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!
Birkenstocks can be expensive, but you can get them for about half the retail price on Ebay. The sizing is a little wierd, but consistent. You can go to a store and try them on first to find out what size you wear, then you'll be able to find them on Ebay much cheaper.
I have had plantar fasciitis for many years. It flares up at times but if you wear orthotics or good shoes like Birkenstocks it helps a lot. There is a new treatment out for it without doing surgery. Surgery doesn't help always as the spurs can grow back that cause the fasciitis. The new treatment is Sonorex andthey learned about through the lithotripsy treatments that are done for kidney stones. They found that people with heel spurs got better after the lithotripsy for stones so it was trialed 5-6 years ago when I was in Atlanta. It has now been approved by the FDA and it is moving westward. It is being used in the Denver area now but I haven't heard of anyone doing it here in the Seattle area yet. They are having excellent results form it and most of the time you can walk normally the next day with only a little soreness. Each treatment runs about $500. There was a blurb about this on the morning show a while back and they are also using it for epicondylitis now (tennis elbow) with good results.
Nothing I do seems to be helping the right foot. My heel on the right foot is very painful. The pads in my shoes don't help the right foot. The left foot is much better. So perhaps that Sonorex treatment might help. I'll ask my doc about it. Meanwhile, I've bought a pair of shoes that feel great on the left foot, and gives some...not much...relief to the right foot.
FYI did you know that foot pain especially heel pain is one of the symptoms of perimenopause that can start occuring as early as our thirties. I had this for several months and would walk like a ninty year old when I first got out of bed. Then I started taking some of the female herb like black cohosh, dong quai and progesterone cream from a health food store. It took about 6 weeks but no more heel pain and no more irritability, hot flashes or night sweats either. Yeepee!!!
I too had a bad case of the foot! I tried the brace at night, the doc talked about steroid injections or surgury. Then I started a stretching program. I am a runner and the pain forced me to curtail my runs, kind of like depriving an adict of his drug. I started with a stretch, one foot at a time...you need a raised surface, I used the hearth on my fireplace. Place your toes on the hearth (or whatever) and let your heel hang free. Do this with each foot for about 30 seconds. Work up to three to five minutes for each foot. After everything else failed, I'm back to my 5.5 miles every morning with no pain. I started this about two years ago and now I only have to stretch for one minute on each foot prior to my run. Try it, what can it hurt?
1. orthotics and an intense stretching program during the acute phase (the orthotics became the world's most expensive doggy chew toys, but luckily only after i needed them every day)
2. drawing the "a-b-c's" with my toes in the air every morning before getting out of bed (i do this with both feet, as it also works the calves a little and i don't like to be lopsided)
3. no more cheapie shoes from PayLess. it's a drag 'cause i love shoes, but i just need the support! new balance, dansko, and one nice pair of pumps for dress is my foot wardrobe now.
River.........perimenopause eh? Hmmm...hadn't been told that before, but will ask my doc if he has. Thanks for the tip. :)
mfdteacher....I started doing stretching exercises right after I saw the doc. My left foot improved, but not the right heel no matter how many times I stretch it and ice it. Runners are notorious for getting PF too. Thanks for the suggestions. :)
Speechie....I can just see me now drawing the alphabet with my toes in the air. :chuckle I'll sure give it a try, but I'm mighty uncoordinated. And, I agree....I use to buy Payless shoes a lot, but my maturation process is calling for more expensive shoes. If we could only go back in time and take better care of ourselves, especially our feet. Sigh!
Wow..10 pages of nurses with sore feet. No surprise there. I continued to work until my foot was so swollen, I couldn't get my shoe on. Use to drive home with my left food on an ice bag. Found out I had a stress fracture of the 3rd metatarsal due to the change of position from the PF. Got a medical release for 1 mo. and what a difference. Had a steroid injection in the heel before returning to work and have had minimal problems since. I agree--get thee to a good podiatrist
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
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Oh Renee,
I feel so bad for you. Hang in there Sweetie. You will come out on top in the end. I know. I had first-hand experience with that very same thing when I was a bus driver and when I was in nursing school.
At the bus company, I endured that stuff for a very long time without any replies, and pretending I didn't hear what was being said.
My boss eventually noticed what was happening, and he asked his wife to type a memo titled, "The Bus Driver's Lament," and also added a poem aimed at looking at oneself from within. Soon after that, she quit and my boss began screening his new employees, and the environment improved greatly. They even stopped using profanity. :) Yup, God does do amazing things for us if we stick it out to the end.
In nursing school, I was shunned because I was the oldest student, and refused to act like those younger immature students. I was also the only active EMT, so they would look for me to make a mistake, and then pounce on me verbally if I made one. But I did see the light at the end of the tunnel in both situations, and those experiences made me stronger and more devoted to God. That's what He's doing for you too dear girl. I know when we're going through the tough part it's difficult to see the positive outcome, but you will eventually.
Those people who are living in the dark, and when you show your Christian light, it convicts them and makes them feel guilty. And they don't like that so they resort to abusing you.
Then cortisone shots!! They worked for me. I only had it in one foot and it was horrible! I went to a podiatrist and within 5 minutes it was gone and it's been about a year now. I also wore those plastic clogs. Hmmmm????
Love you lots, Fran! Thanks for the inspiration and encouraging words. ((((((hugs)))))) :kiss :balloons:
Infinity.........I've stretched my poor feet so much, only the left one responded to the stretching. The right foot is paining me today after working 13 hours with only a 20 minute lunch break and no potty breaks. I must be out of my mind to be working these awful hours. Gotta take better care of myself and soon. Seeing my doctor this Tuesday. He better help me or else.
I am another RN with PF. I do believe mine was caused by not only being on my feet for 12 hr shifts, but doing so in those plastic clogs known as Plogs. I just had to have them!!!! I had 2 cortisone injections in my right foot before I had relief. My podiatrist almost cried when I asked him if it was OK if I started back up at Jazzercise and tennis!!! I also asked him if I would have a prob with my left foot and he said he wasn't sure, but that I had been bearing weight on my left side to compensate for the PF in my right. He said that since I am heavy and have high arches it was probable. Well, here I am 2 yrs later with PF in my left heel. I am stretching, icing and resting - no tennis or Jazzercise. Also am waiting for open enrollment to get back on with the HMO before going back to the podiatrist. Hey, paying 20% of these doc bills is expensive!!!! I haven't worked in 8 mos since my daughter was adopted so I guess it is my weight and high arches to blame!!!!
Check out http://www.orthomassage.com. This is the website of James Waslaski who has worked with professional atheletes. His orthopedic message technique was recommended to me by a massage therapist who looked so dismayed when I told her that I was going to get the injections. She recommended looking up a local practioner of his school before doing the shots. Found the name and phone number of 2 in my area, but haven't called them yet. I also swear by my Birkenstocks. When my feet ache, I slip them on and just say "Ahhhhhhhh!"
What a bummer! 
But I did see the light at the end of the tunnel in both situations, and those experiences made me stronger and more devoted to God. That's what He's doing for you too dear girl. I know when we're going through the tough part it's difficult to see the positive outcome, but you will eventually.
I must be out of my mind to be working these awful hours. Gotta take better care of myself and soon. Seeing my doctor this Tuesday. He better help me or else.
Barb3433
4 Posts
Birkenstocks can be expensive, but you can get them for about half the retail price on Ebay. The sizing is a little wierd, but consistent. You can go to a store and try them on first to find out what size you wear, then you'll be able to find them on Ebay much cheaper.