Plantar Fasciitis?

[BabyFu18]

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, so if not feel free to move this post.

I've been having major heel pain for the past 2 1/2 (almost 3) years and I've just now gone to the doctor (I know I should have gone sooner).

Anyhow my doctor said I have plantar fasciitis, she is sending me to get night time splints (tomorrow) and given me exercises to do and told me to ice my feet.

I've been doing an exercise program for awhile now (treadmill, bike, stair climber, etc.) and my doctor told me I needed to cut out the stair climber and walk with no incline on the treadmill if I insist on continuing with my exercise routine (which I will, but I will try to do less and take it easy).

I'm really concerned because she said since I've been having issues for so long it may be something that has progressed a good bit already. So in a month I have to go back to see her and she'll see if anything has helped. She also told me that steroids might help (though we are trying to avoid that path) and the cortisone shots might also help but she wanted to avoid that also if possible.

I'll be in Disney World soon-ish and I'm hoping to be able to get some relief because the last time we were there I was miserable. I asked about shoes and my doctor suggested New Balance or Nike athletic shoes for walking in the parks. She didn't tell me any specific ones to look at, so does anyone have any specific shoes I should look into?

Also, has anyone done Disney with this condition? What helped you make it through long days in the parks?

 

[jennydep]

DH has plantar fasciitis. The podiatrist made an insert for his shoe and it has made all the difference in the world. He was able to walk around Disney for 5 days with no pain. He really feels the pain if he goes several hours without the insert such as when we were at Great Wolf Lodge a couple of weeks ago and he walked around in water shoes most of the day.

 

[SeaSpray]

I have plantar fasciitis and I'm in the minority of people who don't get relief from conventional treatments. Last year I had 3 cortisone injections into my heel; had custom orthotics made which I wear religiously every single day; do all of the exercises; do my stretches before my feet ever hit the floor in the morning; and never go barefoot.

I've had little to no relief from this excruciating pain. I've had to rent an ECV for the last couple of Disney trips. I do also have fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis but the bottom line is, it's the plantar fasciitis that cause me to be unable to walk much during the course of a day.

Oh, and I've been wearing New Balance sneakers for years now. They help but not to any extent. Now I know a lot of people who've gotten tremendous relief from all of the things I've mentioned, and I truly hope that you are one of them.

I guess I really don't have any advice for you, other than to take it easy while you're there, try and find the most comfortable supportive sneakers that you can before you leave, and if worst comes to worst, maybe rent a wheelchair for a day in order to give yourself a break. I hope you have a great trip!!!!

P.S. My next step (no pun intended. lol) is to have surgery.

 

[brergnat]

Go to a drugstore that has a good variety of foot products. I have PF and found a foam insert that makes ALL the difference in the world. I think it's made by Dr. Scholl's, but I'm not 100% certain of that. It is a heel insert and it specifically says on the package that it's for Plantar Fascitis pain. I got mine at Target and imediately felt relief when I put them in my shoes.

I am a runner and recently increased my mileage/week, and that's when I started having heel pain.

Since you've had this for almost 3 years now, you may be beyond the "off the shelf" inserts, but I would highly recommend seeing a podiatrist who can make you custom ones. It really does help.

What you need to do is find shoes with a GOOD arch support. I wear Nike Air Max Moto 5 runners, and they are awesome. With the foam insert in place, I can't even feel it and I run with them and have NO pain.

It's very important to stretch your foot regularly too. Try to maintain a "flexed" foot position as much as possible. Don't point your toes too much, this further shortens the plantar fascia, causing more pain.

The night splint should help. Those are also available OTC at drugstores, FYI. They're pretty expensive, though, but they do help.

Mainly, follow your Doctor's recommendations. You want to use an anti inflammatory drug, either Aleve or Advil. I found that Aleve LIQUID GELCAPS (no other ones seem to work as well) help with the pain and it lasts 12 hours so you don't have to be popping pills all day.

Also, I'd second the advice to NOT ever go barefoot, even at home, and especially on hard floors. I bought a pair of Crocs for around the house, because they are easy on/off.

Good luck at WDW. You may find that you will have the most pain first thing in the morning and after a day of walking, but you will probably not have too much pain WHILE you are walking. As your foot warms up and stretches throughout the day, the pain goes away. It's when you stop that your foot tenses up and the pain comes back.

