does anyone have plantar faciitis (heel spur)?

apprentice_tycoon

I decided that the taping would be worth a try so I googled athletic tape and found it easily. I've tried it for 2 days now following the instructions on the website in the first post, basically it's 3 strips on the sole and one around the arch.
It seems to have taken the edge off the discomfort by giving support to the arch, the effect is really obvious when I take the tape off at night, it is immediately worse! I'm going to carry on with this and delay getting the splint for as long as I can, I really don't think that I can sleep with a big plastic 'boot' on.....

chardonnay_2

thanks for this thread. was going to post on behalf of my fil. i will pass him on the suggestions and see if they can help him.

cheers

loveandlight

Forgive me if someone has mentioned this before but I don't have the time at the moment to read this long thread but wanted to share my OH's experiences with Plantar Fascitis with you.

Two and a half years ago my husband started complaining of Acid Reflux. It became so bad his GP told him he would have to be on stomach medication for the rest of his life. We didn't want him to be on life long medication so changed our GP. Our new GP told us that there was an operation he could have that would fix his stomach (it had torn through his diapthram after doing a bout of heavy lifting one day ) and he would then no longer need to be on medication.

At the same time as being put on stomach medication he started developing problems with his left foot. So much so that he had various courses of physiotherapy, saw a Consultant who diagnosed Plantar Fascitis was told he was in chronic need of some injections and he could no longer walk without the aid of a walking stick and even then could only manage to walk very short distances. Many a time he would be in absolute agony with foot pain and he tried what seemed like everything but nothing helped.

We realised that his foot pain only started when he started taking his medication for his stomach. We asked our GP and Consultant and lots of other people whether the two were linked and maybe the Plantar problem was a side effect of the medicine he was taking for his stomach. Everyone said no it was just a coincidence.

A year later he went into hospital and had his stomach repaired. After the op he didn't have to take his medication anymore. Exactly at the same time his foot problems immediately went also. He has never had a problem with his feet since. So for him his foot problem had been brought on by his medication.

I am telling you all of this in the hope that someone else may also be able to benefit from our experience. I certainly hope so because I know the problems it causes and how it can seriously have a negative affect on your lifestyle.

kateh32

Hi,
i had this pain for a couple of months.The GP was no help.I bought some shoe inserts from boots.After wearing them for a few weeks the pain did go.Kate

ailuro2

apprentice_tycoon wrote:

- it looks like I've got to grin and bear it but sometimes it's more like grimace and whinge.

noto true- my dh had it and was referred to a physio who gave him massage/infra red treatment and a set of exercise to do-

the main exercise was to put your foot on a towel and try to use your toes to gather the towel towards you.

The condition is also known as fallen arches- when you have wet feet what kind of imprint does it leave on the floor?

If there is too much in the middle you likely have fallen arches.

Very painful, but very treatable.dh still wears supports in his shoes, and has also lost over a stone to help the condition.

Of course this is not medical advice.Pester whoever will listen to get you an appointment with a physio, or perhaps pay for yourself- dh would have been 25pounds per visit, x 6 visits to sort him out, 150 would have been cheap to cure such agony, luckily work paid for him to see the physio since he had time off work (standing all day at work didn't help)

CGG

Being a sufferer of this condition, I'm intending to apply for a 'blue badge'.
Have any of you fellow sufferers done this?

black-saturn

I used to have that until I bought a pair of Tuk shoes. I can't find an exact picture of the ones I bought but they are an all black version of this:



You can find them by typing Mary Jane Tuk into ebay and they cost about £37. They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever had. Theres an arch support inside the shoes.

Ted_Hutchinson

CGG wrote:

Being a sufferer of this condition, I'm intending to apply for a 'blue badge'.
Have any of you fellow sufferers done this?

While of course there is nothing to stop you applying for a Blue Badge other readers should be aware that BB's are exclusively for PERMANENT disability which prevents them walking 100yds, but about 80% of patients treated for plantar fasciitis have a complete resolution of pain see post #2

However best of luck to CGG with the application for a BB and lets hope we hear back from CGG whatever the outcome so others can also benefit if it's success and comisarate if not.

CGG

I just emailed my local Council for an Application Form.
I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.

stressedoutmum

I have been on my feet at work all day and my foot is absolutely killing me. Someone in another post recommended glucosomine for this - has anybody used it and do you know what its for?? Also I bought myself some Crocs as I thought they would help but they haven't a great deal so not sure if Birkenstocks or similar would really help.