Heel spurs, different treatment, and your experience

[Frankie]

Well, I came here once before, months ago about my heel that was killing me. Well, can't walk on that foot without shoes any more so I broke down and went to the doctor.

I do have a heel spur and I'll be honest, it is killing me. My foot is swollen, my ankle is swollen, alot of my shoes I can't wear. Prime example of waiting too long.

While at the doctors they froze a planters wart on the other foot, so neither foot is working right now.

:

I do ok with pain, I delivered a breach baby, normally, with no pain medicine.

I broke my ankle playing tennis, and finished the tournament, 5 days later had the break taken care of.

I may still be a weany, not sure, I don't consider myself one,,,,,,,,,,,,,but this pain from this spur is OUCH! I HAVE to play tennis twice a week, and yeah, it kind of hurts.

Nationals is in almost 4 weeks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,being just a touch on the stubborn side,,,,,,,,,,not letting them take this off.

Starting with 800 mg of anti inflammatory, 4 times a day and gel heel inserts,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and go from there. If it continues to get worst, will add joint supplement in a week.

And hope I can get through Nationals, where every where you walk, it's cement.

So,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,whatllIdo??????

 

[nootka]

Carolyn, is there a surgical option?

At least one that would not possibly cause other disability as well?

I am so very sorry for this distress, you mustn't let it go on too long b/c once you stop moving, it will be ever so hard to get back up and get going, etc....pain is a terrible thing.

I do have a good friend w/a bad wrist/arm. He wears a copper band that keeps him far more mobile as he has a very physical and active job and needs the strength. It works for him.

Hubby swears by Arnica cream (check a health food store). He rubs it onto painful areas and it helps increase the bloodflow and circulation and therefore the healing rate.

Best wishes...

Liz M.

 

[Marty]

weany is spelled "weenie"

I know cuz I are one :new_shocked:

 

[Frankie]

Noooooooooooo, in Indiana we grown fields of B_E_A_N

So we spell it,,,,,,,,,,,,,W_E_A_N____(Y) :lol:

 

[CountryHaven]

Carolyn, try flexing your foot upwards. In many cases (mine for instance) 'heel spurs' is really a condition somewhat like carpel tunnel in the wrists... the muscles tense, and swell, and when you relax, pinch nerves... but, as I found upon accident with the carpel tunnel (for me) it actually started in the neck and shoulders. Hours spent on the computer and tensions related to it, knotted muscles in my neck (well no duh right?) but one day, when flexing my shoulders in a way I hadn't before, suddenly I felt a huge wave of relief in my wrists! Well, the same thing happened earlier this year, when dealing with a heel spur problem. The biggest problem for me was when I'd get up after a long period of sitting... or of course, right when I got out of bed. I couldn't even walk on my one foot. I tried everything from icing to wrapping, and none worked, or worked for long, until I accidentally came upon the 'tension' spot while flexing my foot and found that (although it hurts at first, because you're stretching the muscle that is constricted) the relief was much greater.

I admit, it does work in varying degrees, depending upon how badly my foot is affected at a particular time, and how long I have to 'work' the muscle before trying to stand up (for instance, in the middle of the night potty run, I just plain don't have time to mess with that danged muscle, so it's one-two-then you're on your own buddy, and limp to the john. LOL)

Anyway, just a suggestion to see if it helps for you.

 

[Just Us N Texas]

Carolyn, I (KNOCK WOOD) have had plantar faceitis or heel spurs in both feet. Thankfully not at the same time though. The bending the foot upward toward the foot will help a lot, and also, stand on the toes of that foot a few times a day. Sorry, but the heel cushions never helped me at all, because it is a tendon in the foot that has gotten strained, and the cushion doesn't help. I did get some orthotics that I wore for about 3-4 weeks. It was a firm cup on the heel, that came up on the sides of the heel, and ankle. Thank goodness it hasn't hurt me again for a long time. I found that getting up in the mornings, middle of night for potty runs, and after sitting for extended periods really hurt me worse than anything. I know how aggravating and painful it is. Wish you luck, but I feel the two exercises will give more comfort than you can even imagine!

 

[Casnos Minis]

[SIZE=18pt][/SIZE]

Use a heating pad to heat up the back of your anlke and the bottom of your foot. Do this for 15 minutes, then stretch your foot. You can stand facing a wall on your tip toes and try to make your feet go down by themselves. You can also reach your toes to the sky. When all done with steretches (30 minutes or so), use an ice pack for the swelling. I know the hurt like He** I have them, plus plantar facitis (sp?) which means I have a rip in the muscle from my heel to my toes.

Christy

 

[CountryHaven]

Oh, oh, oh, yeah... I forgot all about that ONE... thank you, Just Us. I haven't done that one in a long time, and could really use it lately. Carolyn, stand on the edge of a stair (half on, and half the foot off), and raise up on your toes, then SLOWLY let foot drop back down to 'below' level so that the foot is ultra flexed. Doing that helps a lot during the day.

Christy, do you find the heating pad gives you much comfort, long run? It seems to give temporary relief from any throbbing that might be present (at its worse times) when sitting, but doesn't seem to do much for the standing up procedure. LOL At least for me.

 

[walter]

My husband had this and the foot Dr. would not do surgery...says its not necessary..in his case anyway. He made an insert for his shoes and had him do exercises by standing on his toes on the edge of a step, large book, etc and hanging the heel over, take the heels down and stretch the whole back of the leg. Its all about stretching those muscles and tendons in there. He did these for probably 10 years and as long as he did them he was not bothered anymore.

Clara

 

[Robin_C]

I feel your pain, literally. Have had bilateral plantar fasciitis for years. Suffered tremendously and could barely walk at times. Stubborn me refused to go to the doctor, obviously preferring just to complain about the condition. Then one day I needed to rescue a horse from a leg caught in a barbed wire fence. Jumped into a shed, grabbed wire cutters and jumped OUT of the shed, landing on the ball of my right foot. Instant tearing, ripping pain -- the result of a self-performed plantar fasciotomy, however inadvertent it was. The tearing sensation was incredible, but I still had a horse in an emergency situation. I got halfway across the pasture before she freed herself and I collapsed in a heap of tears. ER doc showed me my beautiful heel spurs on x-ray then slapped me in a cast. Told me I had actually done myself a favor, saving me the cost of surgery which is often the best option to relieve the condition -- I had just performed it on myself! They subsequently put me into custom shoe orthotics which did help the other foot. Since the Rx has to be renewed every year, I've fallen back to my lazy, hate to go to the doctor routine, and now my one foot is KILLING me again. So yes, I know exactly what everyone is talking about.

Bottom line, the orthotics work for me as long as I will wear them. Royal PITA because you only have one set and have to either wear the same pair of shoes all the time, or change the orthotics from pair to pair. However, if it's ever a feasible option, consider a fasciotomy. I never, ever have pain in the foot I tore up, but next time I have a fasciotomy, I'd like to have anesthesia, please!

Robin C