Segundo episodio de fascitis plantar.

Cuidado de los pies
1

Just thought I would share my experiences as only people suffering can appreciate the despair of this condition. I started with it 30 years ago after working on hard floors whilst wearing poor quality boots and also had been doing a lot of calf raises as I tried to get fit. My right foot went first then my left started hurting one day as I walked on bobbled tiles in the swimming baths. I suffered terribly for three years until it had just about gone, after changing my job so I was not standing any where as much.

Then I made the biggest mistake of my life as I took up the offer to have surgery thinking this would put an end to it once and for all. After three weeks in plaster I was in a different sort of pain now with the top of my foot hurting as well and also had inflammation on the plantar as opposed to sharp pain under my heel. Over the years it gradually improved to a point where I did not even think about it , then Bang! It returned without warning 6 months ago and, so I am back at the beginning again, with a monumental mountain in front of me again as it seems no improvement in treatment has been forthcoming.

The side of my feet, (underneath) are also now affected and standing in the same position after just a few minutes is close to distressing.

Hopefully my extreme experiences can help others evaluate the recovery time they might be looking at without taking drastic action as I did all those years ago.

2

Lo tengo desde hace 25 años y creo que una vez que lo tienes se queda contigo. Eso dicho, ha habido veces en las que no pienso en ello. Otras veces cuando no puedo caminar del salón a la cocina.

3

Gracias por compartir, los míos son un poco mejores con plantillas.

4

Yes I think that with whatever tinkering, surgical included, it will always lie there waiting for an opportunity to flare, often as you say for no apparent reason.

It is now nine months since my last episode and was a humdinger! It started as pf then spread to the back of my heel which swelled up and was acutely painful to the touch, then to the top of my foot on the arch which felt as though I had been whacked with a hammer. 

I was off my feet for two weeks and limping with a painful stiffness in my foot for months after and even know still often have that pain.

I hope I have held it off by now always wearing shoes with shock absorbing soles and good heel/arch supports, also doing daily caly stretch exercises.  I think that wearing soft soled shoes  like Converse which are not at all supportive, and then putting weight on the ball of the foot climbing stairs, kerbs, etc, stretches the tendon and reopens those little tears that give the pain.

But honestly don't really know - I used to jog a lot but now really worried this could lead to a flare-up - oh well, life must go on!

5

Cushion, cushion, cushion!!!

I think plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone, OR some minimal tearing of the plantar fascia - just a few fibers - that results, naturally, in inflammation . . .   like a "pulled muscle."  (You may know that a pulled muscle is simply the tearing of a few muscle fibers.)  Inflammation hurts until it heals and resolves.  So what's so difficult about curing P.F.?  Well WE WALK ON IT!!!  Let's say we take 5000 steps a day.  Imagine inflammation of your elbow, (i.e. tennis elbow).  Imagine taking your sore "tennis elbow" and wacked it against the wall, 5000 times a day.  Think it would heal quickly?  I don't either.

So my recommendation for plantar fasciitis is cushion, cushion and cushion.  That's right - cushion the heel.  Here's what I am doing.  First, I have the plantar fasciitis "relief bridge" gel-heel innersole in my shoes - that I got at Walgreen's for about $11.  Then I wear a plantar fasciitis therapy wrap padded supports that I got on the internet for about $13.  But also, I sewed  onto the the padded foot wraps, the back part of some thick arch cushions for a little more cushion.  Over that "heel wrap" I wear some heavy athletic sox which also contribute a little extra cushioning.  So under my heels I have 4 cushion layers and after a few months, I'm 99% cured of my P.F.  That's what I'm doing and I hope that this helps you and the many other sufferers of plantar fasciitis.  doknabox

6

Keep the faith! I agree it is just a matter of management.

7

Suena genial. Pero ¿qué pasa cuando vives en un país caluroso como yo y tienes que llevar calzado abierto? ¿Alguna sugerencia para el verano???

8

Crocs are best  but may be a tad warm otherwise Birkenstocks give good heel and arch support, but make sure they are a good snug fit, and the straps are quite tight.

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It doesn't matter what shoes you wear.  Just CUSHION, CUSHION, CUSHION your heel.  Today I realized that my PF isn't there anymore.  No pain.  No tenderness.  This after about 4 months.  To be cautious I'll continue using the "plantar relief bridge" insoles in my shoes that I got at Walgreens.  Read my other posts.  donabox

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Gracias David, he seguido tu consejo y he estado revisando los zapatos Birkenstock y definitivamente voy a pedir un par y probarlos. Tienen muy buenas reseñas en Amazon. ¿Los has probado tú mismo...

