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Hip & PF

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joanne-1970
joanne-1970

Hi all. Has anyone developed Plantar Fasciitis after being left with one leg longer than the other after hip replacement?

I got PF a bit in my right heel before I had my left hip replaced in April but it cleared up after being on crutches but it's come back in both heels really bad. I'm putting it down to one leg being longer than the other, I'm having my right hip replaced next week so am hoping being level solves the excruciating heel pain. Anyone else experienced this ?

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Annette1234
    Annette1234 joanne-1970

    Posted

    Hi Joanne,

    I have had bout with PF before, are you possibly not wear good arch support?  I went from high heels everyday for 20 yrs to barefoot at home office and BOOM PF!  I roll a tennis ball under the arch it helps temendously. I know it can be the worst thing.  good luck, Annette

    • joanne-1970
      joanne-1970 Annette1234

      Posted

      Hi Annette

      I've read that a tennis ball under the foot could help, I'll try that. I wear Sketchers trainers with good arch support so I don't think it's that. I think it's because one leg is longer than the other but I'm not sure. Has yr PF cleared up after rolling a tennis ball under foot ?

      I'm actually looking forward to getting my next hip op next week so I can go onto crutches for a few weeks. I'm hoping being on crutches all the time will sort it out.

    • Annette1234
      Annette1234 joanne-1970

      Posted

      Joanne, you know what else you can use?, a frozen orange! try it!!  I do that pull the toes thing, well till last Tuesday.  My sure fire was leaning on my dresser and putting one foot at a time as far on back on me as possible then trying to lower my heel to the floor---oucn but that stretch healed me and i tied to do it every day then once a week for mintance. now with this new hip i would think tennis ball or orange nd massage especilly to back of clk as well, I had no idea it was all connected. of course I can't do the massage thing to myself sad good luck it's an awful thing) there is a special boot that u can sleep with that will pull your toes back towards the top of your foot.

    • joanne-1970
      joanne-1970 Annette1234

      Posted

      A frozen orange sounds good, nice and cool. I'll remember that if it doesn't go after my next hip op, thank you.

      What do you mean with the "pull the toe" Annette?

      Did you have your hip replaced last Tuesday ?

    • joanne-1970
      joanne-1970

      Posted

      I know what you mean about stretching toes now Annette, I just had a quick look online. I'll try it. Thank you.

  • dorothy04749
    dorothy04749 joanne-1970

    Posted

    Hi Joanne my THR resulted in nerve damage, dealing with that, but now after 7 weeks post op finding all small gains in toes movement has been stopped with excruciating pain just below heel in centre of foot, plus earlier a constant spasm in the muscle along the arch between toes and heel believe they call this planta facia muscle.  Anyway two physics working on me at present, long story.  Both agree not nerve but muscle, one has prescribed rolling tennis ball with foot affected, roll over ball keeping it under the foot, the other says hot water bath putting foot in it , not that hot mind you, and gently pulling up toes towards ankle to loosen muscle.  Wondering whether to combine bath, that is basin big enough for my foot with tennis ball and roll ball combined with raised toes in hot water , will let you know if it works.  Both physics also gentle massage of central muscle, still painful, but eac time eases it for an hour or so.  Getting the good or bad news tomorrow when I go for EGM which will diagnose which nerve has been damaged or severed.  Maybe tomorrow I will learn I have to find balance somehow without toes telling me..... 

    Regards Dot

  • dorothy04749
    dorothy04749 joanne-1970

    Posted

    Hi Joanne

    Not really, have to confess my THR has been in Spain, do not argue with a car whilst on a bicycle - they always win!  For me a broken femur somehow meta morphed into a THR then as u know a damaged nerve.

    So had a Spanish technico, Doctor would be stretching it for me, having done the test - nerve and muscular - during which he put a needle in my ankle that registered 11 on the Richter scale or was that my scream - ankle still swollen today: well he then went all Manuelo on me and said he could not give me result - had to be my Orth Surgeon!  Not a happy bunny - tried to get translation from translator, friend, Physio and all being coy so have to wait till  8th September for surgeon.  All I can say if you were looking at ECG of my heart, knee and above nice up and down reading, below knee to ankle flatline on both l and r popliteal nerves....... Ho hum.  Only thing I could hang my hat on was no mention of permanente but he also used neuropathy which sounds like dead to me.  

    Still got got to keep the faith and carry on with daily Physio till 8th.  Will post re tennis balls in sec

    regards dot

  • dorothy04749
    dorothy04749 joanne-1970

    Posted

    Hi Joanne 

    third time of posting - really fed up with this amateurish website that keeps calling a posting an error and tells me I have no discussions registered when I do.

    used tennis ball for 30 minutes two days ago, not easy with no motor sensors in toes, ball and heel, used good foot to at least keep ball under my bad foot - well ok maybe it shot out the other side but that is still halving its area of shooting off ? Is'nt it?

    Anyway went to bed totally disgruntled with the exercise, foot felt no different just hotter and I could'nt exactly play a game of tennis either...

    Woke up next morning KEBANG foot was lovely freeest it had been for a week.  Two days later, tightening up again, so as I watch TV I will also be seeing how far I can send hubby searching for the little critter when it shoots  off again.

    regards dot

    • joanne-1970
      joanne-1970 dorothy04749

      Posted

      Dot, what a nightmare !! how did a broken femur end up with you having a THR ?

      I feel so sorry for anyone who has to have this op through having an accident, most of us have suffered for years before getting this op but you was perfectly fine then bang!! Now you have added complications! I'm sorry you didn't get the answers but hopefully on the 8th you will.

      Excellent news on the foot though, I tried the ball under the foot but it didn't help, maybe I'll stick with it and hope for the best.

  • dorothy04749
    dorothy04749 joanne-1970

    Posted

     Hi Joanne I understood  from the surgeon on the day of the accident that it had been revealed the femur had broken near the crown of the hip.   He informed me that a replacement hip would be carried out but during the operation if they felt it was for the best looking at the ball they would carry out  A full hip operation. When I woke up from surgery I was informed it had been necessary and that the loss of use of my left foot would recuperate in 3 to 4 days. This did not happen and, having read most of the reports on this forum re hip operations,  I can say I have nothing but admiration for the surgeon who came to me on the  fourth day  and apologised telling me he had damaged my nerves, he believed the popliteals, and then  informed me that I  could have possibly a full recovery, partial recovery or possibly it would be permanent. He advised me to have intense physio  on the foot to enable a more positive result, hence these past five weeks of intensive physio plus I Wear,  almost 24/7 a foot brace to keep the foot in a stable position and protect the ankle from damage as there are no motor nerves and now considerable loss of muscle.

    I have made considerable changes in the last four weeks, all positive, but the toes still have no motor nerves so no balance at moment. Hence this journey continues .....

    regards dot 

  • brenda92532
    brenda92532 joanne-1970

    Posted

    Hi Joanne I had plantar fasciitis about 20 years ago.  This was when I did a lot of walking with the Ramblers. I had a serious road accident when I was 15 years old, both my legs were fractures the right femur leaving the top of my leg shorter than the left top. The left was the tibia and fibula leaving the bottom shorter than the right. Overall there wasn't a leg difference but it alters the way you walk.

    After my left hip was replaced in January. I am suffering with my left foot. At my 7 week check the doctor told me it was plantar fasciitis but I knew it was different to last time.  I'm 7 months post op and I have only just got them to refer me for a nerve conduction test.  That was 3 week ago and I'm still waiting for the appointment.

    Brenda C

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