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.

[OakLeaf]

Oh... and Crocs.

Nothing has helped my Achilles so much as wearing Crocs nearly every waking hour. Winter with wool socks, summer without, around the house with or without the fuzzy slipper liner. They are amazing!!! I never thought I could wear shoes without major arch support, but they let me be on my feet pain-free for hours, and help strengthen my foot muscles, too. Around the house they help keep me from overpronating on the flat floors and absorb excessive impact on tile.

Plus the extreme comfort of the Crocs I wear all the time has severely reduced my tolerance for poorly fitting athletic shoes and street shoes. That's always been a challenge since my feet are very hard to fit. But the compromises I make are different now and I think that's helped me, too.

OTOH I have an extremely high ugly threshold

[bounceswoosh]

Is there such a thing as a PT specializing in feet?

My hand therapist has been such a godsend compared to a "regular PT" when it comes to my wrist. Actually, she's an OT -- you can get hand therapy certification with either background. Her depth and breadth of knowledge is astounding. She knows a lot more about hands than any of the ortho surgeons I've ever talked to.

If you're starting to look at surgery as an option, maybe first investigate whether there's a PT in your area specializing in feet and lower leg ...

[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.

[spokewench]

Sorry to hear about the need for surgery. I've pretty much got my plantar fasciitis (sp?) under control now. I did physical therapy and I do lots of stretching every day - but I'm not running - I'm just playing tennis. It puts a lot of strain on the foot stopping and starting and going side to side, but probably not as much the repetitive same thing on the foot as running.

My tennis instructor had this surgery after have plantar fasciitis for years and it cured her for good. So hopefully, it will do the same for you.

spoke

[KSH]

WOW, I don't have any wisdom... all I can say is... that sucks! REALLY SUCKS!

Try to do what you can to get through IM training and the IM with it. Maybe you should try a walk/run combo? I'm doing a 5 minute walk, 2 minute run comb on my longer sessions. It's works nicely and I keep around a 11:30 minute mile. Not blazing fast, but at the IM, when others are walking, I'll be zooming by.

So hopefully the surgery will fix the problem. Right? If so, then that's great! I would say there is a silver lining... ya know?

Well hang in there as best you can.

[KnottedYet]

Is there such a thing as a PT specializing in feet?

yours truly!
Try calling a few podiatrists and ask who they send their patients to for PT. Often the podiatrists will have us come to their offices and meet them, or sit in on an appointment with a patient we are seeing, so the docs really do have a good idea of how well they like the way a particular therapist works. And we in turn have a good idea of how the doc wants us to handle things.

[stacy]

Hi...for what its worth I had a severe bout of PF for about 6 months, I tried everything, custom orthotics, stretching exercises etc. Someone suggested Birkenstocks so while in the mall one day in agony I bought a pair. I wore them everyday from the time I got up til I went to bed. After three months I had no more pain and have not had a problem again (5 years ago). You have my sympathy its a horrible pain, I hope you find relief fast!

[colby]

I have no advice, but lots of sympathy. Around here, that still counts!

Take it easy, keep exploring those options - you know you're not going to have the surgery soon, so keep looking for things to make you more comfortable and successful in the meantime.