foot pain and "heel spurs"

[PapaBear]

I have a strange foot pain problem. Over a month ago, I slept with my right foot awkwardly pressed against the footboard on my my bed. I ended up with pain in the outer ankle and under my heal. I figured it would just go away eventually, but it hasn't. But here's the weird part. It hurts the most after I've been OFF my feet for a while. It hurts very bad when I wake up, and it will even start hurting if I've just been sitting with my feet propped up for more than 10 minutes, or if I've been driving my car. If I've been standing or walking for a while, the pain almost completely goes away.

[mendyweiss]

I have a strange foot pain problem. Over a month ago, I slept with my right foot awkwardly pressed against the footboard on my my bed. I ended up with pain in the outer ankle and under my heal. I figured it would just go away eventually, but it hasn't. But here's the weird part. It hurts the most after I've been OFF my feet for a while. It hurts very bad when I wake up, and it will even start hurting if I've just been sitting with my feet propped up for more than 10 minutes, or if I've been driving my car. If I've been standing or walking for a while, the pain almost completely goes away.


Plantar Fasciitis ?

[CHUCKWAGONCOOK]

Hey Doc,

Thank you in advance for answering this post. My Doctor has diagnosed me with Heel Spurs. On both feet. He says to give it ice at night with a frozen water bottle, take Neproxin, wear my arch supports (which hurt more than help, I think. Maybe I don't keep them in my shoes long enough.), and do my stretches.
The problem is...... it's been about a year with pain all the time. And I mean ALL THE TIME. Even when I'm sleeping. I have nothing to look forward to anymore. My painful feet have taken all the love for life straight out of my system. Some times I even cry.
Please help me brother. I need your advice. I'm a Chef. Should I change my job to a Taxi driver or something for a while? Please, please, please. It really hurts. :down:

[Dr Steve]

I have a strange foot pain problem. Over a month ago, I slept with my right foot awkwardly pressed against the footboard on my my bed. I ended up with pain in the outer ankle and under my heal. I figured it would just go away eventually, but it hasn't. But here's the weird part. It hurts the most after I've been OFF my feet for a while. It hurts very bad when I wake up, and it will even start hurting if I've just been sitting with my feet propped up for more than 10 minutes, or if I've been driving my car. If I've been standing or walking for a while, the pain almost completely goes away.

Hey Doc,

Thank you in advance for answering this post. My Doctor has diagnosed me with Heel Spurs. On both feet. He says to give it ice at night with a frozen water bottle, take Neproxin, wear my arch supports (which hurt more than help, I think. Maybe I don't keep them in my shoes long enough.), and do my stretches.
The problem is...... it's been about a year with pain all the time. And I mean ALL THE TIME. Even when I'm sleeping. I have nothing to look forward to anymore. My painful feet have taken all the love for life straight out of my system. Some times I even cry.
Please help me brother. I need your advice. I'm a Chef. Should I change my job to a Taxi driver or something for a while? Please, please, please. It really hurts. :down:


I bunched your questions together because I believe you're both suffering from different facets of the same thing...an inflammation of the tissue of the arch of the foot, called "Plantar Fasciitis" (bravo, MendyWeiss!).

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/images/ency/fullsize/19568.jpg

Now, constant stretching of the plantar fascia actually will put tension on the bone of the heel of the foot, causing a "heel spur". The funny thing is, the spur itself is not responsible for the pain, but rather it's the tissue that's attached to the spur that's the problem.

Stretching the plantar fascia and applying antiinflammatory techniques to it are the best approaches to this problem. This is why it tends to get better for some people as the day goes on...when you're sleeping the tissues contract; stand on them after 8 hours of rest and YOW! However, what if you could stretch the plantar fascia all night while you're sleeping? This in theory should provide long-lasting relief and indeed it does:

http://www.texas-medical.com/images/orthotics/pfsplint.jpg

these things are lifesavers for some people with severe plantar fasciitis.

Also, I like the TULI-brand heel cups...put them in your shoes (you can order them from any pharmacy) and they should take the pressure off your plantar tissues.

"Plantar" means "sole of the foot", by the way, sorry. We have a different word for everything.

