6 Weeks Post-op Plantarfasciotomy

Hi Aimee, 

 I don’t know about being brave,  more like desperate!  I only had my Left foot done. My right is fine- knock on wood! 

I’m a nurse so I’m on my feet a lot! I had to do this to continue to function.  After a year of the pain it was really wearing on me physically and mentally! 

Thank-you for your kind words, 

Lucy 

Hi Jason, so sorry that you’re dealing with the pain of PF. Have you received a definite diagnosis? Do you have more intense pain upon getting up in the morning?

Curious as to what therapies you have tried? I did the following (and for approximately  90% of people PF does get better with conservative treatments)-  night splints, several different stretching exercises, ice, rolling my foot on a tennis ball, rolling my foot on a frozen small soda bottle, massage, good supportive shoes with orthopedic inserts (I spent a fortune on shoes), tumeric supplement or NSAIDS and steroid injections. The injections were my last resort prior to surgery. 

I did have an ultrasound done prior to surgery to measure the thickness of the plantar fascia for definitive diagnosis. Mine was more than twice as thick as normal meaning it was extremely and chronically inflamed. 

  So first off if you haven’t tried any of the treatments I spoke of give them a try! I would see a Podiatrist or Orthopedic Dr to confirm that what you are dealing with is indeed PF. 

I hope you get some relief! Good luck and keep us posted! 

Lucy 

Hi Jason,

Sounds like you are still in a lot of pain.  Have you tried anything that I suggested to you?

Let me know, okay?  I hope to hear back from you.

And take good care of your foot!!!

Lucy the only things I’ve been using so far is a night splint for the last three night I’ve had it on but eventually get uncomfortable with it on in my bed and the second thing I’m using is the crutches. Those to I’ve tried myself no doctor has told me to use either one of those. But when my pain in my foot is unbearable I have no choice but to get back on the crutches to stay off of my foot. My gp gave me a prescription for an ointment called diclofenac sodium topical gel 1 percent.  I get a burning sensation in my toes after having the night splint for at least an hour or so. Although being on crutches isn’t comfortable so I might be looking getting better arm pad and hand grips. Plus I need a pag to put on one of them if I’m going to be on them for a few more weeks.  This isn’t the first time I’ve had to be on crutches before so I’m not a rookie when it comes to using crutches what so ever. Years ago I had to go in the er with the same leg when it was badly sprained and the nurse told me I was doing pretty good getting around on crutches. I’d love to hear any ideas you might have for me than what I’m doing now. Jason

Jason, I think that you should see Ortho or Podiatrist to get a definitive diagnosis. 

 Read my last post again and give all of therapies that I used a try. For specific stretches you can google PF treatment and find a wealth of information. 

 I just feel like something else may be going on. As bad as my foot (mainly my heal) hurt prior to surgery I didn’t have to resort to crutches. I just limped a lot. 

Keep us informed! 

Lucy 

Lucy , it’s looking like I going to have to have an orthopedic look at it. I just went to the grocery store to get groceries , and the amount of time I was in there shopping, it did May it worse being on those floors . Even with comfortable shoes on. So when I got back home I took my Skechers flip flops off and now have my foot on the two pillows. Also made sure my crutches were close by if I need to get up for the way it feels right now I’m going to have to use those now that it’s gotten worse after shopping. 

Hi Jason,

I sent you two messages a while ago.  Don't know if they went through or not.

Anyways, check out.. KURU Shoes, google this.. this is the type of shoe that I have and they are

appropriate for PF.

Let me know if you get some, okay?

 

Hi Jason, 

I’m happy to hear you’re going to have it checked out mainly to assure that what you have is PF and also he/she can give you some good sound treatment options.  Many will be just what I’ve suggested but he may have some other suggestions. 

Besides staying off of it with the crutches, are you doing all of the things I’ve mentioned > ice, Stretching....... 

The shoes that Aimee mentioned are an excellent choice! Good orthopedic shoes are a must have in treatment! 

Hope your day is better! 

Lucy 

Thanks Aimee I’m doing what I can as much as I can before I’m going to have to go an orthopedic doctor.  It’s a struggle though.

