BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis

Subject: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Flash Company
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 10:47 AM

Or at least, so my doctor tells me. Started out as a slight pain under the heel which has got progressively worse. When I used to sing Old Dan Tucker I thought 'toothache in his heel' was a joke, but now I've got it and it sure aint.
My Doc was very relaxed about it 'It will go eventually'.
At least I can tell everyone it was a sporting injury!

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 11:12 AM

My husband has gotten great relief from an elastic band worn under the sock, at the arch. (Snugs up the innard parts.)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: kendall
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 11:26 AM

Not a very glamorous ailment, but sure is painful. Had it in both feet. It was made worse by a Dexter shoe that collapsed. They used to be made in Maine and were of top quality. Now, just more foreign junk. Sad.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 11:54 AM

Yes, I had it. Elastic around the arch does help a lot. Mine finally did just go away. If it doesn't after a year or so, there is surgery to repair it.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 11:59 AM

Kendall, follow that thought out a little more. Did you find shoes that helped with the problem (now that you've named shoes that apparently didn't help)?

Never had this, but over the years I've struggled with plantar warts. And then there was the bunion. . . this has been discussed elsewhere. Bottom line--pamper your feet. Wear good shoes of the right size.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Alice
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 11:59 AM

How, odd, this morning I thought of starting a thread on this because I've battled it for a year or more. Get a CUSTOM orthotic to fit in your shoe. Wear a good lace up supportive shoe with the insert whenever you are on your feet and it may go away in ... well, about a year.
The best price I've found if you don't have insurance to cover it is online at www.ourfootdoctor.com
Mine is constantly aggravated by the cement floors I have to work on. Good luck. It has really slowed me down and kept me from hiking and walking that I used to enjoy.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 12:16 PM

Exercise helps -- I know! -- and here's one: put a hand towel on the floor and put your toes on one short edge. Pull the towel toward you by scrunching it along the floor with your toes. After you do this a few times you won't need the towel.

It takes a while to make the pain go away, but it helps.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 12:53 PM

My (UK) doctor told me it used to be called "Policeman's Heel" because it was a common consequence of pounding the beat. Now they're mostly in cars, it doesn't arise so often.

I tried all sorts of inserts, nothing worked.

Then my boss recommended Clarks Active Air range of shoes.

Very comfy,and things improved greatly. I think they're called Air Borne in the US.

Now I wear a pair of "Blunnies" - Blundstones, made in Australia, wouldn't be without them. Available everywhere!

Best of Luck

LFF

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 01:09 PM

"Plantar fasciitis"   "plantar warts"

Same thing no?

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 02:01 PM

NO!!!

"Plantar" just means it's a foot thing. A wart and a fasciitis are not the same thing. Googel it up to see what the plantar fascia is and what goes wrong there.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Alice
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 02:10 PM

Walking a lot on cement caused it for me. There is also a shoe that has an actual spring on the heel to absorb shock that is supposed to be very good for this problem.
http://www.zcoil.com/ Click here

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: AggieD
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 02:11 PM

Friend of mine had this, too much Morris dancing!

It went away after about 18 months of not doing too much dancing.

Good pair of shoes & good shock absorbing insoles help.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: DougR
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 03:05 PM

I've had it too. Good advice here.
DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: John Hardly
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 03:23 PM

My wife went through a long, bad spell of it. She had cortisone shots, went to physical therapy (and followed the exercises religiously), has orthotics.

Nothing helped...

...until she went to a doctor (not a chiropracter) who did manipulation massage.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Bobert
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 03:52 PM

1. Ya gotta stretch out the tendon back there unner yer heeel and to do this you need a step or a set of stairs. Now carefully back up as if you were going to do a backflip off the end of a diving board so that the fron t of yer foot is firmly on the step and the back half not. Now slowly lower the back of the foot where the step goes down. Do this 5-10 times twice a day...

2. Get some Berkenstock shoes... You may even have to use some of them shoe liners under the back half of yer foot for a while...

3. After it goeas away, continue with yer exercise program, wear yer Bweks and don't go barefoot...

4. Drink more water than you have been drinking and keep that up fir ever...

You do these things and it will go away and probably stay away!!!

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:09 PM

Sorry about the Blue Clicky, Bobert, but ya know . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Dave Swan
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:34 PM

Pedant alert. Plantar refers to the plantar aspect of the foot, the sole in other words. Plantar is to foot as palmar is to hand.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:39 PM

Cool.

