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OMG - I've been in pain for several months, had 2 shots, and like most of you had no relief.

2 days after my second shot, which did NOTHING for my pain, a friend let me borrow her walking boot. It let me get around pain-free (as long as I was wearing it) during the holidays. Without her boot, I could not have survived. Even my podiatrist said her boot was what I needed.

I'm still getting around because my boot (my friend's boot) immobilizes my foot completely. My friend says the key to her recovery was keeping her foot immobilized at a right angle for 6 weeks. I've been using her boot during the day and another softer boot at night.

My company changed insurance to save money in 2009 so I'm SOL. I'll keep wearing what I've got and hope for the best.

I'm pulling for all of you, but I don't have any answers.

MY 12 YR. OLD GRANDSON WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH PF. HE RECEIVED A POGOSTICK FOR CHRISTMAS AND I'M THINKING THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HE IS IN TERRIBLE PAIN. THIS IS HIS FOURTH DAY HOME FROM SCHOOL AND SLEEPING ON THE SOFA BECAUSE HE CANNOT GO UPSTAIRS. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Good luck with everyone dealing with PF. When I was 13, I had what was known as Sever's disease in the heels of both feet which caused great pain. My podiatrist made some "plates" as they were called in the '70's and my condition healed completely in about 2 years. About a year ago I thought the condition was returning as I began having pain in the left heal which reminded me of when I was young. It has become so bad that my first step out of bed almost brings tears. After I walk around for a while it lets up a little but the pain is a constant level 8 and I walk with a limp. If anyone is wondering of powerful pain meds will help the answer is no, at least for me. I went to a podiatrist yesterday and recieved an injection into the heel and was given a night splint. I am praying that this works for me and I also pray for all who deals with this awful condition.

Please keep me up to date with results from surgery. I am so sick of being in pain all the time, I don't want another surgery but something has to happen so this goes away. (I had neck surgery two years ago for herniated disks) I'm on hydro codone which does nothing for the pain. Does anyone take anything that helps? I'm looking for suggestions to give to my doctor. My doctor made me an appt. with a foot dr but that isn't until the end of Feb. I've had this pain since last May. I've done one shot in one foot, to give it a try, I don't see me going back for more. I've done physical therapy, with the ultrasound and tried 5 different cushions, seats, cups, etc in my shoes. I don't go barefoot at all anymore and am now trying a Mizuno running shoe. I need suggestions! Tracie

I think I will try some naproxin, that is I think an anti-inflamitory and may help. I have had no luck with Lortab.

Tracie,
Boy can I relate to the pain that you are in and all that you have tried!! I am scheduled for endoscopic surgery on Feb. 4th. Will keep you informed!
Lynn

I have been suffering with plantar f since last June when I was working overseas for the military. The military doctors only gave me naproxen and told me to ice and did electric shock etc. I was given a cam boot which is similar to a ski boot minus the clamps on the bottom. I wear that once and awhile. I finally went to a civilian podiatrist which gave me a cortisone shot in my left foot and I asked him to give me the "night boot". Now this has been 2 days since i tried this method. I believe with using the night boot every night, it will possibly get rid of the pain I had in this foot. It was suggested to me from someone I know with the same condition. After seeing several doctors in the Boston area, the night boot was the only thing that saved her from 9 years of pain.

I can relate to what everyone here has said. I had pf bad years ago - I got it after getting stress fractures that didn't heal real well - and went through all the treatments, including surgery and orthotics and pt. After a few years I was able to walk up to maybe twenty miles per week. Last summer I got really hyper and over-walked for a couple of weeks. I've been in pain ever since in both feet. It started to show some improvment and I over-did just the slightest bit. (It's so hard to know when to cease walking, especially when you really want to walk. The foot goes kind of numb and feels not to bad until it's too late to see how much damage has been done.) Now the pain is back in both heels. I have little hope anything will help - I've been down this road before. You really have to have this to understand how awful it is. I especially feel for the person who has tried to get on disability for this. The pain is not just physically awful, but for a highly active person it's devastatingly depressing. I am fortunate enough to have gotten on disability. But still this damned injury has wrecked my whole life. I am really at the end of my rope.

Hi Cheryl - Have not heard from you in a while . . . did you go for your nerve test? Any results? How are you doing?

Hi Lynn - Are you still going in for the surgery tomorrow? I am thinking about you - Please write when you can and let me know what you decided to do!

I went for second opinion this morning to another podiatrist . . . he does not believe that it is plantar fasciitis; however, does not have a clue as to what it is as I am not "presenting" with any classic symptoms of anything that he can put his finger on. He is going to speak with my original doctor . . . Said that it may be rheumatoid arthritis - I asked "wouldn't I present with anything else anywhere else?" He said yes probably . . . OKAY . . . then he said that it may be coming from my back . . . so I said "in both heels?" He said that he didn't know . . . Did some kind of leg test - put both legs straight up in the air and asked if I had any heel pain when he did that . . . NO! So to say the least I am beyond frustrated - tired of only being able to walk for a short period of time and having this totally take over my life, pleasure, marriage, etc. Everything is suffering as this has been going on for 1 1/2 years . . .

