Today, my doctor told me I have Plantar Fasciitis (heel-spur syndrome). 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".
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.
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!
I too used to suffer PF! It was almost debilitating. I went to a podiatrist and had custom orthotics made. Bad thing was the stupid things wouldn't fit into any of my shoes except for one pair.
I absolutely swear by NSAID's and stretching exercises! I am not into needles, so injections and surgery were not an option for me. The stretching exercises and ice do work!
My favorite stretching exercise: stand on a flight of stairs, let your heels hang off the back of the stairs and press down. You will feel the stretch up your calf. Works wonders! So does the one where you run your foot up the inside of your lower leg.
I have not had a flare up in years (knock wood)! I also do not buy cheap shoes anymore. My personal favorite brand: Born. They are worth every penny!
Never heard of "Born" shoes either. Where do you find them, MomNRN?
Since I'm allergic to NSAIDS, I use the stretching exercises -- the same ones everyone mentioned here thus far -- the exercises feel great, and work to some extent. I have to keep doing them regularly since this whole thing is totally new to me (just being diagnosed with PF and all).
The best part is the ice pack -- I use a large bag of frozen peas.
It feels wonderful to my feet afterwards!
I'm walking around the house now in my new shoes (EASY SPIRITS), and they do feel comfortable, but then what shoe doesn't feel comfortable when walking on carpet. :rotfl:
I have a pair. I alternate every other day between them and New Balance. If you find a style of the easy spirits you like, query the net for them. They are sold through their stores at outlet shopping centers and you can really save some $. Just call them up and have them shipped.
You are doing alot of the right thing. I am a Massage Therapist and am now a nursing student. I have treated many cases of Plantar Fasciitis and have found that patients respond very well to foot and leg massage combined with some of the exercises that you are already doing (especially the towel on the floor). Some good orthotics will help and a little rest and relaxsation (easier said than done) will help alleviate alot of the pain. The bag of frozen peas on the floor is one of the best methods for applying cold to the area. I wouldn't recommend any kind of surgery or steriod injections unless the pain becomes unbearable. The steriods can be useful IF they are combined with proper therapy, the injection alone is just a quick fix, not to mention the havoc it wreaks on your immune system. Another thing that will help is to self administer assisted dorsiflexion of your feet as soon as you wake up BEFORE you put your feet on the floor, this helps to stretch the fascia and tendons and it isnt so painful to bear weight on your feet first thing in the a.m. Make sure you grab those toes and pull them back as well. I have seen severe cases treated with OCL braces to wear at night while sleeping. All they are is OCL material (plaster or fiberglass) made into a splint that begins just below the knee on the posterior portion of the leg and runs all the way down to the toes and is set in the dorsiflexed position...this helps stretch the fascia and over time will help a great deal. Hope some of this helps and you get better.:)
Wow! A massage therapist and one day a nurse rolled into one! Now THAT's the type of nurse I hope to have if I'm ever hospitalized again! :)
Thanks for the professional advice, Jim. Everything you mentioned is exactly what the doc told me! :)
I did dorsiflex my feet before getting out of bed this morning along with the other exercises the doc gave me to do.
Do you think the TYPE of shoe is important that nurses are working in everyday? Nikes to Bergenstocks to Nurse Mates to Klogs to........well, you get the pic right? I just spent more money than I have EVER spent on one pair of shoes today all for the health of my feet, and it hurt to spend that much money on shoes, especially if the new shoes turn out to be no better than the ones already lining up in my closet.
I hate about your painful feet. I, too, experienced pain as never before the first two years I "walked the floor" 12-13 hours a day. I really thought I was going to have to quit. I could bareley walk anymore.
But odd thing is.. I don't have it anymore ! It just went away !
My heels.. like the BONE in them, were so painful.. on the bottoms of my feet.. deep inside. But now.. nothing ! I don't know if they simply adjusted, or having shoes with a bit more give and cushioning in the heel was the answer or what...? Just wanted you to keep hope !
I'd certainly try all else before surgery... even Z-Coil shoes... if you can get beyond the looks of them ! But hey, if they save your feet, and thereby your employment, then who CARES, right?
My feet are killing me these days so I can empathize Renee...altho I don't sem to have the PF symptoms, I was glad to read all the good brands of shoes (and the exercises) to check out. My Nursemates and my Reebok runners just aren't working anymore...
Suspect my aches and pains today are due to ONS..."Old Nurse Syndrome'. :chuckle
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
http://heelspurs.com/index.html Lots of great info on this site.I had PF several yrs ago-My family doc injected me twice-oh,the horror! Then my insurance (HMO)allowed me to go to an orthopedist/ foot and ankle group...-I got the orthotics-which the insurance did NOT pay for anyway...That did the trick-they fell apart after about 5 yrs so now I am trying to keep myself in good shoes wihth ample arch support-it's all about the arch for me...my feet are flat....I can not wear cute little flats,sandals or Keds any longer......
ktw....My feet are as flat as a pancake too. People with flat feet cannot even join the military. It's hard for people with flat feet to work a job that requires prolonged standing. Guess we picked the wrong professin.
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Originally posted by cheerfuldoer
ktw....My feet are as flat as a pancake too. People with flat feet cannot even join the military. It's hard for people with flat feet to work a job that requires prolonged standing. Guess we picked the wrong professin.
They'll just duct tape us to IV poles when we are too crippled to walk....Or put us on a dolly-like Hannibqal Lector-and have housekeeping push us from patient to patient..
What a bummer! 
But hey, if they save your feet, and thereby your employment, then who CARES, right?
MomNRN, BSN, RN
316 Posts
I too used to suffer PF! It was almost debilitating. I went to a podiatrist and had custom orthotics made. Bad thing was the stupid things wouldn't fit into any of my shoes except for one pair.
I absolutely swear by NSAID's and stretching exercises! I am not into needles, so injections and surgery were not an option for me. The stretching exercises and ice do work!
My favorite stretching exercise: stand on a flight of stairs, let your heels hang off the back of the stairs and press down. You will feel the stretch up your calf. Works wonders! So does the one where you run your foot up the inside of your lower leg.
I have not had a flare up in years (knock wood)! I also do not buy cheap shoes anymore. My personal favorite brand: Born. They are worth every penny!