Surgery decision
Posted , 21 users are following.
hi I'm new to forum , long story , don't want to bore you with too much, had plantar fasciitis for about 3 years now tried everything insoles,stretching strapping had cortisone injections in heal and ultrasound guided ones had shockwave therapy acupuncture and had coblation surgery doctor has given me all treatment you can think of . Pain excruciatingly painful when I stand and even when I'm in bed it throbs all night .at the end of me tether, now need to consider having them cut but so confused ,don't no what to do .anyone out there with any ideas cause I haven't got any
0 likes, 82 replies
erika88410 angela09870
Posted
I am very happy to have found this forum but sad that so many of you share my condition (bilateral PF) which began 1 year ago after spending 2 weeks walking in Paris in not very good shoes. I have tried almost everything and my doctor now wants me to try shockwave therapy. Has anyone in this group had positive results from it? Here in the US it costs $800 for 3 sessions. I guess the next step is the myofascial release which the doctor said could be done in the office and that I would "walk out" which sounds very different from the months of recovery that people are reporting here. I assume he is talking about the endoscopic vs. open surgery but wonder if that has easier recovery time. As far as shoes go, I too have spent a small fortune and have to rotate them regularly. The ones that seem the best for me are Hokas as they have a huge cushion. Lately I have also been wearing Skechers memory foam, and surprisingly my garden shoes, Sloggers which are super light (similar to Crocs). God forbid I should ever need to wear anything formal. Also wondering if anyone has had luck with specific exercises to strengthen the feet, or no weight bearing activities like swimming. Thanks for any information and good luck to all.
lucy_73160 erika88410
Posted
Erika, I had two shockwave treatments and seven laser therapy treatments. My podiatrist charged me $60.00 for each one. I would say that they helped me about 50%.
I had a cortisone shot that did not help me at all.
Do a Google search for an article "The Running Doc on Plantar Fasciitis". It was in the New York Daily News dated April 4, 2016.
This is what he says:
"Good arch supports or orthotics are key: full length, flexible, no hard plastic! Stretches of the calf relieve arch tightness as the heel bone acts like a fulcrum pulling back the arch tissue if too tight. Perform the gastroc and soleus stretches regularly - you can’t do them too much.Finally, the magic cure is to roll a golf ball under the arch for a half-hour once a day. This may hurt the first week. Keep going because by week two the pain will be gone!
Really! "
I followed what he said about rolling a golf ball under my foot for half an hour each day. (I used a hard massage ball with spikes). I did it for two weeks and it helped me tremendously. You must do it for half an hour every day.
Also, try wearing the ProFoot Plantar Fasciitis three quarter orthotics. You can buy them in most drugstores or Walmart.
I have had plantar fasciitis for eight months and it is finally starting to get better.
erika88410 lucy_73160
Posted
lucy_73160 erika88410
Posted
The ProFoot Plantar Fasciitis three quarter orthotics are only about $10.00, so give them a try. They are soft. You can buy them on Amazon if you can't find them locally. The golf ball (I used a hard massage ball) does make your foot a bit sore, but it would feel better in the morning. It really helped me after two weeks of doing it. I only wish that I had read about it when I first got plantar's fasciitis. I don't think I would have had it as long. It's just starting to go away.
erika88410 lucy_73160
Posted
Hi Lucy, Thanks. I did buy the ProFoot on your recomendation and it made my shoes more comfortable and softened the heel impact. Just had the shockwave therapy for the first time yesterday so the jury is still out on whether that wil help. My theory is that the therapy itself hurts so much that just regular old PF doesn't feel as bad!
kurt16524 erika88410
Posted
Custom orthotics form the doc are key if they are done right. They will make any shoe a custom fit. It'll cost about 400 or so but worth every penny. I had them made in the Eighties and they were awful but now they are awesome. Find high top basketball shoes and strap them down so that the heal doesn't separate from sole and orthotics.The shoe, foot, ankle, and orthotics will absorb the shock evenly allowing you to heal. Worked for me and I had to figure it out myself!!
