AWFUL Heel Pain - Can't Walk - Foot Problems Message Board

uberaff · 09-08-2008, 11:38 PM

I'll make the story as short as possible, it's hard to make it very short but I HIGHLY appreciate anybody that takes a minute to look at my case, I can't take the pain any more it's so severe and life-altering and leading to depression.

Two years ago I see the beginning stages of plantar fasciitis in my left heel. The pain gets really bad and I go in to the podiatrist, he gives me a night splint to wear. The very first night I wear it I wake up and my RIGHT heel is now killing me; it was literally the next morning.

Over the past 2 years it's progressed and become horrible. In the middle of the night when I wake up to go to the bathroom I have to crawl because I can't walk on my feet. Every step hurts and I'm always in severe foot pain - I'm 20 years old for the record. I go to the docs and after blood work and xrays I'm diagnosed with undifferentiated spondylitis - a.k.a. arthritis.

Treatment : I tried night splits and heavy stretching every day. It helped a little but the second I stopped (did it for a few months) the pain came right back. It seems like it's plantar fasciitis caused by the arthritis. I have custom fit orthodics that do help a lot, I wear them all day long and NEVER take them off. Piroxicam is the only drug that helps (NSAID), but I don't want to destroy my stomach. The doc (rheumatologist) wanted to give me cortisone shots, but I told him to hold off until I give conventional methods another shot. So here's my plan that I've come up with after reading as much as possible on what it *seems* like I have :

My Plan

Dip my feet in ice water for 10-15 minutes morning and night.

Stretch lightly morning and night.

Tape my feet all day with athletic tape for support.

Wear the night splints on both feet at night.

Stay off my feet as much as possible.

My question really is; has anybody else out there suffered from this much pain and fully recovered from it? It just looks very doubtful at this point but I can't continue to live in pain every step I take. The release surgery looks bad as well, from reading online testimonials it makes most people worse. Cortisone shots are temporary as well.

I just feel alone in the fact that I'm so young and go through so much severe pain every day. Any help, insights, or feedback is more than appreciated, I'm desperate for a cure. I've even tried drinking apple cider vinegar, hah.

taape · 09-09-2008, 09:07 AM

I'm having as much foot pain as you and I can't get it under control because of back problems I'm standing all the time. I can't sit long and the only other option is to lay down all day then I can't work.

I also can't take NSAID's except on a very limited basis because of stomach pain.

I have a question for you - did your doctor recommend the night splints to wear only at night or all day also? What kind do you have? My doctor wants me to wear splints 24/7 for 2 months - to hopefully permanently stretch the PF. I can't do that because laying in bed with both feet splinted for 2 months is impossible.

Do you know how to do the foot taping? I would try that but don't know how the tape should go.

I've had the cortisone shots and they give me temporary relief, it's worth it.

nscrbug · 09-09-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taape

I'm having as much foot pain as you and I can't get it under control because of back problems I'm standing all the time. I can't sit long and the only other option is to lay down all day then I can't work.

I also can't take NSAID's except on a very limited basis because of stomach pain.

I have a question for you - did your doctor recommend the night splints to wear only at night or all day also? What kind do you have? My doctor wants me to wear splints 24/7 for 2 months - to hopefully permanently stretch the PF. I can't do that because laying in bed with both feet splinted for 2 months is impossible.

Do you know how to do the foot taping? I would try that but don't know how the tape should go.

I've had the cortisone shots and they give me temporary relief, it's worth it.

There are lots of other websites that demonstrate the taping method for PF. Just do a web search on Plantar Fasciitis Taping...and I'm sure you'll come up with plenty. Some of the taping methods differ slightly...but for the most part, they all follow the same basic technique.