I've had PF in one foot for best part of a year, now in both feet for the last 4 weeks. Im in excruciating pain as I'm sure most people who suffer from PF can relate to. Painkillers I have been prescribed up till now are useless but my GP is giving me stronger ones for when I go on holiday in 2 weeks so I can walk around hopefully. He has told me that when I return from hols, I will be having steroid injections. I'm interested to know what other sufferers think regarding this and also if it has helped the people who have had the injection.
Injections never helped for very long.even the custom arch supports the podiatrist made that cost a small fortune did not help.
I wasn't until I started searching for arches online. Arches and good shoes r key..
Ice the foot and keep swelling down.test feet as much as possible wear cushion bottom inside the shoe.
I went on vaca for two weeks with severe PF. I fashioned arches to fit in my shoes from many trial & error tries of many styles of online arch supports. Many to chose from. I tried many until I found one that supported my issues with my feet. 5 years later still doing well. No shots no surgery.
Remove the old insoles from the shoes replace with silicone liners not gel. Then insert arch support. Also shoes r important it really helps finding the right Shoes. Google best shoes and arches for PF online. Then start experimenting with what help UR feet. U will know right away when each step no longer feels like UR walking on a bed of nails. These arches/shoes actually heal the tendon in the heel..
I have heard mostly bad feedback just from an accumulation of things I've read but I, myself have not had them for that reason. Also that it's quite painful to get them. My Podiatrist is having me take an oral steroid instead of the shot. I start that in a day or 2 so will let you know. You are lucky to get painkillers...I have had nothing but Advil for the past 10 months!! Anyway, they have worked for some people so hopefully 1 of them will reply but in my opinion the majority are not successful.
hi catian i myself suffer from PF in both feet mines just started in april there yes ut is excruciating pain i also have painkillers ibrofen i am going to see a bio mechanic on wednesday to see if i need injections something i am not really looking forward to if i do.. they work for some and not others from what i have been reading but are very painful from what i gather i am hoping i can get insoles made to suit my feet and they help before i get injections of any sort..
I do not know how you have managed - I've only had it one month in one foot & it has crippled me. My Dr has given me anti inflammatories. tramadol, tubes of ibrufen gel & a steroid injection. The day I had my injection it was like a miracle cure because he put local anaesthetic in with the steroid - what a relief, the pain almost went completely. However, when the local wore off the pain returned altho not as severe - I have bought expensive ortho shoes with excellent support & am doing all the exercises he gave me plus putting my foot in a deep bowl of iced water, which is bliss when the pain is bad.
I'm sure being in the pool will help - my deepest sympathy for your pain.
TAKE ANYTHING THEY WILL GIVE YOU....
The injection lasts for about 5 seconds & is not that bad & compared to the PF pain it is a breeze, I've had worse at the Dentist... I will try anything to relieve the pain - what have you got to lose?
I have had plantars fasciitis release surgery in both feet so I have tried everything known to man for relief of the pain. I have a plastic tub full of different arches and insoles for my shoes. I have shoes, shoes and more shoes. Oral meds, loads of injections in my feet, physical therapy and still ended up doing the surgery. The left foot was done 8 years ago and gives me zero problems! It is such blessed relief. The right foot was done 5 months ago and I am still in pain from it. I also had tarsal tunnel release, bunion and hammertoe done at the same time. As far as the shots for plantars fasciitis. I say try it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain in pain relief. They will not cure the condition but will greatly help alleviate it. The most important thing is stretching that plantars fasciitis. Go to You Tube and look up some exercises and do them faithfully. Good shoes and arch supports are your friend. No more flip flops unless you wear a brand called Fit Flop, they are awesome and really helped me. My podiatrist recommended them. Good luck, it is a long hard road with PF that no one understands unless they have walked it!
You may be right Cindy...but I started the oral steroid today so we will see if that does anything first I guess. Have to take it in a high dose for 5 days. I just can't stand the thought of that needle going in my already painful heel. The Dr didn't even mention it. I'm having to go thru the mercy of the County hospital resources so I'm probably not getting the best I could get...or the most caring Dr. anyway. I'll post again and of course keep reading. Thank you for replying.
Hey Cindy....I never have heard of putting your foot in a bowl of ice....could be dangerous. But I heard many times about rolling your foot on a frozen water bottle....so, when I first got PF I tried that on both feet. The second time I did it the pain immediately left in my right foot and never came back!!! So I have been dealing with this in my left foot for 10 months now but it cured my right foot asap so try that...rolling it under your foot for like 20 minutes but be careful about putting your whole foot in ice. Your foot could go numb but set up frost bite which would be awful.
Don't worry it is in fact an outside water feature - when my PF is really inflamed & painful I tip some ice cubes in it, make a cuppa and sit on achair with my feet in the water. It feels good - I then do my exercises for a couple of mins & then plunge them back in & repeat.
