Plantar Fasciitis is taking over my life!!! HELP!!!

In a big nutshell, I will tell my story. I'm not so much looking for pity, but other options to help me on my journey to recovery. Thanks in advance everyone :)

I first noticed my feet hurt around July 2013. Thought it was because I work in a preschool setting and I am up, down and on my feet all day. I then went to my GP when I noticed extreme pain in the mornings with my first steps out of bed, and sharp knife like pain in the ball of my feet. BOTH FEET. He shot me in my left foot with a steroid injection and sent me on my way. ( VERY PAINFUL INJECTION ) My GP also referred me to my now podiatrist/sport medicine doctor. ( one of the best in the city says the reviews. ) I was off work for 3 days after my steroid injection because I had a steroid flare up which is apparently "good" to get. huh... really...

After my flare and while waiting for my appointment to come around, I HAD to seek relief from the pain. I went to a random ( good reviews ) chiropractor to get some custom orthodics ordered, and a pair of "superfeet" ( which cost $40 ) to hold me over.

Finally my appointment came with the foot doc and he put me off work. He adjusted my orthodics and told me to stay off my feet for as long as possible. He then gave me a steroid injection in my left foot, which AGAIN I had a flare up causing me to be couch bound for a couple days and using a wheelchair. I then went to crutches due to the extreme inflammation in both feet. I went back in to see the Doc a few days later, and he gave me the shot in the right foot which was not very painful and didn't flare up. Still I used crutches. Couldn't go anywhere....house bound for days...

The doctor kept me off work for a bit.... adjusting my orthodics every visit I had with him. He told me I have nerve damage as a result of the plantar fasciitis. After about 1 month being off work I decided to go back. I was feeling very confident, and boy was I wrong. I couldn't do it..... I was in so much pain at work. Walking kids back and forth to school. I was no good at work. My boss and co-workers were very understanding with me and so my doctor decided I should work a M/W/F at 50% of the time. I made it through until the Wednesday and was in excruciating pain.

The pain was moving to my arches and up my legs now! So the doctor put me off once again now on a prescription of Gabapentin. I was at my wits end. My boss, and one of my preschoolers parents suggested acupuncture during my hard go at this, and I never gave it two thoughts until now.

It is now December 2013 in my little saga I call life, and I booked my first of nine appointments. ( Also through in some massage treatments as well to try to get relief ) My acupuncturist told me I was the worst case of PF she has every treated. Apparently people with PF have one to two knots in their feet where I had eight to nine. Well...... gave acupuncture a shot.... it is now the middle of January 2014 and I have no relief....STILL. I am still taking Gabapentin 2400mgs/day... still feeling the pains in my legs and feet.

Can anyone suggest my next "step" ( harhar )??? I feel like all this happened in my life and I'm back at square one.

:) thanks for your time

I had this for about a year and I can definitely agree with you that it is extremely painful. I started doing stretching with my feet as soon as I woke up, before I even got out of bed. I would do that for about 10 or 15 minutes and it did seem to help calm it down a bit. Mine went away suddenly and I'm not sure why. I am not sure if it was due to changing shoes or the exercises but it hasn't bothered me for about 8 years now. Unfortunately now I have a morton's neuroma in my right foot and I think one is developing in the left one as well.

I really hope you can find some way to alleviate this pain because it really is horrible. Perhaps an anti-inflammatory as well would help. I have never tried acupuncture but hubby has been wanting me to give it a go for my other problems. Keep us posted as how things go. Good luck and I hope it lessens soon.

I'm so glad there is an end in site. A year seems very long to go with extreme pain. For the last two weeks I have started yoga as well. Any other ideas???? Also acupuncture for what its worth was very good experience I recommend you give it a whirl. ( You're husband is actually right ;)

Thank you. I will try night splints!!!!!!

Wow thank you! I can't wait to try this!

Alcie beat me to it!

I was going to ask the same thing,-- if your doctors have investigated and ruled out that your low back may be a culprit? You don't have to have back pain, by the way, for this to be. It can be referred pain.

One of the symptoms of my personal low back situation was extreme pain on the soles of my feet. Every step was painful, especially weight bearing, but not exclusively.

At a regular pharmacy they sell those splints or boots to wear at night, you just Velcro them on and they keep your foot from pointing. I've worn them, and they made a huge difference!

Something to think about.

The frozen water bottle and tennis ball are excellent, and I'm glad to see you utilizing them.

I agree with Alcie that,--to be certain,--I would ask my doctor to at least investigate the possibility of your low back being involved.



M.

I would ask your PCP for a referral to a neurologist or neurosurgeon. They would be qualified in helping you out.

My neurologist did an EMG which showed the nerve involvement, including what was contributing to the pain in my feet. In my situation, I was then referred to a neurosurgeon, who ordered XRays and an MRI. That was the process I went through.

I would also do this sooner rather than later.

Sitting more may exacerbate it, but you need to get at the underlying cause of what "it" really is. But I definitely would not delay.

Let us know how you make out!



M.

oops clicked twice

re: deborahj's post:
First, was it a PT that did the scraping?

And secondly, I have thought about going on disability because I work on my feet and can only work three days a week, every other day and not longer than 4-5 hours standing.

I have had this condition for about two years, tried over the counter inserts then semi-custom insoles by Sole. That worked for awhile, at least minimized the pain. I am working with a PT who made me new orthotics, a kind you can add pieces to the bottom of it to try out support in various areas. These help but what helped me most is taping and large amounts of Ibuprofen. I really think the best would be to take some time off through disability or find a desk job. I stretch a lot, calf stretches and using a band.

I am glad you found relief.

Hello Foots & welcome to the chronic pain forum. Foots we ask all new members to make their own intro post so that everyone will see it & be able to give you a proper hello & welcome aboard. By posting on an older thread such as this one not many people will see it. Also, please note Deborahj has not been to the since January of this year. When looking through older threads here at HW, you can click on the poster's name & find out when they last posted at HW.

To start your intro post, look to the left & click Post New Topic, type in a heading & if you want to copy & paste what you have written above that is fine.

I will now lock this thread & we look forward to getting to know you.