Planter fasciitis....Heel Pain....what can I do?

Question

I am fairly sure that I have planter fasciitis. Planter Fasciitis is pain in the bottom of your foot that especially hurts first thing in the morning when you try to get out of bed and stand on it, or after sitting for awhile.

I have this pretty bad. Three years ago I had to quite a full time job because I was in extreme pain standing all day. Didnt have much trouble with it untill these past 4-5 months.

Its getting really frustrating though, because it is no longer first thing in the morning, I am now having horible pain often through out the day and can no longer join in activities that take alot of walking or standing. How sad. By the time the day is over, I cant hardly walk and I am proping my legs up on pillows or hanging them off of the bed because I cannot hardley stand to have my heels even touching anything...I try to prop them up so they are just floating in the air.

I am wearing good sturdy shoes with good insules (Spent way to much money on trying to find a pair of shoes or insules that would help), and I have tried tapping up my feet at night and stretching them, nothing is helping. I am working on getting health insurance, but its alittle while off yet (waiting to be approved).

What is usually done for this and is there any tips I can do in the mean time that will help lessen the pain of my feet? How do they fix planer fasciitis?

Thanks everyone!

Answer 1

To add a few things to the good answer already provided:  

Take 2 cold cans from the fridge, roll your feet over them 20 minutes twice a day - the cold helps numb and the rolling stretches.  Then strengthen by putting a washcloth on the floor, grabbing it with your toes and pulling it towards you, do that about 10 times.  

See a podiatrist for custom orthotics.  The dr. will mostly likely prescribe the exercises I just outlined.

There is now a non-invasive procedure available using ultrasonic wave therapy to help stretch the plantar fascia longterm which your podiatrist can tell you about.

Answer 2

First, you need a lateral view of the calcaneus to make a diagnosis. All treatment comes from the correct diagnosis.

Lets assume for the sake of discussion, that you have plantar fascitis. This is a chronic inflammation, and the pain won't go away quickly. Some things you've already mentioned but I'll repeat the points:

1. weight loss. While you can be slender, every person I've met with this was overweight. The less one weighs the less pressure on the heel.

2 Don't walk barefoot, and all of your footwear needs to be very well cushioned.

3. Heel pads to be worn in every pair of shoes to put on. When you switch your shoes, put the heel pads in your new shoes.

4. Night splints- google search this. This prestretches the fascia for less pain in the morning.

5. If this fails, a trigger point injection in the heel

6 Physical therapy

7 As a last resort- surgery.

Remember the resolution of the pain from heel spurs can take many months. You should see someone that is reliable and doesn't recommend surgery as an early treatment. This person can work you through the treatment to help relieve your pain.