The Plantar Fasciitis Community Will Help
Root of the problem?
I was originally diagnosed with achilles tendonitis. The pain still exists in the achilles, especially in the morning, but stretching helps alleviate the pain. I have seen a sports medicine doctor for my achilles and went through some physio therapy. The usual ultrasound, electropulse, massage and stretching was the routine.
However, the problem seems to have expanded to my right heel. I've now feek pain on the inside corner of the heel, approximately where the achilles tendon attaches to the calcaneus.
The pain lasts throughout the day but if something strikes that spot on the heel, the pain is excruciating. I find I do have to constantly stretch throughout the day to alleviate any tightness in the achilles tendon.
I'm not wearing any custom orthotics, any splints, etc. The only thing I'm using is over the counter insoles with cushioning in the heels. I do pronate, but not excessively.
I'm quite active on the bike and in the pool, play soccer weekly. I'm not foreign to running, but long distance is not my forte. I was training for a triathlon but that was put on hold once the tendonitis developed.
Any advice? I haven't had a scope, MRI, or x-ray done as yet.
Thanks.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kim on -
Hi.
I just read your post. I too am (was) very active. Ine had PF for five years. My doctor told me that a tight archives from running causes PF. Where are you now in your treatment?
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Permalink Reply by Anne Blaire on -
are you done with the physical therapy? That's not normal, the slightest touch causing pain. I've torn a tendon once, and I'd say that would be similar... perhaps an MRI is a good idea? For me, I was able to lessen the pain with icing etc., but it never really went away or even significantly gone.... it took me 9 months to finally say... OK this is still not better, we need to do something else. One Dr. was going to re-irritate the tendon with a series of shots, and have me walk correctly (not compensate for pain) hoping it would heal in the right position. Then, I went back to school, and the ortho for the team didn't know about this 'new' therapy (13 years ago), so we stuck it in a cast for 6 weeks, and 2 weeks later I had surgery. it was the worst pain of my life (only 19 yrs old), but was totally worth it. I would have been miserable. Don't give up, tell them about the touching pain!
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Permalink Reply by Kay Warren on
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ok, you don't mention any previous injuries to the heel, what kind of sports you're involved in, or your age. All of which are important here. Stretching is very important, but you have to do it right, and most people don't. There is a principle called "reciprocal inhibition". This is the mechanism that allow muscles to remain in balance. Muscles work in action pairs. The flexors on the inside of the forearm work opposite the extensors on the outside of the forearm. The bicep is opposite the tricep. When one is engaged, the other gets a bio-chemical signal to "LET GO!". If it's engaged against resistance, the signal is stronger. In the lower leg, the muscles opposite the "calf" muscles are the extensors. The 2 big calf muscles are the soleus, which attaches below the knee, & the gastrocnemius, which attaches above the knee. Both tendons join together to form the Achilles tendon, which inserts on the heel. Just pushing down on the heel in a stretch doesn't mean you're getting an effective stretch. If you're doing the classic wall stretch for the Achilles, and want to make it truly effective, instead of pushing down at the heel, lift upwards with your toes & forefoot. They probably won't go anywhere, but, the very act of engaging them chemically orders the calf muscles to let go. Your target muscles, (the calf) are being inhibited by their reciprocal counterparts.... thus the term "reciprocal inhibition".
You need to learn to stretch properly. Aaron Mattes is the king of stretching. he's been an active Kinesiologist for 40+ years. go to his website: www.StretchingUSA.com, and order his book, "Active Isolated Stretching". Get it, learn it, use it. If you're into sports health at all this is some of the best money you will ever spend. Now, before you spend big becks on an MRI, get an X-Ray. it's a MUCH less expensive way to see if you have a bone spur on the heel itself that may be irritating the tendon. If you already see a Chiropractor (DC), get it done there, it's MUCH cheaper, and DCs get a WHOLE lot more X-Ray training than the vast majority of MDs other than radiologists.
