Plantar Fasciitis-Keeping My Fingers Crossed
I think I may have mentioned here before the problems I have had since January with Plantar Fasciitis. It has pretty much kept me from running or doing any significant walking or hiking since that time.
Initially I tried an anti-inflamatory, ice packs and a night splint. No help at all.
In May I tried ESWT(Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy). I had limited temporary success with that. I had five treatments at $250 per treatment. It was supposed to have taken three treatments. They were not covered by health insurance. In a short time my foot was pretty much back to being in pain most of the time.
You might think I was crazy to spend so much money. Let me say that when your foot is in constant severe pain you will try just about anything.
I felt like the podiatrist didn’t really take time to talk and think about my case. I would come in for a treatment and pay the $250 to pay for his machine and go out the door. His comment was that at least I was still bicycling so I needed to be patient with running.
I started to think about what could be the root cause of the problem and why it wasn’t improving. Even though it didn’t appear that bicycling caused the problem could bicycling somehow be related? Bicycling does amazing things to calves and quads. My calves are connected to my feet. Could over use and all the years of cycling be causing the problem?
I discussed this idea with a few people and decided to try massage therapy. I have been going weekly for about six weeks.
Each day I make sure to do some calf and ham string stretching on my own. I have been really impressed with the results. I have had much better improvement than with the ESWT.
One day this week I took my first run in several months. I wanted to be careful not to damage anything so I only ran for 15 minutes. My foot seemed fine after the run and 24 hours later.
I think the problem was the ESWT was like trying to repair a tightly stretched band without taking the pressure off first. You just can’t fix it. I believe the podiatrist should have considered this. Sometimes I think doctors don’t take the entire lifestyle and body into consideration. My doc was a podiatrist and my problem was the foot in his mind.
I am keeping my fingers crossed for now. Maybe once I get to a certain point with the massage therapy I could go back to ESWT to put the final nail in so to speak.
Tags: plantar fasciitis
November 19th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Glad its finally starting to feel better. Don’t tell Matt, but doctors don’t know everything:)
November 19th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I received a neck injury in a motor vehicle accident back in February. When I started physical therapy, I went to a place which specialized in sports medicine. Along with the standard PT, a massage therapist was introduced into the treatment as I made progress. It was then I made the biggest strides in recovery.
I always seek out a doctor which knows something about my lifestyle. My primary care doctor is an avid cyclist and commuter too. We see each other more on the road than in the office. During our road meetings he will asks how I am feeling and I ask him about his computers and security. Makes for interesting discussions while riding along.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
I did not make progress with my rotator cuff problems until I got Jim Johnson’s book.
He has one on Plantar Fasciitis I’ve read good things about, and he seems to agree with you in many areas.
Take a look at it on Amazon and then order it through interlibrary loan (why pay for it if you can get it for free).
http://www.amazon.com/5-Minute-Plantar-Fasciitis-Solution/dp/1598585517/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227121111&sr=1-3
November 19th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Stephen: Thanks for the info I will check it out. I almost always get my books from he library.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:21 am
When I was a runner, I used to get plantar about once every year. The only thing that ever seemed to really work was rest. Having that is no fun, especially when you take your first step in the morning after a long night’s sleep.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Which machine did the podiatrist use, can you describe it? Did the machine require anesthesia? Exactly where and how did he treat, did he treat where you felt discomfort during treatment (biofeedback), or just in the the general area?
I am a researcher that specializes in ESWT.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:41 am
It was a machine that he used in his office. It wasn’t very big. They wheeled it around on a cart. It didn’t require anesthesia. He would press on my foot and then mark where I felt pain and treat that area. He would treat the area for about 5 minutes. I think it was some kind of new technology for ESWT.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:20 am
Just looking at that picture makes my foot hurt. I’m glad your foot is feeling better.
November 21st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
eGads, I hope your foot will make a full recovery. XO
November 24th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
On your commuter bike- I saw that you were experimenting with shoes for cold weather reasons, but what shoes do you use regularly?
To test out my Surly/Xtracycle for touring use, I rode it to a neighboring town and spent the night with some friend and rode back. For some reason I also decided to experiment with using platform pedals and sneakers instead of cleats and clipless.
My calves and undersides of my feet were unhappy with me after that. Of course, I survived it because I’m still young enough to get away with silly stuff like that.. but I remember theorizing that my feet and calves had to work so much harder than when I had a super stiff lever such as my cycling shoes. Any cycling shoes aren’t the ‘commuter’ kind that have some flex- they’re a racer’s shoe meant to be super stiff.
So there’s one idea! I hope it works out for you.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
RJ: On my commuter bike I now alternate between clipless and a flat pedal since my pedals can do that. When I ride with the flat pedal I still use a cycling shoe with a very stiff sole. It also had very good gripping on the flat pedal.
I feel like the clipless day in and day out just cause too many problems with the balls of my feet.
But what about this comment you made “I survived it because I’m still young enough to get away with silly stuff like that..”
Was that directed towards me and my age?
December 12th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I have several patients with plantar fasciitis who are pain-free from acupuncture. An acupuncture session shouldn’t be anywhere near what you were paying for the ESWT. And despite popular conception it doesn’t hurt much, if you’re worried about that.
JH