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Heel pain?

My left heel hurts when I stand or walk a lot. Anyone ever had heel spurs?

Sat. Sep 29, 9:39am

I had plantar fasciitis. That might be your issue, too. It's treatable but it took me months of exercises, taping my feet, and occasional cortisone shots. I still wear orthotics but it never came back.

Saturday, September 29, 2007, 9:44 AM

It's a little like walking with a nail in your heel...yes, it is miserable. I had both heel spurs and plantar fascitis. The orthopedic surgeon I saw recommended going a non surgery route (the surgery is MISERABLE, takes long recovery and the spurs may return).

Exercises, wearing shoes around the house and GOOD shoes did the trick for me. Also, I have lost 85 pounds in the last 5 years and that has made a tremendous difference. I rarely feel them.

So toss the silly cute shoes for a while and get active and you will start to feel better. Orthotics are great too but guess what? I don't use them anymore!

Saturday, September 29, 2007, 11:18 AM

Ah yes, I too never go barefoot in the house -- my Birkenstocks are now my "slippers"! (I'm the 9:44 PP)

Saturday, September 29, 2007, 5:18 PM

Couple of ideas...

A friend of mine had bone spurs on his heel and, as it turns out, a touch of plantar fasciitis, but all the pain was in his heel. I'm a massage therapist with some interesting tricks up my sleeve -- I fixed the pain with 30 minutes of pressure point work (try Chinese or Thai foot rubs/reflexology if you can find such a thing where you live) and now he keeps it healthy on his own by rolling one of those spiky balls under his socked foot while at work. Another friend of mine found relief in what she calls an "old-school arch strap" that costs about $12. She was in tremendous pain all the time, and now she's at the point where she doesn't wear the strap every waking hour.

Saturday, September 29, 2007, 9:35 PM

I developed planter fasciitis when I first started Peertrainer and still having problems 18 months later. I've had physical therapy, tape, ice, stretching and it took it all to finally get better, not well but better. The orthopedic doctor didn't recommend surgery but I've found wearing Brooks Ariel shoes and Powerstep insoles are by far the best treatment for me. Good luck to you.

Saturday, September 29, 2007, 9:39 PM

I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitus several years ago, too. Fortunately I found a wonderful physical therapist who fit me with custom orthotics using plaster casts. I wear them 95% of the time and most of my shoes have removable foot pads so my orthotics can slip in. I too mostly wear Brooks Ariel shoes. What's saved me are good calf stretches several times per day. I have occasional heel pain, perhaps 1 day per month and it's always brought on if I haven't stretched. Good luck.

Sunday, September 30, 2007, 1:19 AM

I too have had plantar faciitis off and on for the last 16 years. I have had 3 really bad bouts of it. Working as a beautician. I bought a really good pair of shoes and those heel pads with a hole in them. It helps but nothing really takes the pain.
I always described it as having a really bad bruise in the center of my heel and walking on a really pointed rock.
So sorry you are struggling too.
Way back when I first got them my dr said all of a sudden in the last 5 years or so (which was 20 years at that point) tons of people were coming in with this problem. He thought it had to do with shoes.

Sunday, September 30, 2007, 2:05 AM

Plantar Fascitis can be because of many reasons

You could be overweight.
Could be wearing the wrong kind of shoes.
Could be walking in a way that it increases pressure on the insides of your feet.

To keep Plantar Fascitis at bay, you can do the following:
1. Do a towel stretch or the staircase stretch or the inclined slope stretch. Whatever way make sure you are stretching your calf muscles.
2. Get better shoes with arch support. Get ones with softer insides.
3. Get good insoles if needed.
4. Walk in a manner that you do not exert to much pressure on the insides of your feet.
5. Do not stand/exert too much pressure on your feet. Standing too long (eg. Playing a game of snooker for way too long)
6. Lose weight (extra weight causes this problem. My pain reduced with each reducing kg)
7. If it is very painful, use an icepack or pop an ibuprofen or two.

Very rarely, succumb to corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are known to be a very important factor in causing avascular necrosis or also otherwise referred to as osteonecrosis. Please do not use corticosteroids as far as possible.

Sunday, September 30, 2007, 6:00 AM

Thanks EVERYONE!

Your comments are so so helpful. I can't wait to go shoe shopping. I iced it today and it really felt better.

:)
espngrl

Sunday, September 30, 2007, 7:25 PM

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