Give me more info on how this happened, and I'll see if I can give you more specific ideas on your path out of the hell that is PF.
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Permalink Reply by Doggymama on
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I was also active and had to go to the Foot doctor the pain in my heel was so bad. I did cortisone shots and they really helped. My only problem with it is the doctor put a needle that resembled one that is used for a spinal tap.Then he inserted another needles to inject the cortisone. OUCH! I have scar tissue built up in my heel and that is why I have such pain.To relieve the pain of the shots and strengthen the whole foot I use ice and stretch my foot by putting my hands against a wall and stretching by putting one foot in front and the bad one in back. I use other stretches that I found on the Internet that are too lengthy to describe here. I was walking on a Bowflex Treadclimber when this all began. I know it may not be achilles tendonitis but I think it will work for you. (I use the filling up a 1 liter bottle of whatever soda with water and freezing it that someone suggested here. That is wonderful!
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Permalink Reply by tony hall on
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Doggymama, did the needle from the cortisone injection cause the scar tissue in your heal or did you already have scar tissue there? MY pod. is wanting to give me cortisone shots for my P.F. but so far I haven't let him. My biggest problem with my P.F. is swelling under the base of my toes and in the front of my arch before it gets to the balls of my feet. I can't hardly bend my toes, it seems that if I roll my ankle my tendon will loosen up some but then I guess it gets stretched and I get the burning pain. Any advice, information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Doggymama said:I was also active and had to go to the Foot doctor the pain in my heel was so bad. I did cortisone shots and they really helped. My only problem with it is the doctor put a needle that resembled one that is used for a spinal tap.Then he inserted another needles to inject the cortisone. OUCH! I have scar tissue built up in my heel and that is why I have such pain.To relieve the pain of the shots and strengthen the whole foot I use ice and stretch my foot by putting my hands against a wall and stretching by putting one foot in front and the bad one in back. I use other stretches that I found on the Internet that are too lengthy to describe here. I was walking on a Bowflex Treadclimber when this all began. I know it may not be achilles tendonitis but I think it will work for you. (I use the filling up a 1 liter bottle of whatever soda with water and freezing it that someone suggested here. That is wonderful!
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Permalink Reply by Caroline Hall on -
Sounds like you need to go back to the doctor, either the same one or someone who specializes in feet and ankles!
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Permalink Reply by ICRJ on
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I don't have experience with Achilles Tendonitis, but I do know that Achilles and Plantar Fascia are connected at some point. Have your PT checked your ankle range of motion? The ankle range of motion is the key that tell if flexibility is the problem.
I think custom made orthotics is a 101 treatment. If you're not ready for orthotics, stability or motion controlled shoes might help.
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Permalink Reply by Doggymama
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I am fifty-one going on fifty-two. I went to a new foot doctor and he gave me a series of two shots. The first one was the most painful shot I have ever had in my heel including the one I got from another foot doctor who did nothing for me. I was really surprised how well it helped. The next morning I was in excruciating pain which the nurse and doctor failed to mention to me. I called the doctor's office and after many apologies from both the nurse and doctor I was given a prescription for Celebrex. The pain med did not work so I took Aleve. i know they are both in the same family but the Aleve worked better than the Celebrex. I then went back two weeks later and have one more shot. It did not hurt as much. The doctor then made a "mold" of my feet and I had custom orthodics made for my feet. I have not had a problem with my heel since then. I have used the Orthodics for about 6 months and it seems to have solved the problem. I used to downhill ski and go for hikes. I could hardly do it when my heel was so painful. I bet I could do it now. My ankles move just fine and my feet feel great. Most of my pain was in the right heel and arch. I forgot to mention I did get an x-ray of my feet. I have to be honest I cannot remember all that the doctor told me but he did say my bones looked fine. He could tell that I had broken the bone that leads to my little toe when I was 10 years old. I was so focused on getting rid of the pain I listened more closely when the doctor told me what he was going to do about it.
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