does anyone have plantar faciitis (heel spur)?

htm57

Thanks for all the links. It is very frustrating as it appears that only rest and time will heal this ailment. I have had this for about 6 months but it has got worse as I have ignored it. I am overweight (one of the main causes) and do a lot of sport. The frustrating thing is the sport prevented me from becoming more overweight than I am and now I can't do the sport I am dreading the weight piling on. I suppose I need to eat less! It is interesting to hear how other people are dealing with it. The exercises have helped and I was very interested to read the link that shows the pros and cons of different treatment. Thanks a lot.

apprentice_tycoon

I phoned a chiropodist on Monday, she told me that the consulation would be £45 and the recommended treatment of a wedge/ heel cup would cost around £70 - and then she said that I really should try to see a NHS chiropodist and deal with it more cheaply, that was kind of her.

Yesterday I saw the GP and asked to be referred to the NHS chiropodist, he expalined that the service was mainly kept for diabetics and my foot would probably get better before my appointment came through.

He printed out a fact sheet, showed me an Achilles heel stretch and said that Boots have a good range of shoe inserts that raised the heel 1cm and had a lift for the instep.
I bough a pair of inserts for £21.00 and I'm giving them a try, the bumph on the back of the pack said that it can take around a week to get used to them......I'll report back

Josie_Jump_3

I have my second visit to the bio-mechanic tomorrow, last visit I was given some insoles and advised to do various stretching exercises. I believe the insoles are helping a little but it still hurts like anything.

Like htm57 I'm a little overweight but playing football has helped keep me fit but has in turn has caused my injury which means I haven't been able to play. Although I have trained for a couple of weeks and although I can make it through an hours training I can't walk for a couple of days after. I've even invested in a 'cast' you wear at night - it looks a little like a ski-boot cut in half, anyway this supports your foot during the night and keeps the calf stretched so you don't have that immense pain first thing in the morning. I think I'll be asking for the cortizone injection tomorrow.

CGG

I've tolerated this condition for about 15 months now. First thing in the morning when I get up out of bed it's agony! Then it 'wears off'.
Intermittently throughout the day the pain is back with a vengence.
My Doctor said the option of having cortisone injections in the heel is there - but that he'd had them himself for the same condition and they are v-e-r-y painful.
I keep swallowing the Volterol pills and living in hope that it'll just go away...(please!).

shokadelika

Get yourself a pair of Birkenstock shoes or sandals you will
never look back its all about supporting your feet and posture they may not be the most glamorous footwear but strangely are quite trendy but your feet will thank you a million times!
My mother has had this for years and since wearing Birkenstock's for a couple of weeks its vanished !
My friend has paid £300 to a Chiropractor to sort out his trapped nerve in his leg since wearing these A few days it also has gone.Honestly I have some too you cannot take them off your feet more comfortable than barefeet!Been making shoes since 1775!! what does that tell you.

apprentice_tycoon

Josie_Jump wrote:

I've even invested in a 'cast' you wear at night - it looks a little like a ski-boot cut in half, anyway this supports your foot during the night and keeps the calf stretched so you don't have that immense pain first thing in the morning.

Do these casts have any effect through the rest of the day after you've taken them off?

stressedoutmum

I too have this and posted about it a few weeks ago on the site (before I knew what it was called). I have put gel insoles in my shoes and they help a bit but my pain is mostly my heel but also the arch of my foot. Nurofen/paractemaol and ibuprofen gel have not helped much. Having been told about the stretching exercises which will take about one month to have any effect. Not started them yet because my foot is so painful. I was advised I could have the steroid injection but that it is very painful.

pennymakespounds

repeat my avice from post 7 on this thread .

The real cure was going to a local independant sports shop ( not just a jjb type) and told the owner about the ailment and he recommended a particular make / type of trainer to wear .

I was amazed .. as soon as i put them on i could walk perfectly without any pain . Really were tremendous . Have helped immensely over time.. particular as i do walk a lot just for exercise / enjoyment.

Couple of years on .. i use the loose insert in normal shoes ..just to be safe... and have recently bought another pair of same trainer as others were getting scruffy.

I don't have any pain now.

apprentice_tycoon

I bought some Scholl shoes (clog type) for indoors, these have a good footbed shape so I expect they are like the Birkenstocks and I have the special insoles for my outdoor shoes so I'm resisting the trainers for now, I know that they are worn by mature women but they just aren't me and I don't wear anything that will go with trainers, I'll bear the advice in mind if all else fails.......

DrFluffy

*all* faciitis means is inflamation of a fascia (a band of fibrous tissue). IT doesn't tell you anything about it's cause, which is why Internet diagnosis is dangerous.

Your GPs advice to try paracetamol is reasonable. If it doesn't work, you could speak to them about may be prescribing a stronger NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Failing that, steroids can be useful, as can surgery to relieve the pressure. Steroids and surgery are last resorts though, not quick fixes, and you should try the less invasive/less dangerous options first.

The other biggie for this sort of thing is 'RICE' therapy - rest, ice, compression and elevation.