Dark Thoughts

Hi Laura,

You need to go onto the internet & find some stretching exercises. Also get yourself a bottle of water & freeze it, every night while your sitting down roll your foot over the bottle, stretching the arch of your foot as you do it, it won't fix it but it helps. I'd also keep pushing your doctor for help, PF can last for years, you really don't want to be suffering that long. My partner has had it 3 years now, the exercises have helped & after 2 cortisone injections it's a little better but he is now waiting for an operation called PF Release to fix it.

Hi Laura I know exactly what you mean it's so painful and curtails what I can do; used to go out at least 5 times a week and now I'm scared to as it makes the pain and swelling so much worse when I've been walking (hobbling) on pavements.  Like you I'm taking lots of painkillers which help a bit I suppose, dread tyo think what it would be like it I didn's take them.   It's affecting my entire foot including my ankle and now my toes too and it causes difficulty in sleeping.  GP seems to think we should just pit up with it; bet they wouldn't say that if they had it!  Had to cancel holiday as wouldn't have been able to walk!   Good luck!

Wear 'night splint' boots in bed from Amazon or some such retailer-they have improved my condition from intolerable to manageable. Wear them to sleep and they keep the tendon stretched and allow it to heal a little over time-def recommend you try these out- quite inexpensive aid/treatment.

Thank you for your quick replies.

I bought the night splints and have been wearing them for about 8 weeks - no change.

I have done various stretching inc water bottle and bean can.

Thank you

Hi Laura

I really do sympathise as people who have not experienced it just don't know how terrible the pain is.

With me at its worst it is constant severe pain when resting and excruciating when moving. Sometimes I get a false sense of relief when the pain goes at rest only to find it twice as bad when I try and stand up!

I am not a medic but believe co-codamol is a pain killer but not an anti-inflammatory, and I think the key to relief is to reduce inflammation. I find keeping the foot in a bowl of very cold water for at least 30 minutes several times a day, and taking anti-inflammatories such as Naproxen or Indpmetacin can help.

I know nothing seems to work and unfortunately there is no quick-fix with PF.

My thoughts about doctors are the same as yours!

 

Has no one been offered surgery like my partner? I know he is in a lot of pain & I'm praying this will fix it.

No-one has mentioned surgery to me.

I am meant to be having NHS physio but apparrently they dont actually thouch the foot

PF is truly miserable and what you are going through is normal for anyone with a severe case.  No one who hasn't had it can understand how truly miserable it is.

If your dark thoughts are serious enough, then you should seek professional help for that.  I've had severe PF in my left foot for 18 months and right foot for 14 months and have had times throughout of depression and misery.  It ruined my quality of life for awhile and now finally it's better enough (but still there) so I can be more active.

Just know that you WILL eventually get better but will need to exhibit a lot of patience.

RELEASE SURGERY SHOULD BE THE LAST RESORT!  It has been documented to work only in rare cases and it is a MAJOR surgery and there are lots of horror stories out there about it.  Stick to conservative methods, especially because you haven't had that long (it may feel like you have) in the world of PF.

Best of luck.