Jowls is to jaw as howls is to haw.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Gypsy
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:44 PM

There are special shoes available by prescription....pretty trippy looking, they have a shock coil under the heel....exposed, of course. A friend (who is a teacher) got a pair, and they helped her enormously. There is also shock wave therapy, which will either work, instantly, or not. Nasty condition.......sure limits what you can do. I would go a long way with therapy before getting surgery, tho.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Gypsy
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:45 PM

Now that i have posted, remember the name of the shoes......Z Coil

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 10:02 PM

Yes, exercise is called heel or toe lifts. What ya gotta do is stretch the Achillies tendon where it attaches to the hell. What this feels like, for those of you who've never had it, is a stone bruise right in the middle of the heel. And, for ME, barefoot was better. I did get relatively cheap orthotics my my chiroprator and they did help.

It is actually caused by fallen or very flat arches which cause the Achillies tendon to seem to shorten.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 10:05 PM

Didn't Kat have a thread on this long ago (maybe about Birks) where ALL the approaches (and shoe options) were described? Might be a good resource if anyone could find the thread.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Midchuck
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 10:11 PM

I have it in the right foot. I went in for a routine physical and told the doctor I had a sore place under the right heel that wouldn't go away. I gave it a poke with his finger, and said "there?" and I said "Ow, yes," and he said "Platar Fasciitis."

He said three things would help: arch supports, heat, and an exercise where you loop a rolled up towel or some such under the ball of the foot, at the base of the toes, hold the ends, and arch the foot down, like you were standing on tiptoes, against resistance from pulling up on the towel. They all do seem to help.

It bothers me very little - not at all most of the time - if I wear running shoes - old, flexible ones, but with good new arch supports. But that is not always an option for a lawyer in a Vermont winter.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 03:54 AM

I will definitely vouch for Birkenstocks. Cured me in less than a week. It is no fun to have: feels like you're walking on a knife point. Another exercise that the orthopod recommended was pulling back on your big toe and then slowly and firmly squeezing the midfoot to stretch the fascia a bit further: somewhat like "sweating up" a line on a ship. But he didn't recommend Birkenstocks. I discovered that for myself.

And don't forget good old drugs: ibuprofen works well.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Bobert
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 05:45 PM

It was me, WYSusan, I think who may have started the last thread on this stuff seein' as I has it a couple years back and prolly woulda come here for medical advice seein' as this joint has better health care info than most doctors can give you... an' cheaper...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Spot
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 05:55 PM

Hello everybody..
                FC...you think you've got problems...I've got Planter's Nuts!!!



    Very sorry...ancient UK joke...Really I do sympathise..Get well soon..

                      Regards to all ...Spot(having drunk a lot of malt!!!) ( sorry) Tee-hee ...(Sorry)

                Ermmm........... 'Night to all...Spot

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 07:11 PM

Yes, Bobert, but before there even WAS a Bobert here, I think Kat had a thread going too.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Flash Company
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 11:05 AM

Thanks for all the input above, nice to know I'm not alone!
Midchuck- your experience with the doc sounds much like mine. My guy said, 'Do you jog?', I said 'Do I look as if I jog?' he said 'I suppose it was a silly question!'
Definitely a few things to be tried here, though.
Thanks all

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: MAG
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 11:38 AM

What helped me most was Dr. Scholls footwear with the little knob near the ball of the foot. It works that long connective tissue.

I got a catalog device which works the foot just like that pull-back-the-big-toe exercise. It works great, too.

I also got the orthotics, custom AND otc. Both were spendy and both help.

Alternating shoes helps work the foot.

I know I mentioned all these things on the "other" thread. It's back there somewhere.

By the time I got enough help on this I was rolling my foot out to avoid the pain. This caused a whole new set of problems. You are right to get help.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Llanfair
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 04:02 PM

I had it when we were at the eurogathering in Munster, Germany. The pain was awful. I did the stretching thing, and eventually found some shoes that had it cured in a week.

Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Ebbie
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 04:09 PM

"I gave it a poke with his finger, and said "there?" and I said "Ow, yes," and he said "Platar Fasciitis." Midchuck

Thanks for the laugh, Peter. It just sounded like a rather onesided and very funny conversation. He gave you a second opinion? LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 04:56 PM

Since you asked...I would not mess around with advice from friends...mine included. Follow your doc's advice.

I didn't really know what I was dealing with when I had it. I listened to all the advice from friends, postponed seeing a doc, ended up with heel spurs.

But what worked for me:

1. For the acute attack - roll your arch on a bottle of frozen water.

2. For prevention:
    1) Never ever ever ever ever ever under any circumstances go barefoot, especially in sand.

    2) Wear good shoes. I like a good fitting running shoe.

    3) Do the runner's stretch where you drop your heels off a step.


