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Experience with Plantar Fasciitis?


5LittleMonkeys
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I woke up yesterday morning not being able to put any pressure on my right foot at all.  Made an appointment with an Orthepedic specialist - he said I had plantar fasciitis, prescribed steroids, and gave me a boot to wear.  He said to try to wear the boot at all times except for a couple times a day of icing the bottom of my foot.  When he put the boot on me in the office it was excruciatingly painful to have my foot in a flat position (it being in at a right angle from my leg vs. allowing it to lie in a relaxed position from my ankle).  I told him it hurt badly, almost bringing tears to my eyes, and he said that I would just have to bear it - that the ligaments needed to be stretched out vs. being allowed to stay in the relaxed position. :glare:

 

I made it home and couldn't stand the pain anymore so took the boot off.  Yesterday, before going to the doctor, my foot only hurt if I tried to put it flat or if I applied pressure to the bottom or tried to bear weight on it.  Today it is throbbing from my toes all the way across the bottom of my foot and up around the back of my heel.  If I try to flex my toes up I have a sharp pain shoot up the back of my heel.  Even while letting it rest in a relaxed position is painful.   There is no way I can put that boot on. 

 

Has anyone else had this experience with plantar fasciitis? Was it much like what I'm describing?  Or, do I possibly have something else going on?   

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I have dealt with it 2 different times and it wasn't like that either time.  I wore a boot at night the first time and did the stretching exercises, the second time I that the boot was miserable and went with shoes that people her recommended that had good arch supports.  That cleared up my second bout with it pretty quickly.  I didn't have nearly the pain and I only had it in my heal.

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I woke up yesterday morning not being able to put any pressure on my right foot at all.  Made an appointment with an Orthepedic specialist - he said I had plantar fasciitis, prescribed steroids, and gave me a boot to wear.  He said to try to wear the boot at all times except for a couple times a day of icing the bottom of my foot.  When he put the boot on me in the office it was excruciatingly painful to have my foot in a flat position (it being in at a right angle from my leg vs. allowing it to lie in a relaxed position from my ankle).  I told him it hurt badly, almost bringing tears to my eyes, and he said that I would just have to bear it - that the ligaments needed to be stretched out vs. being allowed to stay in the relaxed position. :glare:

 

I made it home and couldn't stand the pain anymore so took the boot off.  Yesterday, before going to the doctor, my foot only hurt if I tried to put it flat or if I applied pressure to the bottom or tried to bear weight on it.  Today it is throbbing from my toes all the way across the bottom of my foot and up around the back of my heel.  If I try to flex my toes up I have a sharp pain shoot up the back of my heel.  Even while letting it rest in a relaxed position is painful.   There is no way I can put that boot on. 

 

Has anyone else had this experience with plantar fasciitis? Was it much like what I'm describing?  Or, do I possibly have something else going on?   

 

I have had it a couple of times.  I also experienced all of your symptoms, but not as severe as your case.  I only wore the boot at night.  I also had to stop wearing flip-flops, which were my summertime go-to shoes.

 

:grouphug:  I hope you find some relief soon.

 

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I did not have that experience with it. I had tender feet in the mornings and hobbled for a bit and I also had burning in my arch when I did exercises such and standing lunges.  I had trouble wearing shoes that didn't have arch support.  The kind of pain you describe I never had.  I wore a boot for awhile.  

One day I mentioned it to my chiropractor and he said he could fix it.  I honestly did not believe him, but two visits later it has never bothered me again.  He has a lot of training in sports injuries so that might have something to do with it.

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DH has problems recurrently. Typically he gets a shot in his foot, his foot is taped tightly, has to stay off of it blah blah blah.

 

He purchases new shoes frequently now. He runs and the best insoles for his arches are found in brooks stability. He tried just adding insoles to cheaper shoes but since they weren't made into the shoe, they would shift and rub blisters. So, he chooses to be religious and strict with his footwear.

 

He has never went the boot route. Just the shot and tape ups.

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I had it and went to the doctor who told me I would have to forever wear supportive shoes.  I don't wear shoes in the house and during the summer I'm more often barefoot then with shoes on.  The doctor basically told me tough luck.  

 

After researching for a bit, I found that most often it is tight muscles in the leg (don't remember if it is calf or hamstring).  I found that with stretching the calf (standing with my heels hanging over a stair) and bending over and touching the floor to stretch my hamstrings it cleared up.

 

Every time I feel it starting I do these stretches a few times a day and it clears up within a few days.

