Plantar Fasciitis, heel pain

[jayward]

Hi
I saw a old thread that was talking about Plantar Fasciitis.
I have had it now for18 months.i was wondering if the people that posted before have recovered and how people that others that have it are coping :eek:
making finding Bargains difficult

[Codswallop]

Hi jayward
I don't know if this has already been said but Radio 4 had a medical expert discussing foot problems about 1-2 months ago. I remember that Plantar Fasciitis was discussed with the expert. If you go to the R4 website, you should be able to find the script in the archive. I think the programme called Medical Matters, it's on in the afternoon. Hope you can find a cure!

[wolfehouse]

i have it- over a year now and just about starting to feel a bit better.
but i still have to watch out what shoes i wear.
the podiatrist gave me some insoles which were the thing that helped me.
(although i could have bought some over the counter ones and that would have done- the kind that support the heal or i've seen the nhs physio at our local walk-in physio clinic hand them out free too)

[110frankie]

I had it for about six months, a nurse friend told me what it was and I was about to go to my GP when it simply disappeared.
Not had a twinge from it for months now.

[angel]

My 13 year old son has had it for just over two years now. It's been pretty bad for him and at times he couldn't walk for more than 5 minutes or so and often couldn't do PE. Luckily his PE teacher's brother had it so he understood. He said that his brother grew out of it.

He's had NHS insoles made for him during this time and these are the only ones that help although they only make him one pair a year which is a problem as they end up in tatters which doesn't help much.

He was given physio exercises by the GP, she printed them off, but being 13 he hasn't really done them! Maybe you could look online for some? One of the ones that he was given was to stand on the edge of a step and gently drop his heels down lower, he was told to do that a few times a day.

Luckily it seems to be going now and he can do PE again, which he loves. He's also started ice skating which hurts but he takes ibuprofen beforehand which eases it a lot. It breaks my heart watching him limp through the pain, he's very brave about it though.

Hope that it goes soon for you.

[Ted_Hutchinson]

The old thread is does anyone have plantar faciitis (heel spur)? (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=247568)
It may be worth PM'ing some of the contributors.

I suspect the Radio4 programme was Case Notes (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/casenotes_20070925.shtml)Tuesday 25 September2007

[jayward]

Hi thanks for your reply’s .its quite bad at the moment, I have it in both heels and is not improving despite steroid injections 2 in one side and 3 in another also exercises and ultrasound treatment . physiotherapy they said they cant do any more, so back to consultant in 5 weeks time, crutches were given to me to use when its bad I wanted to find out how other people cope
:eek: .making finding Bargains difficult

[positivelymummy]

jayward, sorry to hear what a tough time you're having, i had this a couple of years ago, it i didn;t know what it was, just thought cos i was always on my feet, then when i got pain first thing in the morning i knew it wasn't right, luckily the chiropodist was my best friend:D so i went to see the dr, and luckily for me it went within 5 or 6 months from start to finish, i always wear flat shoes etc, and i found wearing heels helped me with the pain (tho i hate wearing heels all day) so i was pretty lucky, but i really sympathise with you, its impossible to rest, you use your feet all the time!! i hope something works soon for you.

[chickalittle]

I have this along with Mortons neuroma - I got to the point where i was hobbling along and in doing so, you start walking differently trying to avoid the painful parts which then has a knock on effect on other parts of your body.
I have a special insole from bio -mechanics and took a lot of time choosing shoes that I thought might help. After trying different makes, I have found that for me, Earth shoes with my in soles allow me to walk all day pain free. www.lovethoseshoes.com (http://www.lovethoseshoes.com) might be a good starting point. I know they are more expensive but what price pain free walking?


Once you find some shoes that help, one tip is often they can be bought at half the price in the US so if you have any kind family members or friends out there or know anyone going it could save you money.

[jayward]

Hi I have telephoned the consultants secretary to see if he will refer me to a podiatrist, waiting for a call back .I think I might have to wait till dec when I next see him

[moneylover]

I have insoles but for flat feet. Inserts are also commonly used for fascitis. The good ones are made to measure (dont go to Boots) and, frankly will be as good as your podiatrist....
My feet would be very painful without them. One tip that may be of help is Hotter shoes. There shops are in the north and in Bournemouth but they are online too and they do not mind you sending shoes back till you get the right ones. Some local independent stores sell Hotter too. The thing about Hotter is that they have inpact absorbing soles and, more importantly have insoles in them that you remove to make room for your purpose made insoles. If you have insoles you must wear flat lace up shoes. Another make along exactly the same lines and easier to get hold of is Ecco.
There is nothing I dont know about insoles having had to wear them most of my adult life - however only a consultant would be able to say if they would help with a particular persons plantar fascitis. I pay apprx £150 for insoles privately in London - there is usually quite a long wait for orthotics on the NHS - sadly its a bit of a cinderella service.

[jayward]

Hi thanks I live in Yorkshire I will look on the net to see if I can see them .
I am worried if I pay a lot of money and thy don’t work it’s a lot of money to waste I have spent £40 on Heel insoles, and £35 a week to get to phisio when its been bad and I cant go on the bus
I wear lace up shoes, and I also have flat feet
They have not rung back from the hosp so I will have to wait till dec.
but i will do anything to get better

[bedshaped]

I have this at the moment too! In just the one foot though - Poor you! how on earth do you cope with it in two feet, it's bad enough with just the one.

GP not very helpful keeps giving me painkillers which I hate having to keep taking but its the only way to relieve the pain. Told me to buy silicone insoles which I can't afford & it's impossible to rest up with 2 kids, a house to run and college full time!
The next step for me is the steroid injections which I'm not looking forward to but he says I can have these only if it doesn't go away on its own by christmas. I've already had it for 6 months, I'm shocked that some of you have had it for over a year I wasn't told it could go on for this long. :eek:

Good luck in finding some relief x

[jayward]

hi thanks for the reply i had Anti-inflammatory drugs which was helping but they stopped them because i was found to have Crohn's disease,its just settled down so the gp just started me on them again this week so far no improvement so we will have to see how my stomach likes them ive been of work over 3months now but cant stand up and walk about for more than half a hour hope you have more luck with your drs

[Skintmama]

Hi Jayward, I am very sorry that you are suffering from this, I have had it myself this year. I did just post a long and hopefully helpful reply but have deleted it because it probably breaks the board rules!

I suggest you go to www.runnersworld.co.uk (http://www.runnersworld.co.uk) and look on the injuries board in the forums. It is a common condition in runners so you will find plenty of advice on there and helpful articles. The forums can be accessed without being a subscriber to the magazine.

Hope you get some relief soon. On a moneysaving note I will add that my condition is much improved and did not involve paying out for expensive consultations.

[jayward]

thanks i will have a good look at the forum on that website

[moneylover]

Yes, Runners World is excellent one of the best ideas put forward. As well as my flat feet I have ischial tuberosity pain (hurts to sit down- its all related) and I have had loads of help from there. You can join and post for help too. It all makes you feel less alone.

I am a librarian and I will try and find some useful medical abstracts/articles for you in the next few days and pm you. It might give you a few ideas to run past your consultant. Hopefully the consultant who you are seeing has a particular interest in feet.

[jayward]

that would be great thanks