Red Cross (Injured Souls) Thread

[Selkie]

I have PF, according to my orthopedist. The good news is that my ankle is sound (x-ray) and healthy. No bone spur. And the dr. was surprised at the good ROM in my foot (dorsiflexion?). All that lower leg stretching that I did after my ankle injury last summer has really helped.

I start PT next Tuesday.

Doctor said that research has shown that wearing insoles with arch supports (i.e., Superfeet) has been proven to be effective in reducing/eliminating PF.

More good news: I can still do low impact things---swimming, biking, elliptical, walking on treadmill, etc. I'll ride on the trainer, swim & maybe pull out my Powerstrike DVDs (kickboxing), but I'm limiting my walking to only that which is necessary. At least until the pain subsides some. It's insidious. In addition to PT and the Superfeet, he prescribed icing 4x/day and OTC Aleve. I have a frozen bottle or water in the fridge to use for ice massages!

I'm mentally prepared for a long recovery. I just want this to get better & not come back. Ever. I can walk ok, no limping, but it hurts like a *****, particularly when I get up after resting/sleeping.

I might dig out my Strassberg sock and start wearing it to bed again.

Anyone else suffer from this and successfully conquer it? I dug up Wahine's old thread on it and printed it out. Thank you, Wahine.

[Tri Girl]

I had a BAD case of it about 5 years ago. PT, infrared heat therapy, that darn sock , rolling my foot on frozen water bottles and tennis balls and custom orthotics all helped cure it. And it hasn't returned. Thankfully.
My friend went into a cast for 8 weeks (instead of undergoing surgery because hers was so bad) and she's not had a lick of trouble since.
That PF is a crazy little bugger!!

Hope everything works out for you. I'm back to running and doing everything I used to. You'll be back in no time!!

[roadie gal]

I had it a few years ago. I did the Strassburg sock at night, rolled my foot on a tennis ball, did the stretches and taped my foot. Honestly, I think taping my foot did the most good. It took about 4 months for it to go away, but I haven't had a problem since.

If you're interested, ask your PT or do a search for "PF foot taping".

[pll]

Argh. PF!! I had it years ago, and I struggled with it for about 18 months. That's when I bought my first bike, as walking to work was impossible many days. I tried everything: splints at night, taping, some PT where they put some medication and electrodes (?) -- I cannot remember what it was.

Anyway, it was persistent and, for me, insoles and massaging with a foot log worked best. The last traces of pain went away when I resumed running (with insoles), which I did very gradually. First time: walked 15 min, ran 5 min, walked 15 min, stretched and massaged after that and again at night. I built up the running very slowly.

I tried Superfeet, but prefer Powerstep insoles on my running shoes and other sneakers. I still use them. For dressy flat shoes, I found Birkenstock half insoles helped -- I no longer use them and heels are fine now. And to this day, I have a foot log under my sofa, ready for a few minutes of use.

Here are the links to the things I mentioned:

• Powerstep insoles
• Foot log:
• Birkenstock insoles

ETA: Remembered the name of the treatment with the electrodes: iontophoresis. I did not notice any improvement from it.

[spokewench]

Had - always need to keep an eye on it; keep stretching to make sure calves are not too tight; this seems to trigger in me. I play tennis so this is a very prevalent injury.

I did all those things, ice, stretching, etc., etc. never did the sock or boot in bed; but finally had to do PT and I think that helped and finally got me over the last little bit.

[Crankin]

I had it about 25 years ago, from teaching aerobics on a concrete floor. I had custom orthotics made for my aerobics shoes and I believe some ultra sound and electric stim therapy in water. Also did the icing.
It never came back.

[Pax]

Had it bad off and on for several years, it finally cleared up by religiously wearing insoles and NEVER going barefoot, not even to the bathroom at night. Every once in a while I'll allow myself to think it's gone forever and wear some cute shoe with no support... and the cycle begins again.