The Plantar Fasciitis Community Will Help
Plantar Fasciitis? Maybe Not
For the past two years I believed that I had plantar fasciitis. I drifted through no fewer than four podiatrists who gave me orthotics, cortisone injections, and the usual treatments for the disorder. I pronate, and am over 40, and am very active with trail running, etc, so I am a prime candidate for PF.
There were some odd parts about my case. My feet hurt most towards the end of the day, which is not unusual, but felt best in the morning even when I was not wearing a night splint (I would go months without wearing one when I thought I was getting over PF..) The orthotics would often simply hurt my feet, and I would feel best when not wearing them, especially when simply sitting around. Ultrasound indicated that the band was mildly thickened (3.8mm, which some would consider normal...I am also 6'5", if that makes a difference..) but nothing extreme or severe.
I, like many, was beginning to despair that I was never going to get rid of this thing. (And, to be honest, the jury is still out to some degree, more on that in a moment..) The other day I was having a drink with an orthopaedist friend I had recently met, and he casually said it sounds like a stress fracture of the calcaneus. He suggested an MRI. I protested that I had an x-ray which was negative. They can be missed on x-rays, I was told.
He wrote me a script and mailed it to me. Nice guy. And I had the MRI today. Stress fracture of the calcaneus. 4-6 weeks in crutches and a cast and it should clear up.
Now, I am not suggesting that every case is misdiagnosed. Hell, I may have had PF as well as this fracture when it manifested two years ago. I may still have PF. Maybe I did and it resolved a year ago as it often does. But I am going to clear this fracture up first and see what comes next.
The funny thing is, had I had the PF surgery (which I was strongly considering..) then it probably would have "cured" the fracture by simple virtue of immobilizing the foot 4-6 weeks post-op. I would have gone through a risky, complication prone procedure which ultimately cured the wrong condition; and I would have been none the wiser.
If there is a point to this, which is debatable, be sure to rule out every possible problem before going under the knife!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Heather S. on -
Thanks for your post. I have been concerned about a mis-diagnosis since my situation became unbearable over 6 months ago. I am just like you, no pain in the morning but as the day goes by they hurt more - especially if I have spent any time on my feet. My symptoms just plain do not fit any textbook description of PF and none of the treatment options have worked for me (have tried all but surgery). As a matter of fact it would be great if you could check out my post on "plantar Fasciitis symptoms" because I more completely describe my symtoms and treatment.
My doctors would not prescribe an MRI even though I have requested it over and over again. I am becoming increasingly worried because this could mean the end of my career and at my age I do not think doing something else will be very easy or will pay as well.
I would love to hear more from you if you get a chance!
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Permalink Reply by Debbie Harris on
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Wow, very happy for you. I never went to a podiatrist. I was in PT for my shoulder, heel started hurting, he diagnosed me and tried to get it under control in PT and when that did not work I went straight to the orthopod. So fortunate you met this guy before having PF surgery. Until a few years ago, I had never heard of PF, and of course I wish that was still the case!
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Permalink Reply by ressie on
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Thanks for the great info !!! Through your search and experiences, have you heard about this....I have VERY pronounced "bulges" in BOTH arches-Painful, I have two small ones in BOTH palms, I have even had one on right eyelid that subsided but have one on left eyelid that will also hopefully subside. I'm not that old to completely fall apart this suddenly. This is confusing!! I fall into the PF category but what is all that other mess going is what I'm trying to find out. HELP !!!
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Permalink Reply by BD on
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Thanks for sharing. I have been diagnosed with PF since April and going through various treatments...now in a cast for 4 weeks. The hard cast was a horror for me (heavy, uncomfortable, had anxiety attacks...who knew!). So now in a removable boot cast that I never remove which is much better. The cast is supposed to be come off week but after 3 weeks I feel no different...still limited mobility and experience sharp pains in the foot sometimes.
Not sure what the next steps will be, but like you I will turn over every rock looking for a cause/cure before considering or submitting to any surgery.
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Permalink Reply by Debbie Harris on
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I have been doing dry needling in physical therapy. It seems to be really helping. She uses acupuncture needles and targets the trigger points relating to the PF. She does some in my calf and some in my foot once a week. I seem to be getting good results, but the biggest change came with a cortisone shot and two weeks of mostly full rest.