Well, good luck at the doctor. I hope that he/she will be able to help you.

Let me know how it goes. 

Take care

Thanks Aimee, I’m trying my splint again trying my splint again tonight. I didn’t put it on last night do to the burning sensation I was feeling in my toes after having it on awhile. Not sure if I want to end up in a doctors office right yet. But if it gets worse I’ll find a good orthopedic doctor that will hopefully diagnose it correctly the first time around. But I’m sure they’ll want me to have it X-ray to confirm diagnosis. I’m reading different ways that doctors treat problems like this . Cam walker boots or leg casts that are cut off after being on the foot for about a month from what I’m reading so far. Cam walker boots have to stay on as long as a regular cast does . Strictly non baring weight in leg cast. If that’s what it takes to get rid of this I’m all for it. Before I have to go to the last resort witch is surgery. Thanks again. 

I hope that you will not go through with having a surgery or a cortisone shot.  Gosh, I have heard of some really awful things/side effects that take place while doing both.

I firmly believe that my PF will go away in due time.  I have already noticed some improvements, just takes time.  The body does work in mysterious ways.. I guess??

Hang in there, okay?

Aimee, between yesterday and today as far as my foot goes with the pain , today’s the worst so far. I wore my night splint last night after not waring it Friday night. I think I’ve told you before when I’m in the night splint I’m not allowed to walk on that foot. So I have to keep my crutches by me when I have it on in order to stay off of it. I’ve already taken the splint off and boy it hurts like you wouldn’t believe. It didn’t feel this bad yesterday at all.  I’m hoping it won’t be this way all day. But I am hobbeling on that one foot right now and it hurts to put just a little bit of my weight on it.  So right now I’m going to keep using crutches for now until it hopefully let me put any kind on my own weight on that foot. I’ll let you know if the pain subsides later on today or if I had to stick with using crutches. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Talk with ya later . Jason

Hi Jason,

I am sorry that you did not have a good night with your foot/the pain.  But, you know.. I have pain too, in both feet.  And every morning when I wake up, it is very uncomfortable for me/my feet.  So, I think that we should both keep our fingers crossed for each other, what do you think about that idea?

Aimee , I’ll do just that for you as well. Mines been bad enough today that I ended up putting my foot back in the night splint. I’ll keep that on til tomorrow morning and just move around on my crutches the rest of the night.  We go back to morning shifts tomorrow and I can only imagine how I’ll be by the morning. If it’s like it was this morning I’ll have a long painful day having to be on my feet for eight hours without being able to use crutches again til I get home tomorrow afternoon. Today hasn’t been good compared to yesterday. Yesterday was slot better than today has been . So now that I have the splint back on I’ll be taking it easy the rest of the evening and only get up when I need to ,  and I I need to go to like restroom etc I’ll most definitely be using crutches to get there or where ever I need to go at the time.  Hope you’re not in to much pain . Hang in there. 

Thanks Jason.  Yes, I am doing my best to hang in there.  My foot pain has been on and off today.  Now, I am getting ready to put my feet up for awhile.  PF really  sucks!!! Sorry for using that term, but it does.  And did you know that it has a lot to do with being overweight.  Which I am a little, but not too much.  Are you overweight.. because having extra weight is not good for the feet, as far as putting extra pressure on them? Hope you don't mind me asking you about that...

Hope you have a pain free rest of your day and I hope that I do too. 

Good evening Aimee, I just now got your last response to me that you sent yesterday evening. Yes yesterday was awful for me Lisa I said in my last message to you . To answer your question if I’m over weight or not. I could shed a few pounds. I ended up get a splint I can ware during the day while I’m at work . Hopefully that will ease some of the pain I’m still having. Today hasn’t been as bad as yesterday. It’s kinda like Saturday was .  Wore my night splint during the day for awhile and that helped some . I’m hoping tomorrow isn’t to painful for you and myself. But it’s only wishful thinking on my part I know.  Have a good evening Aimee 

Hi Jason,  Nice to hear from you.  My day has been okay, always painful in the mornings, but that is to be expected.   A little better than yesterday, at least.  What kind of a job do you do?  Do you work on your feet a lot?  I have worked in the retail field most of my life, so I have worked on my feet way too much.. it would be nice to find a job that would not require that.. if you know what I mean and I am sure that you do.   Just keep staying positive. That is what I am doing, can be difficult at times.. but it can be done.  Just got to picture your foot better, without any pain whatsoever.