erika88410 kurt16524
Posted
Hi Kurt,
I do have custom orthotics from my MD (insurance paid for them) but they have always been very painful to wear. They make my arches ache. The high-top idea sounds interesting but it sounds like there would be no cushion. Thus far I haven't managed to wear any shoe without a heel cushion as it is just too painful. Pretty much any time spent on pavement or concrete sends me to the couch for a day of recovery.
kurt16524 erika88410
Posted
Hi Erika, I'm guessing your orthotics aren't right, I think you should get a second opinion. I had my first ones redone because of arch pain. Basketball shoes are rubbery but on the firm side. I tried the crocs and soft gels and they did help my heal but it didn't solve the pain, and created other foot issues for the lack of side support.
kurt16524 angela09870
Posted
Hi all! I have been dealing with the same thing in both feet for some time. I'm an ex-pro athlete who actually injured the plantar tendon and put on IR list. Well, many years later it came back to roost and I pondered surgery. I rested, did shots, orthotics, stretched and other stuff already mentioned. Pain in arch on my L got better but the heal on R persisted until I figured out something on my own which may help some of you. I found out that high top basketball shoes were the best because of no heals, rubbery hard sole and tight high shoe laces were key in keeping it snug. You don't want the heal to ever separate from orthotics or sole for that sake if you want it to start healing. I know work gets in the way but there may be a medical exemption for this if you are on your feet a lot. If not, find a real tight sock and put it over the orthotics and foot to hold in place so a least the separation while walking is with the shoe and the orthotics and not foot. And I used a cane around home to relieve pressure, just for the time being to give it a chance to heal. It took a good amount of time however now I walk without pain but it is always there and I have to be careful. Oh ya, I used a small tubular pillow to keep it elevated during sleep. And I would take one Duexis at night on bad days. Hope that helps someone!
angela09870 kurt16524
Posted
Hi kurt ..I've tried all the shoes possible for many years of expense believe me it's been a long road ..I had more surgery 8 days ago and so far I have surgery pain at the site of the cut but already feel so much relief from the nagging excruciating pain I had constantly ,,although my other foot is extremely painful as I have it in both feet.so it's taking a real bashing at the minute. When you've lived with the problem as long as I have and have tried everything medical and non medical thing possible sometimes you have to put your trust in a surgeon who specialises in the problem .hopefully things will continue to improve as time goes on I'm not pushing myself and are doing as my surgeon has advised . Shall be having my other foot done in 6 months when I have recovered enough as I can already feel the benefit after just 8 days although a littl sore there's is definitely a difference. My advice is everyone has it at different stage so do what's best for you and find a surgeon who knows what they're talking about it makes the world of difference xxx
Beecham angela09870
Posted
Aberzerk72 Beecham
Posted
You had PRP for your PF and it worked???
I have had it in heels for 6 mos and my surgeon wants me to try this.
How long did it hurt?
Did you wear walking boot?
How long till it fully healed?
One shot or two?
GDM angela09870
Posted
Hi Angela,
I too had PF for over 12 months and now it's gone. I tried ultrasound, physio, Vionic shoes which did help relieve the pain, PF socks, jel heels, 24 hr pain relief cream which also helped although you can only use it for 10 days with 10 days rest before you try again all of which gave relief from the severe pain. Now it has gone! The only thing I can put it down to is the manipulating of the calf muscles with real vigour until you feel the tightness of the muscle in the backs of your lower legs, you can feel the pain in the muscles and it does hurt, you need to relax those knots in there.... and then massaging it afterwards with body cream to relieve your vigorous manipulation. I read an article that said if you have pain in the foot it is the leg you have to deal with. Pressure points in the calf muscle areas relieve the pain in your feet. Anyway I did all of this this and it worked! Give your calf muscle real working over firstly just with your hands and dig down deep in that flesh and you can feel the pain/knots in the muscle. Then massage normally with cream. Repeat each time you feel pain in your foot for a few days, eventually it will go. I now use a loafah when showering and give my calves the most roughest rub each morning and it helps relax those muscles and I no longer suffer with PF. Very, very occasionally I feel a slight swinge in my foot just as I step out of bed but once showered and rubbed with loafah I am back as normal and don't suffer at all now. No pain at all and haven't had for quite a few months now. All I ask is for you to have a go, it's worth a try before you opt for surgery! You have nothing to lose!
