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Plantar Fasciitis or not?

Posted , 6 users are following.

jack1996
jack1996

I've had potential PF for 18 months now to the point where it's stopped me from going to University and I can't stand up for more than 5-10 minutes. I've seen 23 specialists, a few have said it's PF and nobody has really clearly said if it definitely is or not because of a few things:

It's bilateral and came on at exactly the same time, the scans show very little inflammation and I haven't responded to insoles, acupuncture, physio, injections, crutches, laser treatment, air cast boot etc not even a tiny bit. My pain has now changed and I have knee and back pain too, my feet also burn a fair amount now especially when cold. They're much worse when weightbearing but now they have started to hurt a lot when I've not been on them.

I can't keep living like this, I'm only 18 and completely fed up. I have my 90th appointment this week and they still can't decide if it's PF or anything else. I'm on 2.7 grams of Gabapentin a day which knocks me out but doesn't do anything for the pain, which I haven't heard being prescribed for PF before.

Long story short, does anyone have ANY useful information they can give me, whether it'd be a great doctor to see, any other possible diagnosis I can ask my doctors about, different treatments or even a success story?

Thanks a lot in advance. Jack

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • ray62350
    ray62350 jack1996

    Posted

    Mine have been a bit like yours only since you were BORN !

    I've had my PF cut and that made it way worse.

    Recent orthopaedic consultant (new one) says its not PF and neveer was - it is a tendon issue and it has got worse as when they cut the PF they left the injured tendon holding things together while the PF healed.

    My MRI scans show no thickening - that seems to be the important thing.

    What do your scans show?

    • jack1996
      jack1996 ray62350

      Posted

      Jesus Christ, hope you find something that helps. I was debating having the PF release but if they aren't sure what it is then it'd be too big a risk.

      My scans show extremely little, a tiny bit of inflammation on the PF, a weirdly placed subtalar joint and an extra bone in my left ankle but nothing that would point towards bilateral PF.

    • ray62350
      ray62350 jack1996

      Posted

      Mine is bilateral aas well - I did it in August 17th 1997 at 2:05pm warming up for a match - a tear in both arches and it was treated as PF untill last summer - now doing special calf raise exercises 6 times a day every day since last summer.
    • jack1996
      jack1996 ray62350

      Posted

      I did mine August 1st 2013, playing football I got a greenstick fracture in the top of my right foot and it all spiralled out of control from there. I've done a billion calf raises. I'm not even bothered about getting back to sports anymore, I just want to be able to walk and have a normal life!
  • ladyjack51
    ladyjack51 jack1996

    Posted

    Hi jack1996,

    I feel your frustration, I really do. And the difference is...it sounds like you have already done so many of the things that you would need to do to rule out PF. Good for you!....even tho you're still not sure.

    I can tell you this Gabapentin is more for mental depression and I guess that's why you are getting knocked out....I think you need a lower dosage for sure...but it also has just a small bit of pain killer in it for nerves and nerve endings. So thats why they are giving it to you..in case it is a nerve problem In your foot.

    The plantar fascia muscle runs from the about the middle of your lower calf down under your heel to about the bottom middle of your foot. People come on here bc when they have pain anywhere going down under that heel they get told PLANTAR FASCIITIS!!!! Buts that's not necessarily true....it could be a vast range of things and out of all those Dr's you've seen, you should have it narrowed down...but you really need an MRI. Did you have that done? My PF is just my heel, I can barely step on anything flat and hard and I only can wear a Crocs shoe bc it cups the heel instead of your heel hitting flat floor as you walk. I've had it about 2 yrs now and at one point, I was bedridden bc of it and literally couldn't walk. It was truly awful and life changing. It got better bc I was admitted to the hospital for something else and it was up in bed for 6 days. So...if you can really do that..stayi n g off of it helps but I still have it. Don't give up...some folks have had it go away...and it stayed away. Some have had it come back...alot have so take care of your feet differently once you've had this bc u never want this to come back. I don't know if I said anything that helped but there are lots of great folks on here. Talk and get it out...this is the place. I'm praying for you jack1996

    ladyjack51

    • jack1996
      jack1996 ladyjack51

      Posted

      Hi ladyjack451, first of all thanks for the time and effort taken to write your post. Yes, there seems to be an awful lack of effort when diagnosing these things as all heel pain seems to be diagnosed as PF. My MRI showed extremely little inflammation, which the doctor said would be clearly visible if it was classic PF. I know how you feel there, I'm bed-bound today because it's too bad to walk. 

      Thanks for the kind words, I'm going to CBT on Thursday to talk about how it's effecting me because it's got me really down recently.

      Jack

    • ladyjack51
      ladyjack51 jack1996

      Posted

      Lol....forgive me for laughing jack1996, but yeah, this disease will really get you down bc your whole world stops! You become immobile and you will mentally go thru a million questions and crazy thoughts. You might even shed a tear in a Dr appt bc you try to explain this excruciating pain that can't be seen so you're not even sure if the understand exactly or believe you!! And I laugh bc then they will say...have you seen someone for your depression?? Hell, I'm depressed bc of my medical condition!! It just kind of made me feel so alone. I think that's when I went looking for a group like this...to see how many others are out here like me. It turns out this is very freaking common but I had NEVER heard of this my whole life and never learned about it in nursing school. That's the kind of stuff that is depressing and makes you feel crazy....along with the fact that there is no quick fix. One day you're fine, the next day BAM!!!!!! Here it is affecting the very core of your life. Enough of that....getting depressed. Pray for me bc I am praying for you. Ladyjack51
  • wendy83249
    wendy83249 jack1996

    Posted

    hi, did you try reflexology. i have gone for a few sessions and it has really helped. also got better shoes with support.
    • jack1996
      jack1996 wendy83249

      Posted

      Hi Wendy,

      What's reflexology? I'm unaware of it but I'll definitely do it if there's a chance it helps. thanks.

  • caroline40706
    caroline40706 jack1996

    Posted

    Dear Jack.

    Heck! Poor you. I am in pain 24/7 and like you no-one seems to be able to say exactly what it is. I have self diagnosed PF and NHS say it's this but an orthotics specialist says over use of calf muscle. I have spent hundreds of pounds so far on trying to find a solution but nothing so far. I wish I could help you... If anyone ever comes up with an answer they could make a fortune! I noticed there is a support group started on face book so maybe you could join that? If I come up with anything new I will let you know .

    Good luck Jack xx

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