Years of foot pain and PT, considering plantar fasciitis surgery
by Shier
I first had pain in my left arch and metatarsal area in fall 2006, when I was 46yo. My son had entered daycare f/t in the summer so I was spending a lot more time on the computer (working at home). I was shopping one day, wearing a flat loafer-mule shoe, and noticed the sharp pain in my arch. Got in quickly to my first podiatrist, who told me it wasn't arthritis. No x-rays. He recommended good athletic shoes, so I bought New Balance.
A few months later, I asked for a script for orthotics and had some made. I was happy with them. I did some stretching, but not religiously. Couldn't tolerate ice. Tried several NSAIDS, including rx. Per dr's orders, I stopped going barefoot.
The problem was manageable until 2010. Again had a period of a few months with lots of computer work and no exercise (graduate school). When school was out, I was determined to make up for the slack, so I began walking 1 hour/day. I did this about 2 weeks and then began noticing some pain. It kept getting worse.
Finally I was having to keep my feet on frozen gel packs. The podiatrist fit me for new orthotics, but these mail-order kind were no good, so I went back to my old place and got a new pair. It took all summer to get a new pair of New Balance that fit right and new orthotics, so my PT really couldn't do anything to help.
Spring 2011 began seeing a new podiatrist recommended by friends. She mentioned surgery, which scared me, because I'd heard of someone who'd had the surgery and was worse off afterwards. I asked for a shot, and she thought it wasn't the best option for me. Ordered more orthotics. Again, no good. She used to tape my feet, which did help.
I went back to my old orthotist, who at least will keep working until we get the pair right.
Spring 2012 the pain changed. Suddenly had searing, hot pain between the outer two toes of left foot. Not so much arch pain. Finally had x-ray, which showed a large spur on left heel, parallel to floor. (Not pointing down into floor.) Finally she gave me shots. I had 2, about 4 weeks apart. Lots of Physical Therapy with graston technique.
Also had massage therapy, which was probably the most effective. My massage therapist really worked hard on my calves, and I felt better than I had in 4 years.
Also got new orthotics, with a design to take pressure off the 4th toe joint. I went to a workshop in NYC in June 2012 and walked 4 hours/day. I was using Pennsaid and
a compounded pain ointment a little, but not a great deal.
July 2012 lots of pain, mostly around the outer edge of left foot.
Eventually the pain began to subside. But recently when I was stretching my foot I noticed it seemed very tight. My PT says she has done everything she can. She poked really hard and now it hurts a lot. She's encouraging me to look into the surgery.
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Joshua Answers:Hi Shier.
Foot pain is no fun. Sorry you're experiencing all that.
And I'm sorry all your trips to the doctor didn't do anything beneficial for you.
There's a reason that that massage on the calves did the most good (if only temporarily). As a general statement, all your foot pain is caused by issue up in the back of the lower leg.
Doctors remain blissfully ignorant of this, for some mind-boggling reason.
Focusing on the location of the symptoms is fine if you got shot by a gun, but it's not fine if you have
Plantar Fasciitis and/or a
Bone Spur.
Bone spurs and foot pain are created. They don't just magically show up out of the blue for no reason, as doctors would have you believe.
That's why
Plantar Fasciitis Surgery 'fails' so often. Not only does it damage the structural support of the foot, but it totally ignores the causes of
Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms.
It's sort of the same with Physical Therapy. They have a set number of tools in their toolbox. And if their tool box can't fix your problem, they can't help (which ultimately is true of every profession).
The trick is, does the person you're working with have the right tools to fix your problem?
So, some questions:
1. Did you get surgery since you wrote this?
2. What does 'I can't tolerate ice' mean?
3. Overall description of body shape/size.
4. Overall description of dietary intake the last several years.
5. What exactly did the massage therapist do?
6. What exactly did the Physical Therapist do?
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Please reply using the comment link below. Do not submit a new submission to answer/reply, it's too hard for me to find where it's supposed to go.
And, comments have a 3,000 character limit so you may have to comment twice.
----------------------- Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com
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