to stretch it sometimes too. I can manage, but it is very painful at times. I haven't stepped on anything. It just started all of sudden a few weeks ago and I could barely walk on it at first. Anyone have anything like this before? I don't want to go to the dr. I'm hoping it will just go away by itself. Any ideas?

[jenn-]

Sounds like Plantar Fasciitis. I don't know much about it, but if you type the term into Google you should pull up a bunch of info.

[Cedarmom]

Yep. It sounds like plantar fascitis to me too. The couch to 5 k website has some good stretches. Wear shoes, even in the house until it is better. Ice. Walk for two minutes on your two, then on your heels. Make sure you stretch befroe bed.

[Marylou]

Wear shoes, even in the house

 

Are you trying to start a WAR or something????? ;)

[AngieW in Texas]

I agree with the others. It sounds like plantar fascitis.

 

You do need to switch to wearing shoes all the time, even in the house. I was a barefoot-all-the-time person, so that was really hard for me. By wearing shoes all the time and doing the stretches that you'll find online when you google plantar fascitis, I was able to get my right foot to stop hurting completely, but my left foot didn't get any better.

 

After 6 weeks of doing everything the websites said to do, I gave up and went to a podiatrist. He taped my foot (and retaped it every week) and then made custom orthotics for my shoes.

 

That was 4 years ago. I don't have any problems with pf anymore and I can go without shoes in the house for several hours each day. I am careful to wear shoes most of the time that I'm awake though.

 

I had to use a night splint right at first, but I stopped using it after just a few months.

[jvenice]

My husband and sister both had it and found that wearing crocs in the house (or similar) helped to keep the stress off. I know someone will retort or think this is crazy, but it worked for both of them. Good luck. It can make for serious pain.

[lollie010]

I've had the same thing lately. I am trying to avoid going to the doc. I will keep up the stretches.

[Guest chillinjill]

I've had heel pain for a few weeks now. The pain is only in my heel. It hurts to squeeze it and walk on it completely. It hurts to stretch it sometimes too. I can manage, but it is very painful at times. I haven't stepped on anything. It just started all of sudden a few weeks ago and I could barely walk on it at first. Anyone have anything like this before? I don't want to go to the dr. I'm hoping it will just go away by itself. Any ideas?

 

I live in TX, also. And if you are like me, you've been spending the last couple of months living in flip-flops.

 

Sadly, because I do have me a great!! love affair with the flip flop, there is a direct correlation betwixt the flip flop and the planter fascitis.

 

I found that wearing crocs (or any shoe, besides flip flops, of course) in the house helps alleviate the symptoms. But pretty much the only thing I found that causes the symptoms to go away is stopping the wear of flip flops. :crying: sigh. I love my flip flops. I hate my flip flops. But I love my flip flops.

[Nestof3]

So, would these shoes be considered more of a flip flop or a croc?

http://www.zappos.com/adidas-adissage-fitfoam-w-black-diva-diva?zlfid=111

 

My husband and sister both had it and found that wearing crocs in the house (or similar) helped to keep the stress off. I know someone will retort or think this is crazy, but it worked for both of them. Good luck. It can make for serious pain.

[ereks mom]

...It sounds like plantar fascitis.

 

You do need to switch to wearing shoes all the time, even in the house...

 

:iagree: I have this too, and when it first started, it hurt all the way up into my knee! I've stopped going barefoot, even in the house, and it is WAY better most of the time. If I go shopping or walking and don't wear shoes with really good support, it starts hurting again.

[Ellie]

I live in TX, also. And if you are like me, you've been spending the last couple of months living in flip-flops.

 

Sadly, because I do have me a great!! love affair with the flip flop, there is a direct correlation betwixt the flip flop and the planter fascitis.

 

I found that wearing crocs (or any shoe, besides flip flops, of course) in the house helps alleviate the symptoms. But pretty much the only thing I found that causes the symptoms to go away is stopping the wear of flip flops. :crying: sigh. I love my flip flops. I hate my flip flops. But I love my flip flops.

I don't wear flip-flops, and I still have plantar-whatsit. :-( BUT...I bought some Fit-Flops, and they're great. I wear them around the house instead of my Keens or the others I bought (can't remember the name...something German) and it's pretty darn close to being bare-footed. And I wear them when I go out, sometimes, as well. My Keens are the best for my feet; they just aren't the least bit dressy, whereas my Fit-Flops are at least a little dressier. :-)

[Cricket]

Dh had that. In a desperate attempt at relief he ordered the Walk Fit orthotics after watching the infomercial. They actually worked very well!

