Physio Making PF Unbearable

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi,

I've been doing all the exercises that the physio has recommended for the past three weeks to try and get this PF under control but the exercises are making the pain almost unbearable . I'm taking naproxen topped up with ibuprofen but this just isn't touching the pain anymore. I won't be seeing the physio for another four weeks. My PF seems worse now than when I started or is this just the healing (no pun intended) process and to be expected?

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    Back off on the stretching. Did they do an MRI? if you have a tear, hard stretching wont let it heal.

    • Posted

      Not had an MRI just drugs and physio. Have just moved to a completely different area. My last GP just said to take drugs whereas the GP at my new surgery has said to try physio.

  • Posted

    I agree with you. I am a retired physician and plantar fasciitis patient. I got plantar fasciitis around February 2016. After about four months, it completely resolved.

    Here's what I think. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone, and/or some minimal tearing of the plantar fascia - just a few fibers - that results, naturally, in inflammation . . . like a "pulled muscle." Inflammation hurts until it heals and resolves.

    ?So what's so difficult about curing P.F.? Well we walk on it!!! Let's say we take 5000 steps a day. Imagine inflammation of your elbow, (i.e. tennis elbow). Imagine taking your sore "tennis elbow" and wacking it against the wall, 5000 times a day. Think it would heal quickly? I don't either.

    So my cure for plantar fasciitis is cushion, cushion and cushion!!! That's right - cushion the heel. Here's what I did. First, I wore the plantar fasciitis "relief bridge" gel-heel innersole in my shoes - that I got at Walgreen's for about $11. Make sure your innersoles are soft and preferably made of gel. (I plan to use mine indefinitely in my shoes.) Then I wore a pair (usually) of nice thickish sox. On my heel I wore fasciitis therapy wrap padded supports that I got on the internet for about $13. (I don't wear them any more.) So when I had my PF, under my heels I had 3 cushion layers. I wore this about 24 hours a day - except when in the shower or swimming. And after about 4 months, the PF was totally gone. And I would suggest to you, have patience, not surgery.

    Kat, that's what I think. I hope this helps you and the many other sufferers of plantar fasciitis. Good Luck to you, doknabox/JerryR

    • Posted

      Thank you so much for your in depth reply. It's really interesting to hear from a doctor with the condition as I get the impression that doctors here don't see PF as the debilitating condition that it is. You have explained things so well and I will try your suggestions and see how I get on. So did you even wear all the padding at night in bed?

    • Posted

      I always wore my sox while I slept but not the other padding. Good luck Katie. Let us know how you do.

  • Posted

    Hi Katie

    I really do feel for you knowing what a bad PF episode is like.

    If it really is multiple tears in the ligament then then stretching will make it worse. Just try resting your foot on a frozen water bottle but nor too long as this can damage tissue. Also try and stretch your toes gently upwards, hook a strap under your toes and gently, very gently, pull them up.

    I too, found Naproxen good but must admit I took about six times the recommended dose.

    Best of luck as I know only to well just what this pain is.....

    • Posted

      Thank you for your advice. My feet do seem to get extremely hot during a bad session and I use ice packs out of the fridge. I tried rolling my foot over a bottle of frozen water but the pain was too great. I'll try your stretches though and see if that helps.

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