 

I will say I never had the pain you did.  I would hobble along the first hour or so I woke up and wouldn't be able to walk long distance, but it was more dull ache vs sharp pain.

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Did the pain come on fast or did it get worse over time? In my experience, PF gets progressivly worse until I do something about it. When mine flares up, I wear my Birkenstocks until it subsides (several days). I wear my birks all summer anyways. I have never experienced the pain you are talking about. Do you think you need a second opinion or do you think you waited too long to see the dr?

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Your doctor sounds rude.  If you are having that much pain you may want to try a PT or a sports doc.  You can go to a runner's store and ask if they have any recommendations.  PF can be difficult to deal with, but being in tears while wearing the boot sounds wrong.  I did lots of stretching exercises for PF, and I've kept it at bay by rolling my feet over a tennis ball at least once a day.  You do need to keep all of the muscles stretched.  Tennis balls and golf balls (put them in the freezer) for your feet, and a stick for your calves. You must have supportive shoes, no bare feet or flip flops. 

 

I'm sorry you're having so much pain. It is awful.  It's hard when every step you take is painful. I hope you find good treatment.  

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What you describe is much more severe than my year-long experience with PF. For me, the first steps in the morning were painful, as were the first steps after sitting for awhile. But I was always able to put weight on my foot, walk, etc. I also had no problem getting my foot into a 90° angle. And it was something I ignored for a long time--ie didn't go to a doctor. I wonder if you have something more acute going on.

 

I'll ditto what everyone has said about good shoes. I don't go barefoot in the house anymore. I wore mostly running shoes while I had PF, or Birks or keens in summer. Still wear mostly those shoes now.

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After I was diagnosed with it I went and purchased Orthaheel sandals and shoes.  They have made the biggest difference.  I had pain for about a year before I started using them.  I now get the inserts for my sneakers too.  It did take a week or two before I started noticing a difference but I can say that I no longer have the pain.  I also wore crocs especially around the house.  For some reason I did not have any pain with them.

 

My doctor also recommended that I put a tennis ball on the floor, sit up and just roll the ball from my toes to my heel.  I was supposed to spend about 10 min a day doing that.  I was not very consistent so I am not sure how much it helped.

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You need physical therapy, not steroids and a boot.  That is setting you up to have chronic pain, perhaps permanent tssue damage, and loss of muscle strength.  I would get another doctor to give me a PT referral, in your shoes.

 

(Yes, I had PF, in both feet, pain levels were astronomical, like had me panting for breath and trying not to vomiit much of the time, and 6 months of 2x/week PT that included myofascial massage and regular massage therapy made a huge difference.)

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I have chronic pf in my left foot.  Heels actually keep it from hurting.  See, I wear them for my health!  I have several exercises that I do daily (almost daily!), including stretching my foot backwards using a towel and rolling my foot around on a tennis ball.  They help.  I never, ever, ever go without shoes.  Not wearing shoes is about the worst thing for pf.  In the house (we have hardwood floors and the click, click of heels drives James Bond and Indy crazy), I wear a pair of Merrell shoes.  They have great support.  My pain is much lower since I started wearing them.  I refuse to take steroids.  I have gotten 2 cortisone shots in my foot before, and it hurt soooo badly, but it stopped the pain for about 4-6 months.  I did them both times when I knew we were going to be doing a long walk, once before we did the Battle of the Bulge Memorial Walk in Belgium (10 miles) and once before Indy and I went to Paris, because I knew from experience that we would be doing a ton of walking.  I wouldn't do it again, unless I knew we would be doing something that includes a lot of walking.  We're going to Disney World next month, and I'm considering it.  They use the stuff that freezes off warts on my foot for a second or two before inserting the needle, which makes it easier, but the cortisone itself hurts like crazy when it's going in.

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Thanks for all the input.  I have had issues before with being stiff in the mornings, and I have been experiencing that for a couple weeks, but after walking or stretching for a little bit the pain would disappear.   I also had issue with my Achilles in my left foot about 4 years ago.  The pain was similar but not this severe. 

 

Two things that I can think of that may have brought this on:  we just got back from DC last week where we walked A LOT!  I normally wear Asics for walking but one of the days that we ended up walking more than I thought we were going to I wore flat sandals. Also, since the weather has turned warmer I've been in flip flops instead of my Asics. Guess my days of flat shoes and bare feet are over. :(  

 

The doctor did hand me some paperwork describing several of the exercises that several of you have mentioned - in addition to walking in chest deep water.  I'm thinking that this advice would be fine for prevention - I just don't feel like he was taking the level of pain I was describing seriously.  He is a sports medicine\orthopedic specialist but I'm thinking I might need to find someone who will take me seriously when I tell them how much pain I'm in. He also made no mention to me of changing my foot wear. 