 

[BabyFu18]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I never walk anywhere without shoes on, I pretty much always wear my crocs (flip flops) around the house or my slippers. And one I get the night splints I'm hoping that will help. I'm young enough where I feel like I shouldn't have to use a wheelchair so I'm hoping that I can get better before my trip so I can keep up with the rest of my family. However, if it comes down to it I'm not past using a wheelchair if I have to, two years ago at Disney I was in so much pain from walking in the parks I was in tears by the time I got back to the hotel and I don't want to go through that again. I'm just trying my best to avoid surgery as I've had many in the past for other illnesses.

Unlike what I've read about plantar fasciitis, I don't seem to feel like my heel pain is worse in the mornings, I feel like it is bad in the mornings and gets continually worse throughout the day.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILTIES!

Most people visiting WDW tend to walk about eight miles per day. You might seriously want to consider renting an ECV.

Basically a person has a certain amount of energy available to them daily. If they relax during the day the amount of energy available wil increase; when they sleep at night they recharge their system,

However, when in pain energy is used up much faster than in normal conditions. If you become exhausted, with by what you have done or, more importantly, what you have done while in pain your system will not recharge to the original energy level overnight and you are starting the next day with a lower amount of energy available.

Please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[asdmom]

My husband and I ran the Disney Marathon in 07 (great race, by the way) -- anyway, i had a wicked case of PF and besides being very sore from running 26 miles, was also in pain just walking around. The podiatrist suggested good sturdy athletic shoe and also he gave me some inserts that could be put in just about any shoe. I did get one steriod shot which helped a lot and he also gave me a brace to wear at night which would keep my foot flexed (to help stretch the muscle.) Also, I found Birkenstocks to be extremely comfortable and wore those or my running shoes the entire time. My sis-in-law has PF too (although not from running) and her pod. suggested Crocs -- although mine said NOT to wear Crocs ... my pod. said if a shoe can flex side to side easily its not a good one for someone w/ PF. HTH.

 

[ENSOCK]

I was having alot of pain in my foot. I bought shoes for work (orthofeet) and for casual I purchased the crocs relief. It has really helped me with lessing the pain. I can still feel it but it went for a 10 to about a 2. Good luck!

 

[BabyFu18]

I was thinking about getting some birkenstocks to wear in FL (along with my tennis shoes), I have some I wear in the winter so I think I will get them back out and try to wear them around for awhile and see if they help. I've been wearing my crocs on a daily basis but my feet still kill me so I know I won't be able to use those on vacation (except in possible small increments).

Thanks again everyone, and about the wheelchair or EVC I'm only 24 and I guess to the naked eye I'm in good health (though I have asthma, am a cancer survivor, have had a bone transplant, and know apparently have PF) I know all of those things are things no one could ever look at me and tell I have/had so I guess that's why I feel funny about needing a wheelchair of sorts. But again, if I feel like I cannot get the pain to subside before vacation and/or my doctor feels like I shouldn't do to much walking I will use a wheelchair (without hesitation) because I don't want to make the problem worse.

Hopefully I'll be able to get some inserts costume made for my shoes eventually but they are very costly and my insurance will only cover a small amount, so it may not be something I can get right away.

I'm going to a orthopedic center tomorrow to get my night splints and try on some shoes so hopefully that will get me on the road to getting better and stronger on my feet.

 

[I Love Pluto]

New Balance - 811's and 854's.

 

[Chuck-PA]

I am dealing with plantar fascititis also.
My doctor has suggested Rockport Walking shoes or New Balance sneakers but the number series need to be 900 or above.
I have not been able to find 900 series or above in a store only on line, so I have not purchased them.
I walked Disney in my Rockports and had no trouble at all.

 

[everylastbreath]

I had this problem a few years ago also, only my trip at the time was Vegas- get yourself a really good fitting pair of sneakers, I would not recommend a specific brand, try them on, believe me when you get a pair that has the proper arch support and heal - you will feel 100x's better- I never wanted to take my sneakers off, hated to be barefoot. I took the shots and after the 3rd one things really improved, I would recommend that route. I am also a huge birkenstocks fan, but couldn't wear them, sneakers worked best for me.