11

Hola David,

Ya he comprado un par de Birkenstock, y vaya, son muy cómodos.

Los he llevado puestos desde el momento en que los compré, y realmente sujetan tu pie en su sitio, no puedes caminar mal con ellos puestos.

Muy satisfecho con mi compra y lo recomendaría a otras personas. Son bastante caros, pero se obtiene lo que se paga.

Gracias de nuevo por su buen consejo.

Por cierto, olvidé mencionar lo más importante, mis pies no me duelen cuando camino con estos zapatos.

12

Hi Joycepost - glad you found the Birks good. Don't know what type you bought but I found the model with two broad straps and a heel strap the best, maybe it was Milano but not sure.

I have read most posts and posted a few times and there are a bewildering array of recommendations and treatments. I am in no way a medic but must conclude that pf is actually a very individual condition. The physiology of the foot may be slightly different, high arches, flat feet, weight, how we walk, etc, could all affect things. Also how bad the pf flare up is can be different. Only occasionally do I get a throbbing, tearing pain that I can put up with and usually goes away after a day or two. When I get a real flare up I am barely able to walk, can’t put any weight on my foot without excruciating pain, and have to rest for four or five days.

I think because pf is different for us,the medics don’t really know how our individual circumstances can mean treatment and prevention methods may also have to be different. If we break an arm it is reset, put in a cast and several weeks later back to normal but the level of pf cannot I believe be accurately diagnosed and therefore the treatment is somewhat random.

Take for example Skechers Go Walk shoes which many find can give superb cushioning and relief, but for me after wearing them for five days solid I think gave me a bad flare up of pf. I have been doing calf stretches every day, wearing only cushioned supportive shoes and, touch wood, have been free for over nine months from serious pf, but who knows if these things contributed anything. Footwear can play a part especially if you have very high arches like mine which need good arch support, whereas someone with flat feet may find arch supports give more strain.

Sorry if all this sounds a bit negative but I just mean to say that I don’t think there are any REAL pf specialists. Also I think that things like acupuncture or cortisone injections may give temporary pain relief with the result that you then put more strain on the foot and worsen the tendon tears which after a few days makes things really worse. I know it is difficult with work and family commitments but keeping weight off the foot and rest are the only things that will really shorten a serious pf episode.

Has anyone tried gait analysis? I know there is a lot of scepticism about running shoe shops who do this using tread mill videos and ‘wet foot’ analysis which defines in categories the arch height. It is seen more as a selling gimmick but if done professionally may be able to pinpoint muscle activation e.g. calf muscle which could affect pf.

13

Hola David,

bueno, mis Birkenstock, bueno, de corta duración . Fui a ver a un nuevo excelente doctor ortopédico el otro día para obtener un nuevo consejo y ver si puede ayudarme más.

Llevaba puestos mis zapatos Birkenstock y le dije lo cómodos que eran, etc.

Me revisó los pies, los mapeó, los escaneó, me dio acupuntura seca.

Luego me dijo que no puedo usar los zapatos Birkenstock más, que no son buenos para mi condición y empeorarán las cosas.....OMG, estaba devastado, acabo de comprar esos zapatos por 70 euros.

Dijo que lo siento mucho y que son zapatos brillantes para una persona normal, pero no para ti.

Así que ahora tengo que hacerme nuevas plantillas de un material especial y unos zapatos ortopédicos completos y adecuados.

Él cree que eliminará el dolor en un mes y estaré libre de FP por mucho tiempo, siempre que haga exactamente lo que él me diga.

Así que ya veremos. Por el momento, estoy usando 2 latas de Coca-Cola congeladas 2 veces al día, rodando bajo mis pies y estirando los dos dedos más grandes hacia atrás con mi pierna en un ángulo de 100 grados. Recibo mis plantillas hoy y vuelvo a verlo el martes.

Así que veremos cómo va esta vez.....

Observa este espacio para las últimas noticias.....................

p.d. Todavía estoy usando mis Birkenstock mientras trabajo porque estoy sentado todo el día

14

Hi joycepost

Sorry the Birks didn't work out. They are ok for me and many others but the lack of cushioning may not be for everyone.

I know that cusioning is very important and have this in most shoes but like Birks sandals when the weather is warm.

I had a thought the other day that my pf flareups may be due to carelessly treading on the angle of a step rather than on the step itself, something I found myself doing and which gave the tendon a nasty, fortunately so far not developing more.

I live in a 4 storey house with 36 steps to my bedroom at the top. It is 16 steps down and two up to the bathroom/toilet so bad pf days are a major challenge!

Hope all goes well with you and look forward to hearing how it pans out.