Plantar fasciitis= surgery

[Tri Girl]

Bummer! I've been dealing with pain from my plantar fascia for over a year. Extensive stretching, rolling, night splints, and taping haven't been working. Went back to my orthopaedic doc yesterday and he said if nothing has worked so far, nothing will work to fix it. He suggested surgery. He's the running guru of this region- treats thousands of runners (elite/pro and amateur). He knows his stuff. I trust his judgement as he's treated me successfully for other running injuries in the past. He elected to have the surgery twice because of his plantar fascia issues and said he would only recommend it if it was truly needed (and I guess in my case it is).

I have an IM in November, so I won't do it before then. I'll just play through the pain and secretly hope it gets better. Surgery is scary and electing to do it before something HAS to be done is even scarier. Maybe I'll just learn to run 5-10 miles a week and be happy with that. I can still ride and swim without pain so I guess I just do more of that.

I don't know. I'm bummed. Running has been a struggle/painful, and I've put on 15 pounds since I've not been able to run like I used to (that alone is frustrating enough). I just needed to share with a group that would understand, that's all. Thanks for reading.

[OakLeaf]

(((((TriGirl))))) sending good thoughts for healing and pain-free running!


....just curious though and it really isn't something I know much about. But I dealt with Achilles issues for years (still do to some extent), which seems to be closely related to plantar fasciitis. I tried all kinds of treatments too, but it's only form work, plus changing the type of shoes I wear for aerobics, (re-injury prevention) that's finally got me on the road to recovery. Have you had a PT really look at your form (not just running but in your other sports)?

[KnottedYet]

(((((trigirl)))))

What kind of orthotics are you wearing?

(+1 on seeing a sports med PT for a look at your running)

[Tri Girl]

I haven't been to a sports med PT to look at my form. It's something I'll definitely do before I go for surgery (in fact, I was just googling PT online). You guys were reading my mind.
Last summer I had custom orthotics built by Hanger (a orthotic and prosthetic company). I also wear the most motion control shoes out there (Brooks Ariel). My running guru doc has looked at my running and walking stride and has said that the orthotics and shoes totally correct my overpronation and that the biomechanics (is that the right word) of my running look to be OK.

You know the part that bums me out as much as not running (which is a stupid thing to bum me out)? I can't wear cute shoes or flip flops anymore. I'm a flip flop nut in the summer, and I like to wear cute shoes to work. Not anymore. I have to wear tennis shoes with my orthotics, even with skirts and dress pants. It's a good thing I'm a teacher (standing on feet all day doesn't help any), because I can be a little more casual than a regular office job.

Thanks, ladies- I knew you'd have good ideas or words of encouragement.

[KnottedYet]

I tell my pf folks who love flip-flops to wear Chaco flip-flops, and walk in them gripping the flip-flop with your foot and holding it close to you. That makes you flex your toes and lift your arch, which strengthens the muscles that aren't doing their job (and leaving all the work to be done by your pf, which just can't)

You can also strengthen the same muscles by curling your toes into a tight fist for 5 seconds, then splaying your toes out wide for 5 seconds, many times a day.

But during the summer, most folks would rather do flip-flops than exercise...

Maybe ask your orthopod if you can try that. It would be very good to have a PT look at you, and be sure to have them check your hips and stuff, too. Hip/pelvis/lowback issues can play havoc with feet.

[mimitabby]

I tell my pf folks who love flip-flops to wear Chaco flip-flops, and walk in them gripping the flip-flop with your foot and holding it close to you. That makes you flex your toes and lift your arch, which strengthens the muscles that aren't doing their job (and leaving all the work to be done by your pf, which just can't)

You can also strengthen the same muscles by curling your toes into a tight fist for 5 seconds, then splaying your toes out wide for 5 seconds, many times a day.

But during the summer, most folks would rather do flip-flops than exercise...

Maybe ask your orthopod if you can try that. It would be very good to have a PT look at you, and be sure to have them check your hips and stuff, too. Hip/pelvis/lowback issues can play havoc with feet.

oh, Knot, such good advice! I'll tell Raleighdon!!

[pll]

Tri Girl... I second knotted's suggestion of having a PT check for other imbalances. It sounds like you have not stopped running through this. Perhaps you do need to give your feet a break to recover.

I had a bad case of PF about 6-7 years ago, so bad I could not walk for a block without major pain (forget about running). This led me to buy my first bike as an adult! I did stop running for about a year and a half --a total bummer. The pain subsided gradually (night splints, stretching, PT, massage, iontophoresis, taping, icing, pills, you name it). I used over the counter inserts and Birkenstocks. Once the pain went down to just noticeable after walking, I slowly started "running" again: started with 15 min walking, 5 min running, walk back home, stretch/massage like crazy... The pain eventually disappeared, but I'm still mindful of the shoes I wear. And I run pain free or, at least, free of PF pain.

[Tri Girl]

I tell my pf folks who love flip-flops to wear Chaco flip-flops, and walk in them gripping the flip-flop with your foot and holding it close to you. That makes you flex your toes and lift your arch, which strengthens the muscles that aren't doing their job (and leaving all the work to be done by your pf, which just can't)

You can also strengthen the same muscles by curling your toes into a tight fist for 5 seconds, then splaying your toes out wide for 5 seconds, many times a day.

Thanks, Knot. That's great advice! I appreciate you suggesting those things. Crocs and Chacos. I'll look into those for sure. I am a warm weather lover, and the thought of wearing tennis shoes all summer again like last year bums me out.

I've pretty much laid off running. For 3 months I did NO running, then started to get depressed of sorts from not running. Since then, I've only "run" once a week for 2-3 miles for the last 8 months. That is a significant drop in my normal mileage. It's the most break I can give it while not completey losing my mind (cycling and swimming just don't do the same mentally for me and I can't stand the elliptical- I'd rather run in pain). When I do run, we're talking 12-13 min. miles with walk breaks, so it's not like I'm doing much more than a fast walk anyway. I don't think it could get much more rest.
Now that I'm IM training, I will HAVE to run (and run in pain if that's the case). There's no option for me. I figure the last 11 months of almost non-existent running didn't do much good, so I'm going to ramp it up since I'm in pain anyway. It may be foolish, but I can't stop living and doing the things I love (are you sensing the stubborness yet? ).


Thanks again, everyone, for your great advice/support. I just KNEW you'd understand and have lots of words of wisdom and such. You ladies are the BEST!
The PT is the next step.