PF and resultant problems one year on

I've had PF in my left foot and resultant problems in my right foot for a year now. This is my rather long-winded story, which I've been wanting to share with fellow sufferers. Even if you don't read it all, please read my question in the last paragraph!

I developed plantar fasciitis last summer when working as a waitress for a couple of months. I wore those nice flat pumps because I thought they'd be more comfy for long periods standing and walking than heels. What a mistake! Foolishly I ignored the pain in my feet and continued to lead an active life - tennis, running, hiking and cycling on top of the waitressing 12 hours each day - assuming that when I returned from Spain and stopped waitressing the pain would go away. I was wrong.

I was diagnosed with PF by my GP in October last year and was prescribed naproxen and ibuprofen for short periods. They helped while I was on them but the pain returned when I stopped. By December I was struggling to walk even 50m and had stopped all of the sport I love so much. I was developing pain in my right foot as a result of overcompensating and limping. As a fitness fanatic used to doing intensive sports 6 days a week I was getting really frustrated.

After the third trip to another unsympathetic GP I went private and saw a podiatrist. I started using a nightsplint and she put me in an aircast for 4 weeks, prescribing stretches morning and night. I think the splint helped but the pain remained - and even with the aircast I had to put extra cushioning in the heel. Then she put me on crutches, assuring me that the pain in my right foot was nothing to worry about. Meanwhile, I had orthotics made. Using crutches was painful for my right foot but I endured it as my left foot obviously didn't hurt when I wasn't using it.

Unconvinced (and because of a cock-up with my insurance company) I switched to an orthopeadic consultant, who took me off the crutches immediately and sent me for a cortisone injection. This worked wonders for about 5 days and I returned to wearing trainers on both feet. However, the pain soon returned and got progressively worse - as did the pain in my right foot. I saw a physio who suggested more stretching, some core stability exercises, the use of a hot water bottle to promote blood flow and rolling my foot over a rolling pin daily. I even tried laser therapy (negligible effects).

After a month or so I went back for another injection and instead of cortisone I had an autologous injection whereby blood was taken from my hand and injected into the PF, with a little scraping of the PF with the needle to promote blood flow and a healing response. It was a horrible procedure but I was willing to try anything.

I reverted to the aircast for support until the injection took effect. Miraculously, after a few days of total rest the PF pain seemed to have gone. This was in April, and I was pain free for a few weeks - though I did next to no walking and rested as much as possible. However, the pain in my right foot remained. My consultant suggested I might have some arthritis in my big toe from overloading, but had suggested it was nothing to worry about. In June I went to see him and insisted that after 6 months of persistent pain I wanted him to consider it. I went for an MRI and found that I had deep bruising to several bones in my feet, and was given an aircast for my right foot to match and told to rest it completely for 6 weeks.

Two months later, the pain hasn't completely gone but the swelling is going down. It's incredibly frustrating that it's taking so long but I'm sure this is because it's such a longstanding injury that hadn't been properly checked before. As for the PF in my left foot, I still have the odd worrying niggle so I'm still wearing the boot, the night splint and doing my stretches. I've resorted to glucosamine and ruta (homeopathic remedy). I've been working at home now for about 2 months and my employers are being understanding but it makes working properly very difficult.

From a personal perspective this has been the toughest year of my life - it's my first real job since leaving university and I have high expectations to meet but I've struggled so much emotionally and practically with my mobility. My stress release - and a key thing I live for - is sports and fitness but I've not even been able to walk down the street to the tube station, let alone play sports. On top of that, private treatment has been expensive and I've had conflicting and unhelpful advice from so-called specialists who don't seem to appreciate how much of an impact the condition can have on one's life.

I'm pleased that after a year I have made progress - my pain is much better than it has been. I'd encourage fellow sufferers not to give up - it can get better if you find a treatment that works for you and allow your PF a chance to respond. I really believe that the relatively new autologous blood injection I had made significant inroads in treating the condition and I would recommend it to anyone as a viable and far less harmful alternative to cortisone. But I would also stress that I believe it needs to be complemented with practical measures - not least adequate rest and stretching (nightsplints and day exercises).

That said, I'm not there yet. I would be really interested to hear whether anyone has had a chronic case of PF that has successfully healed, enabling the sufferer to resume a full and active life - and if so, at what stage is it okay to begin activities again? When the bone injuries in my right foot finally heal (hopefully within a month) I am keen to begin activities again but I wonder whether the occasional niggle I get in my PF is a cause for concern or whether I am being paranoid? I would hate to set myself back again but I would be happy to put up with a niggle if not. At its worst, when I squeezed the heel bone I could scream in pain - whereas now this action causes no pain but I do have a slight tender spot just in front of my heel bone if I press hard enough.

That's quite an essay but I'd welcome all and any comments!

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