Hope to hear from you again soon,  Jason.

 

Aimee I work in a lab for eyeware. I’m on my feet 8 hrs. 5 days a week. So far since I’ve been home I haven’t had to get back on crutches. I guess that’s a plus. But don’t want to jinx myself because it just may be the exact opposite tomorrow . Another words having to get around on crutches. Hopefully tomorrow I won’t as well. Also I got a brace I can ware during the day while at work in hopes it’ll cut some of the pain I have during the day at work.  It slips on. It’s an air cast brace that I can ware with regular shoes on . I’ll let you know how it does tomorrow when I get back home. Talk with ya tomorrow sometime. Jason

Well, just hang in there with everything.  I just experienced something wonderful a few minutes ago, hardly any pain whatsoever in both my feet.  It is kind of funny that when my feet get cold, I do not have much pain in them and I am sure that you know that it has been cold today.  Anyways, that is a good thing.  My mom thinks that the PF shoes that I have been wearing are helping a great deal and I think that she could be right about that.  Just any kind of relief would be a wonderful thing  and to have that be on a permanent basis would be more than wonderful.

Take care,  Jason!!!

Hi Jason,

It is Tuesday evening, how was your day at work?  Did your foot hurt/bother you much today?  My feet felt okay at certain times today.  Still not that great in the morning, but better as the day progresses.  But, then again.. I guess that is to be expected.  Wonderful PF, yea..right..don't think so..YUCK!!!

Hope you are not in too much pain this evening. I am doing okay.. getting ready to put my feet up, which I always enjoy doing.

Hope to hear from you again soon.  Take care of your foot.

Hey Aimee, sorry I didn’t get back to you right away. Monday was better than yesterday.  Had to ware the night splint for awhile. Although I didn’t have to use the crutches yesterday. So I guess that’s a plus.  As far as today goes it’s been about what it was yesterday. No different but again no usage of crutches. But the night isn’t over I still might have to. Today and yesterday I wore a aircast brace while at work. I haven’t seen much difference as of yet. I guess it’s to early to tell yet. Well going to go for now Aimee . Have a good evening.

It is funny how one day we will feel good with our PF and the next day not so good.  For example, yesterday was a better day for me.  Today not so great, I just wish it would go away and never come back!!!

I was just wondering, where do you work Jason?  And how long have you been working where you are?  Just curious... that is all.

Hope you will have a good night too.

Take care,  Aimee

Hey Aimee, you’re right pf  acts like a cold from what I’ve experienced. One day you feel pretty good the following you feel pretty rotten do to the pain.  I’ll ware my air cast brace again today while I’m at work. It seems to help the pain. It’s saving me from having to get back on crutches when I get home. It’s also pretty comfortable on my effected foot. I haven’t had to putt the crutches in the car like I did last week and the week after do to the pain coming back after working for eight hrs.  I have had to use the night splint earlier this week on one of the days at the beginning of the week. I think it was Tuesday afternoon I had to put it on for awhile. To answer your question about where I work, I’m actually working in an eyeware lab now. I put together glasses for the military at the lab I’m at. That why I’m on my feet as long as I am.  It’s a government base lab. Well I’m going to go for now , have a good day Aimee. 

Okay, I understand what you do at your job. I was just curious.. where is your job located?  I hope that you have a good day too.  A little foot pain right now, but not too bad.  Just want it to go away so much!!  And yes, PF could be thought of like a cold or a bad headache, something painful that is for sure.

Hope to hear from you again soon, Jason.

Take good care of yourself,  Aimee

Hi Jason,

Just was wondering how you are feeling with your foot.  I am doing okay.. but I exercised a little, now I feel some pain.. but that is to be expected.  But, other than that.. the weather is nice and I have got to keep telling myself that this PF will go away one of these days.. hopefully sooner rather than later, if you know what I mean.  And I am sure that you do.