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Permalink Reply by Kay Warren on
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BD, the cortisone creates permanent tissue degeneration. Your PT is on the right track in taking care of the trigger points, now they need to get rid of the adhesions that are the unsung culprits. Neuromuscular re-education will re-program the muscles to function properly. Trigger points shorten the muscles and cause compensation patterns that change your gait and cause more problems. Head to my website. www.kaywarren.org. Hit the Plantar Fasctiitis page. Read up. Then go to the contacts page and ask me for my guide, "Healing Plantar Fasciitis Without Surgery". I had PF for 3 long years, I got rid of it, and you can too. By the way, the guide is free.
BD said:
Thanks for sharing. I have been diagnosed with PF since April and going through various treatments...now in a cast for 4 weeks. The hard cast was a horror for me (heavy, uncomfortable, had anxiety attacks...who knew!). So now in a removable boot cast that I never remove which is much better. The cast is supposed to be come off week but after 3 weeks I feel no different...still limited mobility and experience sharp pains in the foot sometimes.
Not sure what the next steps will be, but like you I will turn over every rock looking for a cause/cure before considering or submitting to any surgery.
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Permalink Reply by Kay Warren on
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There are 3 arches, the transverse arch, the longitudinal arch, and the lateral arch. if you've got "bugles" that are sensitive to touch, it's quite possible that a few of the tarsal or metatarsal bones in your foot are misaligned. A chiropractor with solid extremities training should be able to help.
ressie said:
Thanks for the great info !!! Through your search and experiences, have you heard about this....I have VERY pronounced "bulges" in BOTH arches-Painful, I have two small ones in BOTH palms, I have even had one on right eyelid that subsided but have one on left eyelid that will also hopefully subside. I'm not that old to completely fall apart this suddenly. This is confusing!! I fall into the PF category but what is all that other mess going is what I'm trying to find out. HELP !!!
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Permalink Reply by Debbie Harris on
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Rolfing has helped me the most, coupled with the dry needling, stretching faithfully and strengthening exercises.
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Permalink Reply by BD on
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Thanks. I have requested your guide. I ended up being in the walking boot for 6 weeks. When I got out of the boot I still had issues with the PF and also had lots of pain around my ankles. I went back to the doctor 2 weeks after coming out of the boot and asked for Physical Therapy...not sure why this was not automatically prescribed since after a cast/boot, everything is stiff and range of motion very limited. I have now been in PT for 4 weeks. Doing stretches, exercises, toe/towel crutches, taping, movement/balance of the ankle exercises, etc. The PT explained more about what was happening than the Dr did so I regret not being advised to see the PT when the issue first showed up in April. The PT explained that 3 bones in my foot had dropped and she was positioning them back in place and taping the foot. She says my foot is out of alignment due to how I was walking to compensate for the injury, which is causing my ankle issues...she is trying to get it back into it's proper position but it is taking time. I leaned more to the outside of the foot when wearing the boot because the boot came with a pad for the arch of the foot and it was not that comfortable, although I was told I needed to have the arch supported (me and the orthotics have not been doing that well...I have tried 3 and they tend to be uncomfortable - the PT wants to do custom at some point). The ankle pain is pretty significant...not sure what to do about it since I cannot take the naprisen or aleve every day - don't want to get liver issues.
I look forward to reading the guide. thanks for all your comments.
Kay Warren said:BD, the cortisone creates permanent tissue degeneration. Your PT is on the right track in taking care of the trigger points, now they need to get rid of the adhesions that are the unsung culprits. Neuromuscular re-education will re-program the muscles to function properly. Trigger points shorten the muscles and cause compensation patterns that change your gait and cause more problems. Head to my website. www.kaywarren.org. Hit the Plantar Fasctiitis page. Read up. Then go to the contacts page and ask me for my guide, "Healing Plantar Fasciitis Without Surgery". I had PF for 3 long years, I got rid of it, and you can too. By the way, the guide is free.
BD said:Thanks for sharing. I have been diagnosed with PF since April and going through various treatments...now in a cast for 4 weeks. The hard cast was a horror for me (heavy, uncomfortable, had anxiety attacks...who knew!). So now in a removable boot cast that I never remove which is much better. The cast is supposed to be come off week but after 3 weeks I feel no different...still limited mobility and experience sharp pains in the foot sometimes.
Not sure what the next steps will be, but like you I will turn over every rock looking for a cause/cure before considering or submitting to any surgery.
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