I think the concrete floors did me in after about a year of the inflammation. I didn't know what it was.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: MaineDog
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 05:44 PM

I got it while Scottish Country Dancing, by doing an overly agressive pousette with an overly charming partner. It took six months to heal. The doctor recommended, and I took, 12-16 Ibuprofin tablets each day...
I also had to get special inserts for all my shoes to throw my weight to the outside of the feet. I had to use a cane on bad days. But all is well now.
MD

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Flash Company
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 10:47 AM

Long Firm Freddie-- Policeman's Heel is interesting, when I did National Service in 1960 they referred to it as 'Recruit's Heel'.
My doc said he would make a note of that one.

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 06:27 PM

Here's the old thread. (I keep repeating myself, but at least I'm fairly consistent.)

thread.cfm?threadid=29007

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 06:34 PM

Yes, but wasn't there another about the shoe options?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 05 - 12:39 AM

A friend of mine at work swears by the practice of not wearing the same pair of shoes every day. Have several pairs and change them out and you'll give your feet a better workout.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 17 Mar 05 - 01:04 AM

I had a severe case of plantar last spring while vacationing. It was so bad that my leg was inflamed to mid-calf. I opted for medical intervention when I returned home. The most excruciating 20 seconds of my life was a cortesone injection directly into the base of my heel [I would have given up any state secrets I possessed during that time], and in less than an hour my foot pain was gone. By the next morning all swelling and redness was gone. Now I do some stretching and foot rolling exercises each morning, and wear supports in my shoes. The alternative would have been to stay off my feet for 14 days.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: freda underhill
Date: 17 Mar 05 - 08:01 AM

Birkenstocks
Birkenstocks
Birkenstocks...!

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: ranger1
Date: 17 Mar 05 - 08:23 AM

My letter carrier swears by Rockies (a brand of shoe). I used a pair of Dr. Scholl's arch supports, got rid of the LL Bean hiking boots that were a large part of the problem and took lots of ibuprofen. I also ditched my shoes as often as possible, which has helped enormously. Haven't had a recurrance in three years. My doctor recommended New Balance sneakers, BTW.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Noreen
Date: 17 Mar 05 - 08:41 AM

In the following thread: BS: saying goodbye to old Birkenstocks, Dr Mark Cohen said (while not intending it as medical advice) that wearing Birkenstocks had cured his plantar fasciitis.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Mar 05 - 07:21 AM

Sorbothane insoles (UK at least) you acan get just heel inserts too

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Flash Company
Date: 18 Mar 05 - 09:28 AM

I really started something here! Thanks again, guys & gals, I'll just hobble out and try a few of your suggestions.

Brian Q (aka Flash Company)

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Mar 05 - 10:10 PM

Lose Weight!!!! Walk More!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: GUEST,Hilary with one L
Date: 19 Mar 05 - 10:53 PM

Lose weight??? I BECAME overweight because I couldn't bloody walk without a cane because of PF. On bad days I can't do grocery shopping unless I use the cripple cart. The ortho fellah I consulted has had PF too - he's a marathon runner and so thin if he turns sideways he disappears. My PF came about when I was hefting heavy furniture around during a move. Now I daren't lift anything heavier than a gallon jug of water. Walking more will make PF worse unless orthotics, Birkies, FABS or whatever are used and the exercise is begun moderately until more distance is gradually built up.

''Lose weight! Walk more!'' You obviously haven't had this problem.

Thanks VERY much to all of those who have taken the time to offer useful, practical and effective suggestions. Your concern and empathy are most appreciated.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: GUEST,Piatkow
Date: 20 Mar 05 - 08:43 PM

Once you have it its too late for shock absorbing insoles. In the UK get Orthoheel inserts (available from Boots)and do streatches regularly.

Guest 18 March - it is a repetitive strain injury just like the pains you are developing in your right wrist.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Flash Company
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 05:26 AM

Actually, I wish I could lose weight, I retired in December 2001, I now eat less, drink less, and still I've put on a stone and a half.
I put it down to the fact that I no longer have a traumatic trek on public transport to the other side of Manchester (UK) every day. Either that or contentment!

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: GUEST,neovo
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 08:32 AM

Try rolling a tennis ball around under your foot and also the alphabet exercise - sitting down (so you don't fall over!) raise one foot off the ground and trace the upper case letters of the alphabet in the air with your foot. Exercises and stretches in all directions. This helped me - and the supportive shoes eg Birkenstock.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: GUEST,swanboots
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 04:46 AM

Physio thought my case interesting as I have peripherla neuropathy in my lower legs and feet. Are they connected? She didnt think so! Anyway I've been given some very expensive German gel heel pads and told to halve my walking expeditions to no more than 8 miles at a time!
Actually I think some very down-at heel slippers might have triggered it all - amongst other things!
I am certainly looking at specific exercises and rest. Night-time visits to the loo are particularly crippling!
It is good to hear that things can recover!

Subject: RE: BS: Oh No, I've got Plantar fasciitis
From: Severn
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 05:54 PM

I was expecting Mr. Peanut W/ a Hitler mustache.