Plantar Fasciitis

[Doc50]

I will also add that I would recommend seeing a podiatrist as oppossed to a general orthopedist. Podiatrist specialize in foot issues. That is not to say an orthopedist can't treat the issue but why not go to someone who specializes in the area you are having trouble with. I have had two back surgeries also. I went to a nuerosurgeon for both instead of an orthopedist. If I needed knee surgery I would see an orthopedist but if there is a physician who specializes in a certain area for which I am having issues, I am going to them!!!

No disrespect, but podiatrists are not physicians. They are trained only on the foot, and not in medical schools.

Plantar fasciitis is essentially an overuse condition, prominent in those who increase the trauma and stress on the arch by increasing or altering their normal activity or their shoes. It may be triggered by the the calcification of the ligament structure at its insertion on the calcaneal tubercle (better known as a heel spur), but not always. Other factors contributing to the development of this disorder are lumbosacral dysfunction, hamstring contraction, soleus/gastrocnemius imbalance, arthritis of the knee or hip, and over-pronation or supination of the foot. Abnormally high or low arches are also more prone to this disorder.

80% or more of these cases are resolved non-surgically via proper shoe fitting, alteration of activity, padded flooring, physical therapy including ultrasound, or local injections. Surgery should only be considered as a last resort, and may create scar tissue which causes permanent dysfunction and pain.

Good luck, and good health.

 

[iceberg]

No disrespect, but podiatrists are not physicians. They are trained only on the foot, and not in medical schools.

Plantar fasciitis is essentially an overuse condition, prominent in those who increase the trauma and stress on the arch by increasing or altering their normal activity or their shoes. It may be triggered by the the calcification of the ligament structure at its insertion on the calcaneal tubercle (better known as a heel spur), but not always. Other factors contributing to the development of this disorder are lumbosacral dysfunction, hamstring contraction, soleus/gastrocnemius imbalance, arthritis of the knee or hip, and over-pronation or supination of the foot. Abnormally high or low arches are also more prone to this disorder.

80% or more of these cases are resolved non-surgically via proper shoe fitting, alteration of activity, padded flooring, physical therapy including ultrasound, or local injections. Surgery should only be considered as a last resort, and may create scar tissue which causes permanent dysfunction and pain.

Good luck, and good health.

and this is why i've spent $300 on shoes and inserts the last few weeks. so far i'm noticing incremental improvement but it will take time to correct.

 

[Doc50]

and this is why i've spent $300 on shoes and inserts the last few weeks. so far i'm noticing incremental improvement but it will take time to correct.

It may take several months, and a runner or other athlete is unlikely to give it proper rest, therefore delaying the resolution.

 

[iceberg]

It may take several months, and a runner or other athlete is unlikely to give it proper rest, therefore delaying the resolution.

i've just started paying "real" attention to it as the pain has been persistent and nagging for months. usually when standing up and just needing to stretch out, so the rubber ball could help and so forth. i've thought about those slings you can wear at night to keep them stretched out but that just seems hard to sleep with feet in that tied up position.

the new balance rollbar technology will stop the pron...that word and force the pressure back off the outter edges of my feet i hope and in time, it will get better.

got nothing but time and some new shoes.

 

[Idgit]

Roll those IT bands while you're at it. I'm not sure it helps everybody, but I'm telling you, it was an immediate relief for me.

 

[Doc50]

i've just started paying "real" attention to it as the pain has been persistent and nagging for months. usually when standing up and just needing to stretch out, so the rubber ball could help and so forth. i've thought about those slings you can wear at night to keep them stretched out but that just seems hard to sleep with feet in that tied up position.

the new balance rollbar technology will stop the pron...that word and force the pressure back off the outter edges of my feet i hope and in time, it will get better.

got nothing but time and some new shoes.

I wouldn't be able to sleep with those crazy things, either.

Now, if you hang by your feet like a bat............. :-}

 

[Doc50]

Roll those IT bands while you're at it. I'm not sure it helps everybody, but I'm telling you, it was an immediate relief for me.

Ilio-tibial band dysfunction is another cause of plantar fasciitis, due to the cascading effects on gait, foot placement, etc.

That's why I point out that the focus of pathology should be completely evaluated, possibly concluding that the pain site is only a secondary problem.

 

[iceberg]

Ilio-tibial band dysfunction is another cause of plantar fasciitis, due to the cascading effects on gait, foot placement, etc.

That's why I point out that the focus of pathology should be completely evaluated, possibly concluding that the pain site is only a secondary problem.

gout. when i thought nothing could hurt more than a heel spur (that i have on each heel) i've had gout.

now THAT made me walk funny and ended up making other areas i was using to compensate hurt.

 

[Doc50]

gout. when i thought nothing could hurt more than a heel spur (that i have on each heel) i've had gout.

now THAT made me walk funny and ended up making other areas i was using to compensate hurt.

Right -- gout is a real booger.

For general information, gout is an inherited disorder of protein metabolism, which causes increased levels of uric acid; if high enough, the uric acid precipitates as crystals into joint fluid. It can strike anywhere, but the most common site is the base of the big toe, which gets red, hot, swollen, and excruciatingly painful. While it's possible to control uric acid levels with a diet eliminating red meat and beer (not possible for most of us), usually medication is required to maintain an acceptable level. It is not adequate to simply treat flare-ups, which is difficult anyway. Chronically elevated levels will inevitably cause kidney damage over time, even if you think you're ok because you haven't had exacerbations. So, make sure this is properly treated.

