plantar fascitis?

M

midwestchick

Cathlete
Hi Cathe and everyone,

I've been mostly in lurk mode but have been enjoying doing Cathe workouts for almost a year now.

I think I may have plantar fascitis..a self diagnosis at the present but am going to a podiatrist today (I'm a vet, but not a foot doctor :). Been having some heel pain - not esp. during workouts, but afterwards it radiates from my heel pretty intensely.

Anyone have any experience with this? I'm thinking it may be more from jumps than movement on the step?

Thanks - I've learned SO much from everyone on here.

Heidi
 
Welcome Heidi!

Personally, my plantar fascitis was painful first thing in the morning and then as the day went on it felt better. If I sat for long periods of time and then got up it flared again. At the start of my workouts it hurt but as the ligaments stretched and I warmed up it got better. So, I am thinking you may gave a heel spur or something else associated with the heel. No doctor here, but that would be my guess. Good luck and let us know what the doc says.

Nancy
 
It does sound a lot like a heel spur. I've got one of those, and it rarely bothers me during a workout, but I do notice it afterward (when I put regular shoes on). The doctor will be able to diagnose you in about two seconds if a spur is what you have. An exray would show it as well.

Just be wary of the doctor prescribing drugs to help the situation. I was recently prescribed some kind of arthristis medecine, but I went off it after about two weeks because it really didn't help as much as basic Advil and I didn't like how it made me feel.

Edited to add: My spur is aggravated by high impact moves, old workout shoes that have lost their support and regular shoes that don't have decent added padding (i.e. Dr. Scholls inserts) in the heel area.

Good Luck,
Shelbygirl
 
Thanks for the advice.

I just got back from the podiatrist - I have HUGE heel spurs on both heels. Probably have been there for a while but recently inflamed d/t increasing my Cathe workouts/intensities. He taped the worse foot, gave me an Rx for pain med (high powered ibuprofen which I didn't fill yet - I don't feel I need anything more than reg. advil for now), exercises to do daily once the wrap is off, and instructions to do no step for three weeks :( Only swimming, cycling,or elliptical...B-O-R-I-N-G! But, I'll do it...doctor's orders and all. He also gave me a splint to sleep in nightly.

Getting old is starting to....get old! :)

I'm sure going to miss my Cathe and step <sniff,sniff>

Heidi
 
This sounds like a question for the "Open Forum" since it is addressed to "anyone" and not specifically to Cathe.

We have actually discussed it there before. You can find the old threads with a search.
 
Thanks, Kathryn, I'll do some searching in the archives. I was curious if Cathe would give her opinion if she had one, but that's ok. I'll go check the archives out.

Heidi
 
Hi Heidi,

I also have heel spurs that lead to plantar fascitis. My podiatrist prescribed custom orthotics that go in my shoes. I've had them for years now and they really help. The other thing my Dr insists on is supportive shoes that are replaced every 3-4 months. That gets expensive so I usually replace mine about every 6 months. The only time I've had a flare up in 8 years is when I quit buying the expensive, supportive shoes. It was really bad again so I bought the shoes he recommends again and I'm fine now. I wear New Balance with roll bars for over pronation. Hope this helps!
Amy
 
I have battled this affliction for 7 years, from one foot to the other. I know how bad it can get. The way I deal with it, and continue to work out, is do the exercises, wear the night splint and get the orthotics. Another thing that has really helped me is to not walk barefoot. You should get a pair of Birkenstocks to wear around the house as your slippers. I know they aren't the most attractive footwear but they will really make your feet feel better. The best night splint I have found is the Sure Step night splint. You used to be able to buy it on Road Runner's Sports website but I don't think they sell it anymore. I have bought lots of night splints and that was the one that finally worked for me and was confortable to sleep in. It is an overuse syndrome but I don't think any studies have shown that laying completely off exercise will cure it. In my case, you learn to live with it and just baby it along when it flares up. If worse comes to worse, you can get a cortisone injection. It hurts like the dickens but oh boy, does it ever make it feel better. Good luck!!
 
Heidi and others-

Unfortunately, I have expereince wtih PF and bone spurs. However, if the imflamation can be kept to a minimum or eliminated, then the bone spurs are not a problem. Here is my reply to a post from several years ago reguarding PF and bone spurs:

(I want to add thatI recently added puzzle mats in a double layer to my WO floor and fell much less aggrevation with hi impact cardio now.)



""After having PF and bone spurs from the prolonged inflamation I can empathise with you. My pain was to the point that putting weight on my foot first thing in the morning was dreaded.

Here are the changes that really helped me to get the inflamation down and pain subsequently disappeared. These were changed I made under the care of a podiatrist.

1. Elongating your calves helps minimize the pulling on the plantar fascia and decrease the inflmation (read decrease pain here). So, strech your calves several times per day. I streched before getting out of bed, while brushing my teeth, and any time I could get away with it.

2. Anti-inflamatory meds help too. I used naproxen (Aleve)


3.Completely stopping high impact cardio for 6 weeks. This was tough, but really allowed for the imflamation to subside. I rode a stationary bike for the 6 weeks.

4. I had prescription orthotics made. The can be expensive. I keep them in my workout sneakers 100% of the time. At first they need to be worn in gradually increasing time periods to get your feet used to them. Some people also recommend over the counter supports. Try a good running shoe store for help.

5. Never go bare foot. This position pulls more on the plantar fascia and contributes more to the inflamation and pain. In some cases the bone grows out from the plantar fascia making a bone growth (spur).

I have spurs on both heels, but no pain now. The spurs will not go away but keeping the inflamation in check eases the pain.

Keep stretching, Keep stretching , Keep stretching!!!""

***Add I mean stretch every 2-3 hours during each day!!! If you can drop your foot off a step to elongate your calf every few hours it can be very helpful.***


Judy "Likes2bfit"


If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.
Success is acheived by early preparation


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