Sue

Sue,
Thanks for thinking of me. Yes I am scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning on my left heel ............and yep, I am actually going to do it!! Like you, two years of suffering, and I'm ready to go this route. I feel good about my decision and have high hopes for a great outcome. I'll keep you posted. I hope this other doctor works out for you. I think pf rears it ugly head in as many different symptoms as there are people. It all boils down to pain! Maybe this other doctor will have some different insight to new medications or other treatments for you. I know it affects all aspects in your life and boy is it stressful. I look at other people walking and I feel envious that they are not only walking just fine, but they are in cute shoes too!!! But hang in there, know that you are not alone in this thing.
Cheryl, hope to hear from you also.......I love this message board and check it often. It's interesting to hear all of your stories and keep track of your journey with trying to cope and cure this awful pain we all share.
Lynn

Hello Sue, Lynn and All--

I'm thinking of you today Lynn . . . . I thought I'd stop in for an update. I had my nerve test done (it wasn't that bad, certainly better than the cortisone shot). I have some trapped nerved in my foot. I am starting on some therapy with someone who specializes in feet. I am having a gait test and custom orthotics (insurance will cover 100%). In an unrelated problem, I have had to see the orthopedic Dr. for problems with arthritis in my hand, and have started taking Arthrotech for it. Amazingly enough, the constant pain in my feet is almost completely gone ( I had forgotten what the absence of pain feels like!) The podiatrist said he would refill my prescription since it seems to be helping my feet too. I also spent $150 on a new pair of New Balance 1123, and they are great. They have the best stabilization system in them. I hope this means I'm headed for a down-time from the PF and that the therapy helps!

Cheryl

Cheryl, (Sue) and all...

I am so happy for you and will keep my fingers crossed that you remain free of pain!! Isn't it amazing that we can go on and on with this blasted thing, then all of a sudden something will work! That is one of the things that is so great about this message board, we can get some great ideas. I am going to look into your new balance shoes, they sound like something that would be good for a lot of us.

Ok!! I am at day one with my surgery. So far, so good. I had the endoscopic plantar fasciitis (EPF) yesterday. It was at a surgical center and I was in a twlight sleep. The procedure itself didn't last long. So far the pain is minimal (It hurt more before surgery). My foot, except for my toes are totally wrapped. I go back to the doctor tomorrow. Until then I am to stay down and keep it elevated. When I get up I use my cam walker (boot). What hurts the most is when I put the boot on, the bandage is so thick it feels like at the base of the toes I am walking on a rock! I have high hopes and if this is as bad as the pain goes....not a big deal!! The dr. gave me vicadon for pain and so far I only took one after the numbness wore off, and quite frankly I probably didn't need it.
Will keep you all posted....
Lynn

Hello everyone,

I have a question for all of you, have you ever had a rollover sprain on the foot that now has plantar fasciitis? More than one? How long ago? Were you in a cast or a splint? Did you do physical therapy for it?

I've been doing medical massage for 24 years. I have massage therapy protocol that I've been using to get rid of PF. My success rate is better than 90%. I'm doing a survey on ankle injuries and PF to investigate the links between the number and severity of previous ankle injuries, and plantar fasciitis. I hope to use the results to get a grant from the National Institutes of Health in order to prove the treatment protocol. If you're interested in taking the survery, please goto my website, http://www.kaywarren.org and fill out the "contact me page". In the "remarks" tell me you want me to e-mail you the survey. As far as contact information, all I need is a name and city. You're welcome to fill out the rest if you choose. This affects over 2 million people per year, and I estimate that each person is spending $500 or more to deal with it between doctor visits, orthotics, physical therapy, special shoes, walking boots, etc. This doesn't count time out of work, lost productivity, etc.

I really feel that this is one of those medical issues that no one is paying real attention to. Too many people are spending way too much money on too many things that don't work well, or don't give consistent or complete results, and I'm hoping to change that. I suffered from PF for 3 long years before I smacked myself in the head and went "duh, I know how to fix this". Please help me make this kind of info public so people can get the help they need.

Kaelyn

Just wanted to give you all an update.....Went to the doctor for my post surgical visit. He unwrapped my foot and just put a band-aid on each side of my heel. It looks good!! He said not to let my foot touch the floor unless I have the "boot" (cam walker on). Other than that I really don't have any restrictions. Of course, I don't feel like I could go shopping or anything that required a lot of walking, but for the most part I do not have any great pain, it feels like a bruise. I'm really hoping for a good outcome. I should be in the boot for two to three weeks then a tennis shoe. I'll let you know how it goes!!
Lynn

I am getting the feeling that PF is different for each person so that what works for one person might not work for another. There are many ways that the plantar fascia can be affected. Mine started when I wore motion control shoes because I used to pronate badly in the 80s. Shoes would roll over in a hundred miles and some shoes I broke the heal counter. Then I rode a bike for a few years and returned to running gradully. About 10 years ago one of my feet hurt(I don't remember which) when I ran in some super motion control New Balance shoes. I tied softer insoles which didn't work. These shoes went to Good Will and I got Stability shoes and the foot quit hurting. Recently I increased my milege and pace and was doing well then PF came back with a vengence and has been here since October. I have a Strassburg sock which I hate and that seems to help with the first step in the morning, if I sleep. Monday I will be fitted for Ankel Foot Othotic to wear at night. I am confused on which exercises to do.