Plantar Facitis-Heel Pain, help!

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I have developed severe heel pain about 2 months ago. I looked it up on webmd.com and it says I have plantar facitis. A tendon that runs along the bottom of the foot gets tight and the discomfort is usually felt in the heel. I have tried shoe/heel inserts, NSAIDs that help some but after 8 hours of being on my feet I can hardly bare it, I work 3 - 12's every week. What really helps is to be off my feet (yeah right).

Has anyone ever have or had this condition and what can I do about it? Are there any shoes that seem to really help. :chair:

Specializes in Case Management.

My husband developed PF about 6 months ago, there was a foot pain clinic in the area offering a new non invasive procedure so we went to check it out--and he had ESWL type procedure with a machine that was made for doing feet rather than kidney stones. A 15 minute procedure on each foot and they use the machine to break up the buildup of tissue just like they do to a kidney stone. He is about 5 days postop from one foot and 7 days from the other has very little pain and the foot problems are much better. The podiatrist instructed him on the stretching exercises and said to do them religiously to keep the PF from reforming on his heels. They are saying this is the wave of the future and a good alternative to the surgical procedure.

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Hi everyone,

I've been having heel pain for 6 months now. It doesn't hurt when I'm sitting, but when I go to stand up OUCH I feel something stretching in my foot and pulling, it hurts really bad. I started using the Orthotics inserts, and it seems to be helping. I hope it isn't a heel spur. Those run in my family. Not sure if it's hereditary, but still I can't have an operation right now. I just passed my CNA course yesterday, and will start working next week. I never imagagined it would be so hard on my feet and back! This spring I'm going to school to be an LPN> Well thanks for listening.

April

CNA

Toledo Ohio

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Specializes in med/surg.

My DS has developed this along with his calcaneas apophysitis. He has been given inserts for his shoes & has been told to do the stretches. It's OK until he starts doing sports again then it seems to break down. At the moment it looks like he's heading fro injections poor thing. However, i might get him to try taping as it seems to have worked for some of you.

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Specializes in RN, Cardiac Step Down/Tele Unit.

I had my first heel-pain-free clinical day today using Dr. Schools Heel Pain Relief Orthotics! These are fantastic - they are the 3rd inserts I have tried and the only ones that even touch the pain. They have arch support, which I understand is a big part of PF. I wear nursemates (the kind without laces, don't know model name), and removed their inserts and put in the "memory foam" kind, then these orthotics on top of those. No more pain!

I found that keeping a couple of tennis balls in the freezer to roll my feet on helped. The pain was so bad on the way home from clinical that it hurt to drive, just resting my heel down to use the brake and accelerator was excrutiating!

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i hadthis several years ago...mornings were horrid..hope yours clears up

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I know this is a little off topic but in this thread and many others everyone is talking about how great zcoil shoes are. Where can these be purchased? I looked up their web site and there are no stores in my area. The closest is about 2 1/2 hours away. All the other web sites talk about them but I have not found any where they can be ordered. I suffer with plantar facitis also and have found that the berkenstocks and crocs alternated back and forth work very well but would love to try and add zcoils to the mix.

edited to add- I have tried ebay but there are none in my size

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

I found that losing weight and starting a yoga/pilates and stretching routine made more of a difference for me than orthotics or anything else... the ice and nsaids did temporarily remove the pain. good luck..hope it gets better soon!

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Specializes in Hospice.
My mom was just diagnosed with PF and the doc advised her to get foot orthotics. I know most insurance companies don't cover them, but they may help you too.

Something to consider if your doctor recommends orthotics and your insurance won't cover them... good orthotics last for 6 years or so and can be transferred from shoe to shoe. I've found that I can buy less expensive shoes and don't have to replace them so often since I've gotten my orthotics. When I look at the savings in shoes, I think it about balances out the cost of the orthotics over their lifespan.

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I had that problem last summer after breaking my ankle (once I was walking without the brace). Some good tips:

When your foot is really hurting take a frozen bottle of h20 and roll it under your foot from heel to arch and back. Real good results. Also daily rolling of a soup can under your foot helps to stretch the muscles.

I walked barefoot in the sand one evening at my cousin's house, really eased the pain for about a week.

I went to see a physio therapist and she helped a lot with icing, ultrasound and electrical stimulation.

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i started wearing birkenstocks.... i love them!!! no more foot pain. i even bought a pair to wear when i am not working.

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