 

[iceberg]

Right -- gout is a real booger.

For general information, gout is an inherited disorder of protein metabolism, which causes increased levels of uric acid; if high enough, the uric acid precipitates as crystals into joint fluid. It can strike anywhere, but the most common site is the base of the big toe, which gets red, hot, swollen, and excruciatingly painful. While it's possible to control uric acid levels with a diet eliminating red meat and beer (not possible for most of us), usually medication is required to maintain an acceptable level. It is not adequate to simply treat flare-ups, which is difficult anyway. Chronically elevated levels will inevitably cause kidney damage over time, even if you think you're ok because you haven't had exacerbations. So, make sure this is properly treated.

well, maybe it's not gout then but for me it's like a butter knife going into the top of my foot around the center of it long way and being twisted side to side. it goes after a few days but man alive those few days are nada fun.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

It's a very temporary fix, but I got relief from rolling a frozen water bottle under my foot.

 

[Jammer]

Right -- gout is a real booger.

You got that right. I got it about 8 years ago and I ignored it for a couple of years. My last episode had me limping in pain for over a month. I finally couldn't take it anymore and saw a doctor. I'm on a prescription for it and haven't had an episode in 6 years, but the first attack and the last had me wondering what it would be like to cut off my toe. My big toes lost a lot of their flexibility from that.

 

[Doc50]

You got that right. I got it about 8 years ago and I ignored it for a couple of years. My last episode had me limping in pain for over a month. I finally couldn't take it anymore and saw a doctor. I'm on a prescription for it and haven't had an episode in 6 years, but the first attack and the last had me wondering what it would be like to cut off my toe. My big toes lost a lot of their flexibility from that.

Probenecid or Allopurinol are effective and cheap for maintenance control, but they also cause a bit of renal (kidney) burden over time.
With a little more mileage you may find yourself with renal insufficiency, and the only med for gout in that case is Uloric, which is not cheap, not generic.

 

[Blake]

Anybody ever have this? I'm not 100% sure I have it, but as a Google Dr I have all the systems. I run 5 miles a day and a little more than a week ago my heal started hurting pretty bad. I limped around a couple of days and it started feeling better so I went out for another run. I got about 2.5 miles in and I had to stop. My heal didn't necessarily hurt but it was too uncomfortable to continue. The next morning my whole foot; especially my heal, felt as if it was on fire. I've been limping for the last few days. I can't put any pressure on my heal. Tennis shoes are my footwear every where I go now (I work in an office environment). Today my heal finally started to feel as if it is getting better but I know I can't run on it. I'm going crazy not being able to run so I'm wondering from anyone who's gone through this how long before it goes away?

I'm a distance runner, 7 - 10 miles a day on average, and I relate to what you're speaking of. Not the next day soreness, but I do get the pain in my right heel from time to time after a couple miles in, and usually this seems to be the result of stepping awkwardly and tweaking my foot. I don't quit on a run easily though; sometimes just have to adjust my stride and suck it up.

 

[Jammer]

I'm a distance runner, 7 - 10 miles a day on average, and I relate to what you're speaking of. Not the next day soreness, but I do get the pain in my right heel from time to time after a couple miles in, and usually this seems to be the result of stepping awkwardly and tweaking my foot. I don't quit on a run easily though; sometimes just have to adjust my stride and suck it up.

You run 7 - 10 miles a day? I thought I was doing good doing 5 miles. I usually rest one day a week and the day after the rest I feel like I could run forever, but I rarely go much over 5 miles because I don't want to wear myself out by day 6. On day 5 and 6 it's sometimes a struggle as it is. I feel great cardio wise. It's my legs that feel dead. Of course since I have this foot pain I've only run a couple of times. I miss it badly.

 

[Blake]

You run 7 - 10 miles a day? I thought I was doing good doing 5 miles. I usually rest one day a week and the day after the rest I feel like I could run forever, but I rarely go much over 5 miles because I don't want to wear myself out by day 6. On day 5 and 6 it's sometimes a struggle as it is. I feel great cardio wise. It's my legs that feel dead. Of course since I have this foot pain I've only run a couple of times. I miss it badly.

Anything 5 miles or above is still a pretty effective run in my book, so there's no reason for you not to be satisfied with what you are accomplishing on the pavement. I've never confirmed this, but I'm pretty certain I have slow twitch muscle fibers; making it easier for me to do anything that requires endurance, my body is just more naturally acclimated to running and high repetitious workouts than say 'bulking up'. The Marines also played a huge role in conditioning my body to that effect, I just continued on with it after I got out. I totally understand what you are saying about the legs going out before the lungs, that's the case for me about 99% time now whenever I hit a wall on a run. Eventually, you reach a point where conditioning is no longer an issue, and it's just a matter of how much gas the muscles in the leg have in the tank. It takes time and persistent to build them up. Running is a livelihood to me, people that don't run reguarly can't appreciate the freedom we experience when grinding it out on that pavement. I love that feeling. I hope your foot heels and you can get back to doing what you love.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Do yourself a favor and try these out before doing any sugary or extreme methods.

http://www.amazon.com/Correct-Toes/dp/B00A1V0G7U

 

[Jammer]

Do yourself a favor and try these out before doing any sugary or extreme methods.

http://www.amazon.com/Correct-Toes/dp/B00A1V0G7U

Do you have experience with this?

 

[Denim Chicken]

Do you have experience with this?

My wife has it. She went to the doctor and did all the exercises, but this product is what finally helped her. It takes a while, but it works.