Just Diagnosed With Plantar Fasciitis.

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello Allnurses comrades,

Today, my doctor told me I have Plantar Fasciitis (heel-spur syndrome). :crying2: What a bummer!

I've been experiencing a lot of pain in the bottoms of my feet for about a month now, but it's getting worse as time goes by. Thought I'd better have it checked out, and low and behold....I have "sick feet". :scrying:

My switching to part time status...8 hour shifts on nights...couldn't be more timely as the doctor thinks 12's is way too much for me to continue working.

Had to go to the Orthotic Lab within the hospital today for fitting of some special cushions for my shoes in hopes it will relieve the pressure and the pain on the bottom of my feet, especially my heels. If not, surgery may have to be done. I hope not. :o

We need our feet to be healthy, so I am going to do whatever my doc tells me to do to keep them healthy. Please send up prayers...positive energy...healthy thoughts...whatever your belief happens to be...for me. Much thanks! :sniff:

Specializes in Gen Surg, Peds, family med, geriatrics.

I, too have experienced the agonies of PF. I never used orthotics (couldn't afford it) but found that ice and Vioxx helped a lot. A good pair of shoes helps too. It lasted a couple of months for me.

Hang in there!

Laura

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

New Balance shoes are awesome! That is usually the only kind I can fit my duck feet in as I wear a 6 1/2 D. Hard to find.

renerian

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I love New Balance shoes as well. They're the only brand that reliably fits me, no matter what the type of shoe (sneaker, walker, hiking etc.) I wear a 9 1/2 B, but my feet are flat (anything with an arch just KILLS me) and oddly shaped. New Balance shoes fit me like they were made for me, and I've never paid more than $85.00 for a pair.

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You also might consider changes shoes half way through you shift. You will want two different brands. Helps me.

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

Thanks everyone for the support and helpful tips! :)

The doctor gave me a paper explaining what PF is with a few exercises on it for me to do during the day and before I go to bed.

He mentioned the foot brace, but first wanted me to try the shoe pads, etc.

Since I'm allergic (like say "anaphylactic reaction would occur") to aspirin, toradol, motrin.....the 'NSAIDS' are out for me. All the doc gave me was Tylenol since I've got a med allergy list a mile long. :o

I'm also "flat feet"...no arch...that makes it worse.

The "New Balance Shoes"???? Who makes those, and where can I get them?

I'll also seek out a professional place to get foot massage and water therapy although that will probably be what my doctor will have me do when I follow up with him in two weeks. So will wait for him to schedule me for that.

My current nurse manager granted me permission to come in from 1100 to 1930 dayshift tomorrow instead of my usual 0700 to 1930 shift AS LONG AS I bring a doctor's note with me, so I've got to run by the doctor's office to pick up that note before I go to work. Hope he's there tomorrow. :o

Like I would FAKE painful feet! :rolleyes: Oh brother...woe is life these days.

Well, Big Brother 4 is about to start...see ya'll tomorrow, and thanks for the prayer power. :kiss

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I had only one episode. Some steroids and later some antiinflammatories for a couple of weeks cleared it up. That was about 10 years ago and haven't had it come back. (knock on wood)

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

You can find New Balance shoes almost everywhere but the discount chains.....Mervyn's, Sears, JC Penneys, Foot Locker, even Costco has them. They run from about $30 for a basic white pair to less than a hundred for the hiking shoes. Check 'em out, and let me know how you like them!

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

Most definitely will, mjl.... thanks I'll shop for a pair on my day off on Thursday this week. :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Is PF limited to only the heel area? Does it occur in the other joints..lateral distal metatarsal areas? (had to dig out my old anatomy book for that description).

I just hate to make an appointment for sore feet. It takes 8 weeks to get in to the orthopedist. By then it could be gone.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

My orthotics are worth every penny.........

Lot of people here like the z-coil shoes, the ones with a big spring under the heel, they swear by them.

Good luck!

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OK, I know some won't agree with this, but I have suffered with this for years and did everything short of the steriod shots. (have a terrible phobia of someone touching my feet, much less with a needle). Finally was recommended to a chiropractor who did A.R.T. therapy on me and it has helped immensely.

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Been there, done that. To quote Daffy Duck "I can't stand pain; it hurts me!" I was diagnosed with the same thing 3 years ago. It comes and goes. Compared to some of the posts I have read, I think I am one of the lucky ones. At it's peak, when I got up in the morning, I would cripple myself to the bathroom. The Dr. gave me foot excersises to do, and said that I must not walk around the house in sock feet or barefoot; that I must wear good athletic type shoes. So, I did as he suggested and it helped a lot. I have not had a major flare up since. So, I continue to wear the athletic shoes even around the house. I still jog, and I still work full time. Like I said earlier, I think I am one of the lucky ones. Good luck to you. I certainly hope and pray that surgery will not be necessary. Take it one day at a time.

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