 

[farmergirl]

Hi there . I have planter fasciitis as well. I had it in my right heal last year got it arounf February. Had physio done on it. They did some sort of ultrasound treatment on it for like 5 minutes at a time. The doctor said it would take about 6 months to a year to get better. I bought New Balance shoes and I was the other way they did not help at all. I stopped wearing them but the one thing that did give me relieve were these inserts called ProFoot Heel Halos and I wore them in the parks and had tremendous relief. I too try wear shoes in the house and have my kitchen floor where I do alot of standing covered in foam mats. By the time I got to WDW in late October with using the Halo Heels the pain was very tollerable and the pain was pretty much gone by November/December. However..... we got a trip booked for later this year again and unfortunatly I got the same thing but this time in the left foot. This time the ultrasound physio treatments are not doing anything and from where it is located this time I am getting no relief from the Halo Heels which was the one thing that saved me the year before. I did finally find myself an extreamly comfortable pair of shoes like I have never had before. They are Addidas Nova Walks I think. Never had a shoe that was that comfortable and fit so good. But every shoe is different for every person. It has nothing to do with the style and brand its how it fits each person individually I find. I have a very flat foot so anything with a high arch cramps. Anyway I can only tell you ehat was my experiance. Every case is different. With mine once I get walking the pain subsides its when you stop to rest or at night when you are off your feet and you try get up to walk that when it is VERY painful. Did your Doctor give you any tips as to little things you can do?

 

[Selket]

My DH has this and he had some special inserts made for his shoes. Now that he wears those he has no troubles at all - really amazing! He is very careful to wear those inserts ALL the time and at WDW he wears them with his tennis shoes and that works best for him.

 

[Starr W.]

Really good arch support is the key. I wear my tennis shoes with the good arch support and I found Keen sandals really work for me.

 

[PatsMom]

DD is only 16 and has been suffering with plantar fascitis for years. I have it also but not as bad as her. Her custom orthotics have helped considerably and so hasn't taking a daily dose of Celebrex. She finds that Birkenstocks are good for walking and crocs are just OK. Any good sneaker seems to do OK for her as long as she wears her orthotics.

 

[ntsammy5]

I've looked at all of the responses and didn't see this mentioned -- you shouldn't walk around barefoot much -- always wear slippers or crocs or something with good arch support.

I first started having extreme foot pain when I injured my foot in 2001. It took a couple of years for it to settle down using night splints, exercises, orthotics and cortisone shots. It just took time.

Good luck at Disney. As others have mentioned an ECV might be a wise choice.

 

[DizznyChick]

i only wear new balance 587-they're not too pretty but i know it works for me so i'm sticking with them. 1 time i was so happy i found sandals i could wear at the parks all day-tevas keala style ( i think thats the name) and they are great but are discontinued. i still wear them around the house, but i really need new ones. i even checked ebay but there was none in my size. i'm alway on the lookout for something that would work, but i end up spending so much money on shoes i cant wear (which i really wouldnt mind if they worked).

 

[disney-super-mom]

Speaking from experience going through this with my husband, make sure to ask your doctor to check your uric acid levels. It's a simple blood test.

DH had PF for 3-4 years. It was horrible for him. Extremely painful.....even just to step out of bed. He had his shoes right next to the bed and never took a step without having them on. He went to a foot specialist, bought special shoes along with special inserts. He also took steriods and pain medication prescribed from the doctor off and on over the years. However, it just never seemed to get better really, no matter what he did.

Anyway, after watching a show on "Medical Mysteries" about a young man who was experiencing similar symptoms, and it turns out after suffering for many years, what he had was........Gout!

I never thought gout would be such a medical mystery, but I told my husband to have his doctor test his uric acid levels, you know, just out of curiosity. Guess what? His uric acid levels were very, very high. He totally had gout! After all those years, the doctor never tested his uric acid levels. I guess it's not something common for them to test. So you probably have to ask. Plus, DH didn't have the common symptoms of gout (and neither did the young man on "Medical Mysteries"). Although gout pain can occur just about anywhere, you never think it can be in the heals, but it CAN! Anyway, ever since being on medication for gout, DH is sooooooo much better! He felt better within 24-48 hours after starting the medication. It was amazing really! To be able to go on a walk without that horrible heal pain is heaven for him. He's like a new man.

I wish you all the luck in the world and hope your feet get better. Just remember:

Have your uric acid levels tested. (Just for the heck of it, because you never know, right?)

 

[brergnat]

The gout thing is a good point. However, gout *usually* affects men more than women.

I say usually because I actually had a gout attack (classic, big toe pain) when I was 19 years old, and I'm a female! It was not due to uric acid buildup, though. My levels were normal. It was a complete freak occurrence. It hasn't happened since, but my father had a couple episodes a few years back, and it was his whole foot. So, yeah, worth checking out, but Plantar Fascitis is a much more common cause of heel pain, especially if the pain goes away with the proper shoes. Gout pain will not be alleviated with orthotics or the "right" shoes.