[Cedarmom]

Are you trying to start a WAR or something????? ;)

 

:lol: I know it is pure torture ! I loathe wearing shoes all the time, but it does help. Technically, I always should be wearing the shoes, even when I don't have a flare-up. But I just can't seem to make myself do it.

[kitten18]

My DH has had severe foot pain for the last few months, his is plantar fascitis also but his pain is in the bottom of his foot, not the heel.

 

At the direction of my SIL (a PA) he started taking 800mg of ibuprofen a few times/day, icing, stretching http://www.heel-that-pain.com/videos.php exercises, and we ordered these powerstep orthotics http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013308T6/ref=oss_product

He started all that a couple weeks ago and his feet are MUCH, much better. If that didn't work, his next step was to see a podiatrist.

[kitten18]

So, would these shoes be considered more of a flip flop or a croc?

http://www.zappos.com/adidas-adissage-fitfoam-w-black-diva-diva?zlfid=111

 

I don't know about those, but these Cleo Crocs http://www.crocs.com/crocs-cleo/10043,default,pd.html?cid=282&cgid=women-footwear-sandals are awesome! The first time I ever wore mine was to Disneyland, I wore them all day then came home, took them off, them promptly put them back on because my feet felt better with them on.

[Stacia]

I had something similar when I was pregnant. For me, it was weight related (at least somewhat). Once I got back down to a certain weight, the pain went away. If my weight creeps up, the pain comes back. Then, if I lose a few pounds, it goes away again. My feeling is that my body has a certain threshold for a weight it can comfortably carry & I stay at that weight or below.

 

That may be an answer from left field, but I figured I would toss it out there, lol.

[Dianne-TX]

Thanks for the replies. I do go barefoot all the time in the house and even outside sometimes. I do wear flip flops all.the.time. and I just had a baby 4 months ago in which I gained almost 60 pounds and wore flip flops most of the time too because I swell so badly. Thankfully, I've lost all the baby weight, but I could still lose 30-40 pounds of weight I had before I got pg, so extra weight is an issue too it sounds like. So, all the things you guys mentioned explain to me why I have the pain. Oh, I also saw online where being a runner can cause it too. And, yep, you guessed it, I am/was a jogger. It's official, I'm falling apart! I was also diagnosed with a degenerative knee problem that I'm sure the pregnancy and jogging irritated and accelerated. (big sigh) I will heed all your advice and hopefully it will get better. Boy, I wish I could just take the weight off in one snap of a finger. I'm curious to see how much it would help a lot of things. Ho-hum.

[Audrey]

I've had heel pain for a few weeks now. The pain is only in my heel. It hurts to squeeze it and walk on it completely. It hurts to stretch it sometimes too. I can manage, but it is very painful at times. I haven't stepped on anything. It just started all of sudden a few weeks ago and I could barely walk on it at first. Anyone have anything like this before? I don't want to go to the dr. I'm hoping it will just go away by itself. Any ideas?

 

 

Do you have flat feet? My dh does and he would get heel pain often. He went to an orthopedist who said he had plantar fascitis due to having flat feet. He got some shoe inserts made and hasn't had pain since. He only uses the inserts in his work boots and running shoes though. He uses an off-the-shelf insert with a very good arch support for regular shoes. You might give that a try first. You need something with GOOD arch support. It make take a week or so to start feeling the benefits.

 

Our son is also flat-footed, so we've been diligent about buying only shoes with good arch support in them for him. It does run in the family, so if you are having issues, you might want to check your dc's feet and start being pro-active if they have flat feet, too.

[Adrianne in TX]

FIT FLOPS, as soon as you get out of bed till you go to sleep....and weight loss (this part is still on the list :glare:) I have seen a huge change since I invested in Fit Flops--they are like $50 but worth every penny to me!!!!

[Mom in High Heels]

Yep, plantar fasciitis. It is so painful! I developed it last year and it got to the point where I could barely walk in flat shoes. It didn't hurt in my heels, but flats nearly killed me. I went to the doc and got special inserts which helped so much. I had to get a cortisone shot in my foot in Dec because we were doing the 12k Bastogne Battle of the Bulge Memorial March and going to Normandy and Paris, with lots of walking. The shot was crazy painful, but it worked for about 6 months. In May, I got another shot (by choice) before we went on our cruise, because I knew we'd be doing a lot of walking. I'm probably going to get another in Oct before I do the Munich Marathon relay (5 person team-5.24 miles each).

