Been told I now have plantar fasciitis thanks to immobilisation

Posted , 10 users are following.

So I had my cast off last week following 6 weeks for a broken fibula.  Been trying to walk but it's been too sore, today I went to a private physiotherapist to see if she could help as my ankle is so stiff and swollen, after examining me and having a chat she told me I now have plantar fasciitis and a very limited range of movement in ankle. Had a good massage and acupuncture on heel and have been taped up with the sports tape (that the athlete's use) and been giving plenty of exercises to do.  I feel so down about it. I asked her when she thought I would be able to return to work as I have been off for 7wks now and she said probably mid January as my job involves standing all day. 

Has anyone else developed this after breaking their ankle?

 

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Posted

    Yes. In a cast or moonboot for 6/7 months. Great you've got good physio. Don't be hard on yourself. You joined the club you never asked to join, the Broken Bone Club. Life may never be exactly the same, but pretty darned close.

    A little at a time.

    @(*+*)@

  • Posted

    Hi Sarah, I'm not sure if I have the same thing you do.  I had my surgery on Friday, May 13th and my left ankle is still frozen.  When I say frozen, I mean it has hardly any ROM.  It is stuck in the "stand" position.  I limp now.  Day and night.  My doctor told me it was too early to tell if my ankle was frozen, but I'm thinking it is. 

    ?I had the sports tape as well as physical therapy.  I am having to sell my car (not my primary car) because I can't use a clutch anymore.  THAT is depressing, becasue I love that car.  :-( 

    ?I wish you luck.

    Beth

  • Posted

    Yes I have recently developed PF in both feet. I had a trimalleolar July 12, surgery July 20 with a plate and 11 screws. Have been going to PT since September 14 and have 5 more weeks. Going back to work Monday the 14th. My orthopedic surgeon gave me an RX for custom orthotics and told me to roll a tennis ball or frozen soda can under my feet. It's painful and I'm sorry you're suffering from it too. Wishing you good luck!

  • Posted

    Hi, i had PF 2 years ago due to me taping up my feet for blisters and basically taping all sorts of wrong and brought it on myself. I went to see a sports massage therapist, one session of deep tissue massage along the plantar and leg muscles... and stretching of the leg muscles healed me within a week. It is all connected, if your legs are tight it pulls other stuff out of line. Dont buy any of these over priced insoles are special shoes they are a waste of money for this condition, try the deep tissue massage of the foot and leg and stretch your calves etc and you should see an improvement straight away. 

    All the best

  • Posted

    I had PF in my heel (left side) because I walked on a Peroneal Tendon injury for over 8 months.  I had surgery on May 13th and at that time, my surgeon gave me a steroid shot in my heel and by the time I was able to put weight on that foot, the PF was gone.  I've had a great recovery from the surgery, almost no pain from the beginning, full range of motion in my ankle and no limping.  But two weeks ago I started having pain in the right side of my heel, went to the doctor yesterday and yep, the PF is back but on the opposite side of my foot.  So I start physical therapy (again) next week (for 6 weeks) but specifically for the PF (because my ankle is great).  The doctor says the PT plus excercises at home should cure it, but another shot in the heel is also an option.  I'd rather heal the Plantar Fasciitis than mask it with the shot, but I do trust my doctor and the physical therapist so I believe that excercise will heal it.  Hope they work for you so you can get back on your feet and back to work.  Good luck!

  • Posted

    Sarah, my husband has plantar f, he does his stretching exercises every day & sleeps with a type of boot at night. U can buy something similar at the drugstore. It is a simple brace that holds the foot in a normal 95degree angle while u sleep. When he gets up in the morning his first steps r without pain. If he doesn't wear it he limps around the house until he stretches it out.

    I would also suggest u go back to your surgeon & see what he says.

    Best of luck, Karran

  • Posted

    I had it for just a week or two only. I followed all the recommendations and exercises/stretches online. I worked hard on fixing it. There is a ton of info  you can find to help you. Just going on what I learned and my experience on averages....and everyone is different....A lot of people with hardware and multiple ankle bone breaks, can not start walking very well for 4-5 months. And by month 6-7 you will probably be doing much better. Many of my friends, who did not have complications, at month 8 feel like they are about 95-98%. Complications slow things down a bit. Generally by month 12-18, people feel almost like new again from what I have heard. 
    • Posted

      Yes Patti, after 8 months I got back a huge ROM, not quite there. Can't flex it up and down quite as far as other foot. Can't kneel quite as it won't flatten, but like you, I thrashed the exercises from Physio and other sources , and it has E me great results. Good luck!

  • Posted

    hiya 

    yes i got plantar problems after dislocating my left ankle,the best thing for it is calf stretches as far as you can bear it or failing that heal pads to raise your foot slightly,i know the pain very well and these were the only thing that worked for me,i had a look at a cortisone but apparently its very difficult to inject the correct place,i was told that theplantar attaches to the heal by about 20 or so points and its a couple of these that are torn so finding the correct ones with the first injection is very difficult,

    the stretches are the ones that give the most instant releif,it feels a bit counter intuitive but trust me they work a treat,ask your physio about more info,if you stand all day then heel pads or wedges will help,good luck

  • Posted

    I was in cast for 7 weeks and then boot for 7 more and it was all complicated by my outside ankle wound (had a bimalleolar fx) not healing correctly- and I had a fx blister on my inside ankle not healing.... so I was unable to do any ROM until week 12 so I was also very much behind in therapy.  I am now at week 16 and progressing slowly but I am progressing and even walked 2 miles today (with an ankle brace).  I go to PT routinely and am definately making progress.  I went back to work week 14 as I am also on my feet much of the day.  It has been a challenge, but you are not alone.  hang in there as it will get better, but this injury can take a long time to heal from.  My PT told me that it could take up to a year to get to 90% normal motion.

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