 

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((HUGS))  BTDT

 

I suffered from PF for years...  I would fill a 2 litre bottle with water and freeze... then roll it around on the floor with my feet.  That helped a lot.

 

I had shots and the dreaded night boot.

 

One day I stepped wrong and ripped my fascia-- PAIN!!   I had to wear the boot for over 10 months straight (even at night) with NO weight allowed on that foot... so crutches or wheelchair and alll of this with a toddler!

 

Did the Dr diagnose with 'his brain' or with an ultrasound?  PF is normally tiny tears-- but if you have a larger tear (what I'm suspecting due to your pain and position issues) you may need other treatment.

 

I suggest going to a Podiatrist who is also a surgeon-- and hopefully they take you seriously!

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No ultrasound.  They did xrays, which I think it just standard for them to do before you even talk to this dr. 

 

I'm disappointed that I spent 3 hours, $40 co-pay, and a charge to my insurance for a bad diagnosis. :(  

 

I know a podiatrist that comes highly recommended - wish I'd gone with him first.  If the pain continues at this level over the weekend then I'll be calling him.  

 

Thanks for all the advice. :) 

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Guest SamWIse

Plantar Fasciitis is a terrible thing to have. It can be crippling as you described. I forget who mentioned it above, but stretching the hamstring is great, just make sure you don't stretch the fascia itself. It can lead to additional tearing and inflammation. A golf ball feels great but can slow the healing process down greatly.

 

I have been using a blood flow sitmulator for several months now; was treating 8/10 pain level and had trouble weight baring. Treated with cold therapy for a bit, then began a heavy treatment using a blood flow stimulator. Has worked great for treating my PF and it has helped me keep it away; I am hoping for a full recovery, it had killed my work out routine, but started working out again about 2 months after diagnoses.

 

 

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What is that?

Basically, they draw your blood, spin it down so that all the platelets are together, then take those platelets and inject them directly into the area of pain. It super-speeds the healing process.

 

The injection is quite painful so they gave me a light anesthesia so I wouldn't feel it. Your foot does continue to hurt for a week or two as it heals (I was on crutches for about 3 days as the doctor didn't want me to put pressure on it right away).

 

But after that the pain was GONE. As in completely gone. Amazingly gone. :)

 

It has been 4.5 years since that treatment and it has not come back.

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I'm right there with you (and there was a really long thread about PF a month ago when I asked about it!)  I am still trying to find the right solution.  Definitely no bare feet.  I have changed out all my shoes but I don't think I have found ones with the correct arch support yet.  My visit to the Ortho was useless - he pushed on my heel and said "yes you have PF."  He told me to soak in Epsom salts. And gave me a prescription for an anti-inflammatory. That was IT.  Sometimes I hate doctors over here.  So I still have pain when I get up in the morning, or get up after sitting for a while. I am doing stretches.  Think I will go to the Chiro next.

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Basically, they draw your blood, spin it down so that all the platelets are together, then take those platelets and inject them directly into the area of pain. It super-speeds the healing process.

 

The injection is quite painful so they gave me a light anesthesia so I wouldn't feel it. Your foot does continue to hurt for a week or two as it heals (I was on crutches for about 3 days as the doctor didn't want me to put pressure on it right away).

 

But after that the pain was GONE. As in completely gone. Amazingly gone. :)

 

It has been 4.5 years since that treatment and it has not come back.

 

Wowzers, that sounds scary, but fantastic.  I have a Podiatrist appt on Tuesday, so I might bring it up to him.

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Ok back to this...

 

Heather, that platelet treatment fascinates me. I'm curious as to how it works. Will google...

 

I did the night boot, icing with frozen tennis balls and cans of juice concentrate, gentle stretching, especially before getting out of bed in the morning (at which time the lovely boot was usually lying on the floor against the wall where I had flung it sometime in the night). Anti-inflammatory meds for a short time at the initial onset (but I am generally pharm-averse so not long at all). I wore good, supportive athletic shoes daily until the pain subsided. I was afraid I'd be stuck in them forever, like the PF diagnosis was a life sentence to clodhoppers.

 

But it got better. I looked for exercises I could do without too much strain. Bicycling was good. Pool exercise was great.

