Foot Pain?

Hi, I'm Suzi, and I'm a fibromyalgia sufferer! Sounds like an AA meeting. Anyway, I'm new here; this is my first post. I didn't know that FM could cause foot pain, but I sure know it now. It cost me my job last week (retail sales at Cracker Barrel). I've been seeing a podiatrist for about 2 months now, and I've had two sets of orthotics made. The first ones hurt so bad I couldn't wear them. The second ones are actually the first ones with a lot of cushioning on them. They feel better, but far, far from adequate. I thought I had plantar fasciitis, but after many tests, the answer was I don't. I slept in braces at night, did exercises... etc, all to no avail. It's neuropathy. I start therapy tomorrow; I'm really hoping it will help. I take Lyrica, Cymbalta, Tramadol and OTCs, which help with the other body pain, but don't seem to be helping with the foot pain. I heard about a med specifically for neuropathy called Neurontin. Has anyone used this med? Does it work? Even with insurance, all these meds are taxing our resources.

If you are experiencing sleep problems, see if you can get your doctor to order a sleep study. Mine did, and it turned out that I was getting NO REM sleep, which is the restorative phase of the cycle. (People used to think that REM - Rapid Eye Movement - meant they were dreaming. Made sense, but it was wrong.) So they put me on CPAP (Controlled Passive Air Pressure) and I've been using it for about a year now. It REALLY helps! Much more than sleeping pills, which tend to keep you OUT of that phase you need so much.

Thanks for listening. I don't have anyone around to share with. My husband and grown children are supportive, but I rarely mention it to others.

Suzi

Thanks, Karen! And thank you for the welcome message. It's nice to have others on your side, huh?

:)

Suzi

Sorry about that. I take norco (strong vicodin) for fibro pain and celebrex for joint pain. Between the two of them, I am set. Well, not set, not pain free, but as good as I have been able to get it so far.

Hugs, Karen

Hi suzi and welcome to our fibro family, You have already been talking to one of our wonderful moderators and there are still several others. Im sure they will greet you later on. Im sorry about your foot pain, I have had pains on the bottom of my feet where I could barely walk to but then that got better. Now though for me wearing shoes is like putting a vice grip on my foot and squeezing. Can only tolerate regular shoes for a very short time. Sorry you had to lose your job because of it. I hope you get some relief soon.
As well as our wonderful mods we just have a bunch of wonderful and supportive people who are always willing to answer questions if we can, and we understand when you are having a bad day because we all have them too. Please dont hesitate to post.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley

Hi Suzi!! Welcome to the family.

 

Yes, I experience a lot of foot pain. My feet in general, and...I seem to get this extreme pain in my big toe as well. Seems like I just started getting thise about 6-7 months ago. My feet and my fingers seem to bother me more and more, so yes I feel it is yet another symptom of Fibro.

That is interesting...I never thought my foot pain could be caused by my back pain.

Hope Girl,

I find it interesting that foot pain can be caused by FM!

Sherrine,

Yes, I have been checked for diabetes, and thank the Lord I don't have it!

Yes, I've just had my first session. They're using something called V-Care, which is like a strong TENS unit. The attached leads to the top of my feet. Unfortunately, I can't feel it in my feet, which they say is because of neuropathy. I don't know if it would work on the bottom of my feet, although I'm certainly going to ask.

Hi Suzi.

 

I have bone spurs on my toes, I had them removed only to have them come back within 5 months and with a vengance.   They brought along a friend called Neuroma.  I work as a server and am on my feet up to 10 hours a day, somedays with nooooo time to sit.  The podiatrist told me basically I have 2 choices.... cortizone shots (which lasted 4 weeks) and surgery to remove the bone spurs (been there it was worthless, to have them return so quickly) and the neuroma.  He won't do the surgery unless I committ to taking at least 4 to 6 weeks off to heal.  Ummmm my bills won't wait.

 

What helps me ease the pain enough to make it through the day is Voltaren Gel.  I lather my feet in it each day before work, once during work and again when I get home.  It has helped more than the cortizone shots helped me.  You might talk to your doc and see if it would help you any.

I have used Voltaren Gel, the same way you do, but find that BioFreeze works better. It's kind of expensive, but my husband found it online a lot cheaper, and we bought about a liter of it for about $34.00. If you want the website, I'd be happy to ask Jeff where it is. Right now, I'm going to go put some on both feet, my right knee, my neck and my back.

I was working as a retail sales person at Cracker Barrel (so much fun!). My doctor said legally he cannot tell me whether or not to work there, but he can tell me I should be off my feet as much as possible. So now I'm pursuing my writing and graphic arts opportunities from home.

What about others here. Are you on your feet for long periods at a time?

I, too, often have foot pain and pressure on the bottom of my feet.  I've been taking Flexeril and Neurontin, but they make me SO sleepy.  Lately I've been taking Calm Tabs at night (I take 2) which I buy at Puritan's Pride.  Don't laugh, but I'm also trying the "bar of soap cure" where you put a bar of Ivory or other soap under the fitted sheet of your bed.  Supposedly something in the soap leaches into the body through the feet--sodium--something?  Just started this, though.  I also eat bananas for potassium and drink Gatorade for electrolytes.

It helps me to wear 2 layers of socks, and also some comfortable soft insoles from Wal-Mart.  I also try to walk barefoot on tip toe every morning to stretch the foot.  My feet are VERY fussy--in the winter I get a lot of numb spots and occasional ones in warmer weather.  They sometimes spasm and cramp, and I can't stay on my feet for long, especially in one position.  Lightweight running shoes help.  Famous Footwear has some good deals--usually buy 1 and get the next pair for half price.

Best of luck!!

hopegirl said...
Voltaren Gel...is that a prescription medication?

Yes, Voltaren Gel is a prescription medication.  My Rheumy originally rx'd it for my back but it wasn't much help there.... which she said she didn't think it would because of all the body tissue, etc it would have to work through to get to the problem.  But it helps quite a bit on my feet!!

suziwollman said...
Yes, I've just had my first session. They're using something called V-Care, which is like a strong TENS unit. The attached leads to the top of my feet. Unfortunately, I can't feel it in my feet, which they say is because of neuropathy. I don't know if it would work on the bottom of my feet, although I'm certainly going to ask.

 

I went to the Neuro and had my feet shocked. I will tell you now, I will never never do it again unless I'm unconciouse or dead. It was NOT fun.

HARA