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Plantar fasciitis

Posted , 10 users are following.

leisa11045
leisa11045

Ive been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis for 2 years now. I have literally tried everything to get better. Steroids, cortizone injection, boot, night splint, insoles, physical therapy, tape.. I had the cortisone injection 3 weeks ago and the doctor said it worked. Im still in horrible pain and have started to get multiple charlie horses and tingling. Im going back tomorrow but i feel im losing hope. I quit my job of 10 years in february because i physically cant stand on my foot for more than 2 hours without pain. I cant find another job due to the pain and restrictions. Im lost at what to do anymore.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • keeley7723
    keeley7723 leisa11045

    Posted

    Leisa have you thought about getting release surgery? I am almost 2 months post op, and it is wonderful. All i heard was horrible things and people on this site telling me not to do it but i opted to do both feet at the same time due to me being a college athlete and trying to be back in the least amount of time. I suffered for 5 years and the surgery was worth it to me. Very minimally invasive i have two small scars per foot!
    • leisa11045
      leisa11045 keeley7723

      Posted

      The option was given to me last year but i was pregnant. I wouldnt mind doing the surgery but i feel my doctors dont want to do it. Ive been a manager for 10 years staying on my feet 75 hours a week and i cant even do that. We live off my husbands income because im so miserable. I have 2 young boys so i need to be 100%. Did you request the surgery or was it an option? I only had 1 injection and that was 3 weeks ago but i feel its worse. That was the only thing i hadnt tried and i really dont want to do it again
    • raymonde_34384
      raymonde_34384 keeley7723

      Posted

      Hi. I know what it is to suffer from PF, I've had it for 5 years also. I too have tried everything but surgery because my doctor doesn't want to, he thinks my R.A. is what's causing me the pain. I've been wearing compression socks for the past month (almost day and night) and for the first time, I have less pain in my heels!!!! I can't believe that something as simple as those socks would make a difference!!! I'm also wearing Dr. Schools most cushioned insoles. Someone mentioned cushioning of the heels and I agree also that it makes a difference. I'm still on my journey of being totally pain free but until then, this is my relief. I wish you well.

    • keeley7723
      keeley7723 leisa11045

      Posted

      My doctor said I could get cortisone shots until after season and then get the surgery, but she couldn't gurantee the shots would work. I decided to just go ahead with the surgery because i was so miserable missing one season but being healthy for all the others was worth it to me. When she got in there she told me they were so inflammed and they had partial tears that they would never have healed themselves otherwise. The first month post surgery was hard because I had boots on both feet but where i am right now it is very worth it.

    • leisa11045
      leisa11045 raymonde_34384

      Posted

      Ive tried the cushion for 2 years during my pregnancies. Ive spent a lot of money at the foot doctor buying personalized ones for my feet. Unfortunately they still hurt so bad in them. Standing after 2 hours is miserable. I literally feel like i have done everything. Im starting yo wonder of its something im going to have to live with, but if i do how will i work. Stress is starting to kick in.
    • caroline28014
      caroline28014 keeley7723

      Posted

      Hi keeley! Did your pain completely go away eventually after surgery or was it just reduced? My podiatrist just recommended surgery to me but I'm nervous about the idea.

  • JerryR
    JerryR leisa11045

    Posted

    Leisa,  I am a retired physician and plantar fasciitis patient.  My plantar fasciitis began around February 2016.  After about four months, it completely resolved. 

    Here's what I think.  Plantar fasciitis is inflammation in the area of the attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone.  This begins from trauma and/or some minimal tearing of the plantar fascia (just a few fibers) that results, naturally, in inflammation which is the body's way of healing any tissue injury.  Inflammation hurts until it heals and resolves.  

    So what's so difficult about curing P.F.?  Well we walk on it!!!  Let's say we take 5000 steps a day.  Imagine inflammation of your elbow, (i.e. tennis elbow).  Imagine taking your sore "tennis elbow" and wacking it against the wall, 5000 times a day.  Think it would heal quickly?  I don't either.