 

Most effective thing? I lost weight. OP, I am not asking if you carry excess weight, just saying that for me (and many I've talked with), losing weight was what finally made the difference. And I'm not talking a ton; I lost between 10 and 15 pounds. I literally now know the number of pounds I can't go over without feeling a twinge. But for the most part I am through with the PF.

 

I now spend my time mostly barefoot, flip flops in the summer, sturdy work shoes if I know I'm going to be on my feet and bearing weight for a long time. I so want to invest in a pair of those nice, supportive shoes like flip flops - Fit Flops, I think they're called? Just haven't brought myself to the point of shelling out the cost. But if PF rears it's head again, I'll pay it.

 

I hope you feel better soon. It's such an inconvenience not to be able to walk - so incapacitating! Not to mention the pain. Do see a good doctor who is willing to write you orders for physical therapy. I didn't get to PT, but in hindsight I believe it would have been helpful.

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Ok back to this...

 

Heather, that platelet treatment fascinates me. I'm curious as to how it works. Will google...

 

I did the night boot, icing with frozen tennis balls and cans of juice concentrate, gentle stretching, especially before getting out of bed in the morning (at which time the lovely boot was usually lying on the floor against the wall where I had flung it sometime in the night). Anti-inflammatory meds for a short time at the initial onset (but I am generally pharm-averse so not long at all). I wore good, supportive athletic shoes daily until the pain subsided. I was afraid I'd be stuck in them forever, like the PF diagnosis was a life sentence to clodhoppers.

 

But it got better. I looked for exercises I could do without too much strain. Bicycling was good. Pool exercise was great.

 

Most effective thing? I lost weight. OP, I am not asking if you carry excess weight, just saying that for me (and many I've talked with), losing weight was what finally made the difference. And I'm not talking a ton; I lost between 10 and 15 pounds. I literally now know the number of pounds I can't go over without feeling a twinge. But for the most part I am through with the PF.

 

I now spend my time mostly barefoot, flip flops in the summer, sturdy work shoes if I know I'm going to be on my feet and bearing weight for a long time. I so want to invest in a pair of those nice, supportive shoes like flip flops - Fit Flops, I think they're called? Just haven't brought myself to the point of shelling out the cost. But if PF rears it's head again, I'll pay it.

 

I hope you feel better soon. It's such an inconvenience not to be able to walk - so incapacitating! Not to mention the pain. Do see a good doctor who is willing to write you orders for physical therapy. I didn't get to PT, but in hindsight I believe it would have been helpful.

 

Yes, I think this is the next step for me....I have to lose about 10-15 pounds.  I think this constant pain the in the foot will be the right motivation...but of course the pain in the foot makes the walking/running thing impossible.  Will have to get to the pool and start a serious routine.

 

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Wowzers, that sounds scary, but fantastic. I have a Podiatrist appt on Tuesday, so I might bring it up to him.

Honestly, it wasn't scary at all (unless you are afraid of having your blood drawn). I was asleep for the whole thing (which was only a few minutes). I hope it works out for you! I will tell you this, it was not a podiatrist that recommended it. My podiatrist stuck with all the usual treatments that did not work. I finally saw an orthopedic guy who specializes in sports injuries. He was the one who finally cured me.

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I've dealt with plantar fasciitis twice. The first time was fairly minor, pregnancy-related, and got better when I started wearing supportive shoes all the time.

 

The second time was much worse. I was living in a country where it's customary to go barefoot inside the house--with tile floors--and to just wear flat sandals outside. I had four days of packing out my house, so I was on my feet, walking, constantly. Each day it got more and more painful, and somehow it didn't click that my PF was flaring up again, so I just kept doing what I was doing and toughed it out through some incredibly painful days. It was a month or so before I mentioned the pain to my husband, who immediately recognized it as PF.

 

What helped me--though it was painful for *months* because I'd allowed it to get so bad--was:

 

1) Always wearing shoes. I started wearing Crocs all the time, and that helped, but what really helped was after I bought some Birkenstocks, with good arch support, and started wearing them.

2) I bought a compression sock and started wearing it during the day on the foot that was causing me the most problems (I had problems with both, but one was "just" painful whereas the other was agonizing). The one I used was by Feetures!, but if you do a search on Amazon for "plantar fasciitis sock," you'll see lots of options. Wearing the compression sock provides support and helps give your foot the chance to heal.