This is a painful condition that will generally not go away on its own. Sadness. The doc had me ice, elevate, medicate (pain meds) and stretch every day for months and it still hurt. I still stretch every day and ice/elevate when it hurts, but it's slowly starting to get better. The shot (as painful as it is-and it IS painful) is really what made walking possible again without pain. I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this too. It is no fun at all.

[Georgia On My Mind]

Hi Diane,

I applaud the stretching, ice and not wearing flip flops or shoes without proper arch support. I have had the dreaded PF off and on for about 18 years. I originally hurt my foot walking in those old type Keds in the parking lot of where I taught each day at lunch. Those Keds from the 80's and early 90's were far from athletic shoes and I damaged my plantar fascia permanently. Birkenstocks initally were all I wore to help with the pain. It took about a year of not going barefoot to heal the first episode. The second episode came from walking on a tread mill without proper shoes once again. I then only got relief from stretching, icing, stretching, icing, continually everyday for about 4 months. That healing has lasted with at few pair of Finn Comfort shoes from Germany sold at a place called Foot Solutions in our town. I love the Finn Comfort but they are very pricey ($214 or more) so as you can imagine I don't have many. I have clogs, thongs, Mary Jane and sandals plus my old faithful Birkenstocks that are fine as long as my heel is not inflamed. I also stretch before rising and have Birkenstocks beside the bed to use as bedroom slippers. You can heal yourself if you are diligent to stretch daily and ice until the inflammation subsides and it may take a few months. Don't ever walk barefoot inside or out if you can help it. I am a former Tennessee hillbilly and you know we all go barefoot, so I've given that up permanently. Take heart in that many have had this and it has healed without surgery or cortisone (would be a last resort for me but needful for some to continue work or travel). One other thing that may have contributed to the second bout was Levoquin. It has been known to cause tendon problems in some people. I also had torn rotator cuff at the same time and suspect both were from the Levoquin I took for a kidney infection.

 

Keep us informed of your progress. I love the encouragement of the hive, don't you?

 

Carolyn in Georgia not Tennessee now

[4besitos]

I have PF....Crocs are a big No. I waited to go in to the Dr for 1 1/2 yrs and ended up having to have surgery on both the foot and the calf. The stretches, ice, and not walking barefoot are all good; the shoes you wear have to have arch support. One thing that also helps (but requires a visit to the Dr.) is the physical therapist used a ultrasound wand on my foot; the waves can be successful in treating PF as due to the fact that it is a fascia....it doesn't actually stretch very well. My inserts are not custom, but they help sooooo much. Another thing the PT suggested as a way to avoid surgery. I get them at a good shoe store, they heat them up and then I wear them....they mold to your feet.

[Carol in Cal.]

Does it hurt more when you stand up first thing in the morning? If so, that is a sure sign of PF.

 

I asked here for suggestions a few months back, and tried several. I still have it, but it's so much better than before:

 

1. Walkfit--these inserts are only about $20 at Target, and have saved several of my flat pairs of shoes from being thrown away.

2. Fit Flops--I bought two pair, and they have not worked very well for me. They are better than other flats, but not good enough.

3. Losing weight. Well, if only I could...without walking...or jogging...

4. Stretching--I was already doing this, but in addition to stretching my feet by pulling back on my toes, I also stretch my Achilles' tendon. This is tremendously helpful. I do it every morning before I get up, and also if I have been sitting for a long time (even in the car.)

5. Better arch support--check. This is huge. I have a pair of Orthoheel flat sandals now that are actually cute and support me really well. I now understand why my old Tevas are so good--it's not the foam; it's the arch support. And I have some Dansko sandals with about a one inch heel that are just great. You can't buy these from a catalogue--you must try them on. Different pairs of the same shoes hit my feet differently enough to notice. Go to a really good shoe store on a day when your feet are really bad, and see what actually helps.

6. Dansko Professional Clogs--these are not comfortable for me at all, but others love and swear by them.

7. Night devices--these I have looked at but have not tried.

8. Taking lots of pain meds and rubbing with ice -- this is not a reasonable way of life for me, but in the early stages I hear that it can knock out this problem.

9. Therapeutic massage--reportedly hurts at first but then helps a lot. I have a very heavyset friend who this helped, and I'm going to try it next.