Anyone have experience w/Plantar Fasciitis??

Nurses General Nursing

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I think I may have this. I know as nurses, we aren't licensed to give diagnoses. But I was just wondering if anybody out there had experience with this, and if so, what as a nurse who works on her feet all day, what I may do about it?

I've heard it's really hard to cure.

Basically for about a year have had progressively worsening heel pain. I'm ok off my feet, but getting up from sitting on lying can be really tough. Now I find the pain radiating up my calves.

So that's my story. Any advice or stories??

Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

I had this earlier this spring, I think from running in low-end running shoes.

I had to take several weeks off from running, as I could barely walk, especially in the morning. I started doing range-of-motion on my feet/ankles before I got out of bed in the morning, and that helped a lot. Plus I set my alarm to take ibuprofen a 1/2 hour before I got up in the morning, which helped also.

Other than that, I iced my feet all the time when I was studying/watching TV, etc., and always wore shoes (which I should be doing anyway, since I'm diabetic). I also stretched them a lot more, and when I started running again, I got a good pair of running shoes and did at least 10 min of stretching before and after.

Gosh, I do remember that pain though! Like walking on a lawn of razor blades first thing in the morning........ugh!

I hope your better soon!

Thnaks guys! That does sound like what I have. That pain esp first thing in the am is so bad. And although it feels good to sit down for a few minutes at work, it hurts to stand up again.

I'm planning on seeing my MD in a couple of months anyways, so I'll have her make a referral for me. In the meantime, thanks for the tips; I'll definitely try them out!

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Months! Yikes! If you just need the referral call the doctor's office today and tell the nurse you need a referral for a podiatrist. I wouldn't wait two months to do something about this situation. I would probably just go to a podiatrist and pay his fee if my feet were hurting bad enough.

Specializes in Nursing assistant.

I would get this after running like a mad women as a nursing assitant in LTC. I would sit down for my rare one minute weekly break, and stand back up to ouwee!

Here is a non nurse remedy that worked for me.

Before you work, stretch your achilles tendon by dorsal flexion of your foot.Anytime you sit down, do not stand up until you have done this again. If you use heel cups, they need to be rigid, not soft. My theory is that you may have a very tight achilles tendon, which keeps your foot in planter flexion, and you assult the unprotected underside of your heel when you land on it.

Hey, Im just a nursing assistant, not a miracle worker!

But it works for me...

They are hurting bad enough! So if I can just make a call to the Dr's office for a referral, I'll definitely do that. If not, I'll maybe just go in and see her for what I was going to anyway and then have her make my referral.

On the bright side, I was out at the pool today and did a lot of the stretching you guys recommended (in the water, on the steps), and the pain is gone for now! Yay! (although I know it will be back tomorrow, as I have to work a 12)

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