In Reply to: Re: Foot pain in middle-aged women: Reply to JC from posted by Ron on September 10, 2000 at 02:24:57:

: : I turned 45 a few months ago, and ever since then, I've had severe foot pain in the morning. I can hardly walk down the stairs. After I walk a bit, or stretch my achilles tendon, it gets better, but whenever I sit, it stiffens up again.

: : It's worse in the right foot, but affects both feet.

: : I have a tendency to sleep with my toes more in a pointed position, and left to my own devices, I do tend to position my feet in that stretched-forward position.

: : Is this sort of thing common in middle-aged women, and what can I do about it?

: ===================================================

: Hi JC
: Yes it is very common in women who have worn high heels on a regular basis. You are right
: about your achilles tendon being too short.

: You have a condition called "Plantar Fascitis" . Ask your podiatrist about stretching exercises
: to gently stretch the achilles tendon, and buy an orthodic appliance called a "night splint"
: to wear on the painful foot each night for about a month. It will allow the torn ligaments and the
: bone spurs near the heel, time to heal.
: Good luck............ Ron.