3) I tried a boot at night, but it was agonizing. Then I hit on the Strassburg Sock, and that was wonderful for me. It's a soft sock, knee high, with a strip of cloth running from the toe up to the knee. You use that strip of cloth, secured with velcro, to pull your toes up to keep your foot flexed, so it's like a boot, but it's softer and more comfortable and--more importantly--because you can adjust the angle however you need it, you can keep a gentle stretch on your foot, rather than forcing your foot into the right angle position if your plantar isn't ready for that.

4) I started doing all the exercises recommended above, with the ball, stretching on stairs, using the towel ... google "plantar fasciitis stretches" and you'll get a good list.

 

The pain decreased very quickly. It took several months for it to go away entirely, but now it's gone. I still wear shoes almost all the time, and I don't buy cute little sandals with no arch support anymore. I have orthopedic inserts for my athletic shoes and snow/rain boots. For sandals, I stick mostly with my Birkenstocks. I've never liked dress shoes, so now I have a good excuse to avoid them ;)

 

I do understand how painful it is. I hope you're able to get some relief quickly!

 

 

ETA: And, yes, for me that pain was all across the bottom of my foot, it was agonizing, and it spiked when I put weight on the foot or when I stretched it out, much like you describe. It's more common for it to only be in the heel, but it absolutely can be PF and be all across the bottom of your foot. You do need to stretch the plantar, but gently. Think of someone who isn't flexible enough to touch his toes--you wouldn't just shove on his shoulders and force his body to bend that far, but you would encourage him to stretch as far as he could and gradually, he'd be able to stretch farther and farther until he could do it. That's what your foot needs--for you to gently but consistently stretch out your plantar (and your calf as well) until it regains full range of motion.

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Too much good advice to quote everything!  

 

It is better today.  I've been keeping it up, using ice a couple times a day and gently trying to stretch so it doesn't get stiff. I was actually able to get the boot on today without any pain but I still can't bear weight on it. So, that's progress!  

 

I can't wear tennis shoes all summer  :crying:  so. I've been looking at the Birkenstock and Orthaheel websites.  The Orthaheel site has some really cute, fashionable shoes. Guess I'll have to try to find someone to donate all my cute summer flats that I just bought. 

 

I'm wondering, if it continues to improve with the exercise, and the change in footwear, if I should bother going to a podiatrist?  I won't be going back to the doctor I saw the other day.  The more I think about it the more angry I am about how flippant he was about the pain I was in. 

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I would not go back to that rude doctor.  I had a bad experience with a sport's doc once.  I went, for my foot, and he actually patted me on the head and told me to be a good girl. Really?  I'm over 40?  I do not like being talked down to. I was so mad.  It was a big waste of money.  

 

Anyway, if it was me, and it continued to get better I would probably not go to the podiatrist.  I don't know if that's the correct answer, I only know that I wouldn't go.  

 

I'm glad you're doing better. I would continue to educate yourself on how to deal with your foot. Keep doing the stretches and exercises, wear better shoes, and ice whenever it hurts.  

 

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If it gets better, I wouldn't go to the doctor either. Most cases of plantar fasciitis resolve themselves, given time and care (supportive shoes, stretching, etc). In the last bad bout I had, I never went to the doctor. If you don't see improvement, though, or even if it gets better but you continue to be unable to walk on it, you may want to consider going to a (different, better, more respectful) doctor to see if anything can be done to aid your recovery. But most likely, if you take care of it, you'll recover on your own.

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Orthaheel has some cute flip flops for you flip flop lovers - like these - I love my orthaheels. I do a brace at night during flare-ups, very supportive shoes (like the orthaheels or danskos are nice - I've recently heard Earth Shoes recommended, but I haven't tried them) - I have one of these ball foot massagers under my desk, and use it constantly, and someone recommended this book to me, but I haven't read it yet. Oh, and this foot rocker but you can do the same basic stretch by standing on a step with the front part of your foot, and let the heel part dip down below the step.

 

And I agree, different doctor if it doesn't get better!

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  • 7 years later...

I got shots by a podiatrist this week but the pharmacist said they are for inflammation not pain. And I don’t know if the pain meds they prescribed did anything. I get a constant soreness nowadays if I spend too much time on my feet vs the sharp pain I had in the past. 

The foot dr did X-rays and sent me home with a night splint (supposed to have for each foot but to save me money they said just alternate for now). I have to so wear it to bed nightly 3 months then a couple times a week. 

they also sold me a version of power step insoles they don’t sell in stores. They have helped a lot. 

I’ll make a new YouTube video soon on shoes/insoles/dr feedback 

EF6A5A5F-514C-4513-8B0C-60ACC3492AE0.jpeg

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