If none of this works, a podiatrist (or a well-trained family doc) can inject your heel with cortisone. It sucks at the time, but can afford immediate and long-lasting relief.

hope this helps!


your pal,



steve

[PapaBear]

Thanks, Doc! I'm going to try the heel cups first. CVS says they're available "online only" for a little over $13 including shipping. I hope it helps. That leg brace think looks expensive!

EDIT: I just talked to my dad. He had the same problem 20 years ago. At the time, the cup the doctor recommended was a harder plastic one. I guess they didn't have gel cups back then. Anyway... I'm going to try his cup until I can get the gel ones. They look a lot more comfortable. As a bonus, my father remembered a stretch technique that's supposed to help, also.

[blowmonkey]

I had the same problem...one foot only though.

The usual cause of a heel spur is a calcium build up under the attached tendon at the heel which runs along the arch of the foot. The irritation is that tendon rubbing against the heel / calcium buildup causing inflamation. As you know, the pain in the morning is nothing like you can explain!!!!

Don't bother with the "drug store" foot products, they don't work. At least for me they didn't. Go to a podiatrist and get proper arch supports that are custom made for your feet and can be placed in any shoes / runners you wear.

You need arch support, not heel support. As you walk, your arches act as springs for your body weight. The tendons stretch out and return with every step you take which is acting like a "spring". This continous stretching at the heel over the calcium build up is what the irritation is.

The proper orthodics in your shoe will work wonders....at least that was my remedy!

Good luck!!!

[Dr Steve]

Thanks, Doc! I'm going to try the heel cups first. CVS says they're available "online only" for a little over $13 including shipping. I hope it helps. That leg brace think looks expensive!

EDIT: I just talked to my dad. He had the same problem 20 years ago. At the time, the cup the doctor recommended was a harder plastic one. I guess they didn't have gel cups back then. Anyway... I'm going to try his cup until I can get the gel ones. They look a lot more comfortable. As a bonus, my father remembered a stretch technique that's supposed to help, also.

yes, and I should have mentioned this, though the problem is you can only stretch for a couple of minutes a day whereas the brace can stretch you for 8 hours straight.

ok, here's what you do:

1) stand about 2 feet from a wall
2) lean forward and press your body against the wall, keeping your feet planted 2 feet away
3) slowly stretch your feet and legs so that your feet are flat on the ground
4) hold
5) repeat

move your legs farther out and repeat until you've gotten a nice stretch to the plantar fascia.

good luck!

[FUNKMAN]

i usually take my spurs off when I'm not riding...

[WhistlePig]

I have this problem when I wear my Chucks too much. No arch support!

http://nkbail.people.wm.edu/purple18.jpg

[dino_electropolis]

Doc, thanks so much for this....i have been dealin with flat feet for like the last 2 years...i finally got myself to an orthopedist, who fitted me for orthotics (they were crushed in transport, apparently, and because of my work schedule, my doctor's work schedule and her jewish holidays, i have not been able to be re- fitted.

Anyway, i am very anxious to get them as i hear it can change ones life. I have CONSTANT foot pain (similar symptoms as those above) and it really limits me.

My question: will these orthotics help as much as i hope??!?!?

[Dr Steve]

Doc, thanks so much for this....i have been dealin with flat feet for like the last 2 years...i finally got myself to an orthopedist, who fitted me for orthotics (they were crushed in transport, apparently, and because of my work schedule, my doctor's work schedule and her jewish holidays, i have not been able to be re- fitted.

Anyway, i am very anxious to get them as i hear it can change ones life. I have CONSTANT foot pain (similar symptoms as those above) and it really limits me.

My question: will these orthotics help as much as i hope??!?!?

they absolutely...may. If they don't right off the bat, don't give up hope, they will need to be adjusted over time. Give the orthotics specialist a few shots at it before giving up!

Hope it works. Foot pain blows!

[PapaBear]

Dr. Steve,

Thank you VERY much for your advice. I haven't had the heel pain in quite a while, now. I didn't get the cup you suggested, opting instead for a cheaper one. But it worked.

Now I have a different problem that I think is probably the same sort of thing. In the opposite foot of the last problem, I've been having pain under the ball of my foot. I just went out and got a pad that goes there, but it actually hurts a little more. I'm going to try it out all day tomorrow. Do you have any suggestions?