The ortho shoes by 'Alegria' are really helping, better than all those inserts. I got one pair of nearly new off ebay and another from an orthopaedic footware company.
Thank you all for the advice. I agree using ice works brilliantly. I have decided to get the steroid injections as I'm at the point where I will try anything to ease the pain.
PF is so depressing, the continual pain with every step - if you give your pain a score, 10 being the worst - I think mine has dropped to a 7 since the injection & shoes, but went upto 9 yesterday because I had a busy day & was on my feet for hours.
Wishing you relief, Cindy
Ok guys....so I got my first steroid injection on Thursday. I have been in pure agony ever since. I can't walk, can't put my foot down, can't go up or down stairs etc...I've never known pain like it.
I've just had to get a doctor to prescribe me some very strong painkillers as I'm practically in tears.
What I want to know is if this is normal. What are other peoples experiences with getting the steroid injection.
Thanks for all your feedback so far.
I'm so sorry you are in such pain. I wish I had seen your post asking about injections earlier....I won't get them myself bc out of all the feedback that I have read everywhere maybe 10% got some relief from injections and 90% hurt more or no change. But even without them I am in the kind of pain you have 24/7. Almost bedridden. I can't find a shoe for that foot anymore....nothing fits due to swelling and there is a place the size of a Silver Dollar in the center my heel...looks almost like a blister under the skin but the pain comes from somewhere deep right there. Feels like I'm walking on rocks. And mine isn't worse in the morning like PF is supposed to do...mine gets worse thru the day, the more I am on it so I have to get off of it as much as possible...it's my only relief. I had to buy a shower chair bc i can no longer stand in the shower. Also a mobile scooter to get around in public. Its changed my life totally. I pray to God for healing bc this isn't fair and it's no way to live.
I'm so sorry you are in such pain Ladyjack51, I myself, feel pretty much the same as you do....I am in constant pain in both my feet now and I've often considered a mobility scooter. Today, I'm using crutches...I walked to the doctors surgery to be told that its quite normal to be in pain after the injection but to come back tomorrow if its no better. I was so frustrated, I was in tears. I just want this pain to stop. Its really getting me down and I worry that I'm going to be like this forever. Your description of feeling like your walking on rocks is spot on...that's exactly how I feel..and when I'm not on my feet, I get the feeling like I'm being stabbed in the soles of my feet....only people who are suffering from PF understand what you're going through so thank you for replying and sharing xx
Bless your heart...I know you are sick of it. Almost a year for me now so I know. And depression will set in too. Might want to tell your Dr that you are getting really depressed so he can subscribe something or see a mental behaviorlist who can subscribe something. The not knowing when this will end will really get to you....and then why you, is another question I pray about all the time. I'm too young for this and I'm being robbed of quality time with my grand kids...that really gets to me. And then...I don't want to be a burden on people is another big one. Don't wait till you feel desperate. Tell someone now so you can get stabilized bc the tears will keep coming...but you have to be able to pull yourself out of it so you can keep going. I have no answers and i am hurting, angry, confused, and wiped out at times. It helps sometimes to talk on here...but sometimes that's even more depressing bc there isn't much good news on here. Pray my dear
Yes, I'm already taking anti depressants as I have been severely depressed and had panic/anxiety and agoraphobia since I lost my Dad in 2012...and you're right, being this helpless isn't helping my mental state at all. I have a 13 yr old son and he's been an absolute god send but I'm angry that I can't do more things with him. I feel old before my time. I walk past the mirror and see myself bent over and hobbling like an 80 yr old.
Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on here. You have been such a help today. xxx
Lolol..well if "misery loves company" can be helpful then I'm glad but it usually isn't such a great thing. However, it does help to vent and talk to others who know you aren't exaggerating your pain. I wish we could help to heal each other...then I would really be thankful. Maybe we will huh? We will keep each other informed and hopefully we can find ways to ease the pain. My Dr won't give pain meds!!! I think I should own stock in a the Makers of Advil bc that's what I take all the time...it doesn't take the pain but it does seem to round the pointed corners sometimes...just barely takes the edge off. We will talk more my friend.....
Hey...I wanted to tell you...I raise my 12 year old grandson so I know exactly what you mean!! He helps me with so much but I feel so bad to have to have him do that. I have smaller grandkids too but I have raised him since he was born so he lives with me. So sorry about your father. He is with you in spirit every day....I do believe that. I hobble bent over too on my cane. Then I use the scooter if I can drive to the store. It fits in the car and have to have my grandson break it down into 4 pieces and then into the trunk. Anyway...just wanted to share that with you....
I've had that and if you're a needle phobic like me you will probably scream your head off like I did. It is incredibly painful to have needles in your feet, I had 9 in one session!! Although it did seem to take the edge off for about 4 weeks the doctors seems to have aggrivated it and it came back with avengance. But injections are not a permanent solution, its just another painkiller at the end of the day. I'm off to see another specialist soon so I'll let you know what he suggests.