    So my cure for plantar fasciitis is cushion, cushion and cushion!!!  That's right - cushion your heel!!!  Here's what I did.  First, I wore the plantar fasciitis "relief bridge" gel-heel innersole in my shoes - that I got at Walgreen's for about $11.  (I plan to use them indefinitely in my shoes.)  Then I wear a pair (usually) of nice thickish sox.  On my heel I wore fasciitis therapy wrap padded supports that I got on the internet for about $13.  (I don't wear them any more.)  So when I had my PF, under my heels I had 3 cushion layers.  I wore this about 24 hours a day - except when in the shower or swimming.  And after about 4 months, the PF was totally gone. 

    That's what I think.  I hope this helps you and the many other sufferers of plantar fasciitis.   

    • leisa11045
      leisa11045 JerryR

      Posted

      Unfortunately ive tried that for 2 years. My doctor even custom made me support for my shoes. Thats all i could do for the 2 years as i was pregnant 2 times back to back. It accumulated to 2 bone spurs as well. Absolutely nothing gives me relief.
  • kim08822
    kim08822 leisa11045

    Posted

    I know exactly how you feel. I left my job over 2years ago. As soon as i put weight on my foot it is absolute agony. Ive had 3 injections and the pain came back worse. My podiatrist has stopped treatment at the moment as i have been diagnosed with low calcium and osteomalcia which affects the bones and joints. So now i just have to wait until the other underlying issues have been dealt with and try and cope with pain killers
    • leisa11045
      leisa11045 kim08822

      Posted

      I was a manager for 10 years working 75 hours a week on concrete floors. I was the best in the company and only 26 years old. 2 years ago i left on short term disability. I still havent been relieved of any pain. So i went back to work and couldnt handle it. I stepped down to hourly manager so i didnt wotk as many hours. That still didnt help. I stepped down to crew and i just still couldnt do it. Youre in so much pain that youre just not yourself and its not worth it. Im so stressed i have 2 little boys under 17 months old and only my husbands income. Finding another job is a nightmare. I dont know how you all do it. I feel like a complete failure and i feel my doctor isnt taking me seriously.
  • JanineR
    JanineR leisa11045

    Posted

    Hi Leisa, Are you in the UK or USA?

    My husband was suffering for almost 3 years before he had PMGR (Proximal medial gastrocnemius release) surgery. It is available on the NHS and has given him approx 80% improvement - he was back at work full time 10 days after the procedure was done.

    In the mean time, have you asked to be prescribed Tramadol? It's a hardcore painkiller but, coupled with anti-nausea medication, it gave my husband a good quality of life while he was waiting for surgery.

    Best of luck!

    Janine

    • bryanC
      bryanC JanineR

      Posted

      Hi Janine

      I am in New Zealand and was wondering how your husband was getting on after his Proximal medial gastrocnemius release surgery? I have been struggling with plantar fasciitis for 3½ years and tried everything I can think of. My GP sent me to an orthopedic specialist who is very reluctant to perform any surgery. I'm wondering if it's time to find another specialist?? Did your husband have very tight calves?? Apparently I don't...

      Regards

      Bryan

    • JanineR
      JanineR bryanC

      Posted

      Hi Bryan, He's still the same - around 80% improvement, so he still has to be careful not to overdo it, and he will sometimes have a sore foot in the morning if he's had a particularly busy day. But, no more nasty painkillers, no more walking stick, no more missed days of work!

      He did have very tight calves, and was walking with his feet turned outwards (almost like the 'first position' in ballet), but the doctor he saw said it is his belief that all PF originates in the calves

  • rah19
    rah19 leisa11045

    Posted

    HI! I am pretty much in the same boat as you are. I have had plantar fascitis for three years now in both of my feet. I felt like I had tried almost everything except for surgery. Fortunatly, my docotr came to me this past summer with a new technology called EPAT- shockwave therapy. It involves making microfractures in your heel and rest of foot to induce your bodies natural healing process. Not gonna lie, It hurts VERY bad, like a jack hammer in your foot. HOWEVER it does help! You go in three weeks in a row to get it doen and can walk out of the clinic right after. I highly recommend talking to your podiatrist about it! I am schedualed to get my other foot done this winter smile GOOD LUCK

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