icecool GDM
Posted
GDM icecool
Posted
I'm getting myself in a fix trying to respond to this, this is my third attempt !! I am completely clear of PF and have been for about 7/8 months now. I still wear the Vionic slippers and have a jel heel in my one shoe still but am completely free of any pain. I put it down to the ultrasound treatment, rest, massaging my calves (initially they felt so tight you wouldn't believe it, massage and get right into the muscle and feel it (use moisturising lotion) to help get that muscle nice and relaxed and soft. I also massaged under my foot the same way......gave it a real rough massage and felt every bone and muscle in my foot! Really get in and feel the muscle and massage it roughly! Also rolled my foot over a tennis ball whilst relaxing during the evenings which gave me immense relief and made me feel real good, at least until I stood up !!! I stretched my calves umpteen times a day by stepping forward with my best foot and keeping the bad leg straight backwards, bending your good front leg knee and stretching the calf of the bad foot. Do it as many times as you can throughout the day. I still also loafah my calf every single day when showering and give it a real big rub! i will probably always continue to do this as I think it is important to keep those muscles soft and relaxed. I have had no further PF twinges or anything. I feel like a new woman (or rather back to my old self!) again. Fantastic as PF pain is the worst anyone can experience. I did also lose a little weight about 5 to 6 lbs which must have helped. My weight still seems to yo yo depending on holidays etc. I also found the Volterol 12 hour cream a complete relief morning and night time which you can use for 10 days I think then you have to have a week's break from it before using it again. All this definitely worked for me.
I hope you will try all of this and get the same relief I did and eventually become PF free. You really do have to persevere with the excercises, massaging and rubbing and Volterol and of course resting the foot before you gain any relief. It's down to you to do this. I must admit the steroid injection was my last resort or even surgery but I was determined not to go down that road so I just got on with it and persevered! It's the only way!
Let me know how you get on......don't give up and use the cream for relief it really is a god send.
best wishes,
GDM
icecool GDM
Posted
Thank you very much inded for this valuable detailed information. I am very grateful as I am at the end of my tether over this PF business.
I ill try the things you have described and will kep you updated if that is okay .
Once again many, many thanks.
GDM icecool
Posted
Hi Icecool,
I know now exactly how you feel and the unbearable pain, the Voltoral 12 hour cream was amazing relief for me. The jel heels I bought from Amazon where Sorbothane Heel Pads Shock Stopper Amorti which are auto adhesive if this helps. There are two in each pack. As they are self adhesive I bought a couple of packs so I didn't have to keep taking them out of each shoe. I originally bought full shoe jel inserts but soon discovered that you can't get your shoes on as with those you need an extra size of shoe!! Whereas these heel pads just slip into your shoe and make no difference to shoe size.
Be patient it's not going to work overnight and you will wonder if it will ever work but actually the pain subsides eventually then completely disappears! It's not gradual at all it just happens and you get up one morning without the pain! Rather strange really but I think it's all about relaxing and working on your calf muscles. I read an article on Internet somewhere(did loads of research) and it said if you have pain in your foot you have to work on your leg muscles, which make sense really!
Dont give up, do everything I mentioned and keep doing it without fail. When the pain subsides you still have to rest your foot and continue to do everything, as you still get twinges every now and then. Just continue to do the work for months after too. It will disappear but you have to do the work!
Good luck and do let me know how you get on.
Thanks for getting in touch. I hope you get relief soon.
best wishes,
GDM