Heel spur/Plantar Fasciitis? Urgent...

AZZenny · April 22nd, 2006, 09:42 AM

A couple months ago I bruised my left heel, and it never seemed to completely get better -- sort of came and went, at times pretty uncomfortable, but never terrible, and I was fully mobile. Then about ten days ago, running to get the phone, felt something tear or snap -- could hardly put weight on it for days, then it got somewhat better, but by the end of most days, I'm really hobbling.

Got in to the sports-ortho guy Weds who said 99% sure I have a heel spur AND sounds like I ripped the fascia at least a little. (Plus high arches) Had MRI and Xrays yesterday, but I won't know results till Tuesday or so.

So I have to wear a foot brace at night, which is a lot of fun, will have PT and some sort of ultrasound tx, get an (expensive) orthotic (which means new shoes, too, probably...), and may have to wear an airboot for a couple weeks if there is indeed a tear.

The big thing is I have a 2 week trip to Israel coming up in early June which will involve a lot of walking around. Doc insists I'll be able to do it, and said he'll shoot me up with cortisone a week ahead if necessary.

Has anyone dealt with this? I remember how hard it was for Matt Williams, and I figure they were doing anything and everything to get him functional, to no avail -- I would be horribly bummed to cancel my trip, which I would have to decide by May 4th, but I also don't want to get there and be unable to walk around. Why not shoot me up with cortisone NOW?

Any info/suggestions/ hugely appreciated. What has worked/not? Any helpful home remedies? Anything? The timing of this has me very concerned.

jf-08 · April 22nd, 2006, 11:00 AM

I had it for more than 6 months back in 2002.

I took inflammitory pills daily, wore an arch support to bed, and another during the day.

I don't have heel spurs and your tear was probably worse than mine, but it sucked.

The shots will help and you can do the walking, just make sure you don't do any running when you are trekking across Israel.

The good thing is you have about 6 weeks to help it recover a bit.

Good luck.

Russ Smith · April 22nd, 2006, 04:35 PM

Ditto, I have had it twice when I was younger from playing basketball and it's the only injury that ever stopped me from playing for very long. I played with ankle sprains, a bad knee that I've now had 2 surgeries on, you name it. But plantar fascitis hurt like hell, I could walk but not run for several months.

I didn't have the heel problems you have. Just got to be careful you don't overdo it, ice water becomes your friend, easier to soak the foot in ice water than try to apply ice directly to it.

Linderbee · April 23rd, 2006, 11:50 AM

My guess as to why not cortisone now is because you want to always avoid steroids if at all possible. I think you should trust your doctor and not cancel your trip. Just be sure not to do anything to aggravate it between now and then & take it easy!!!

Good Luck & keep us posted!!

Russ Smith · April 23rd, 2006, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linderbee

My guess as to why not cortisone now is because you want to always avoid steroids if at all possible. I think you should trust your doctor and not cancel your trip. Just be sure not to do anything to aggravate it between now and then & take it easy!!!

Good Luck & keep us posted!!

There's a finite limit to how many cortisone shots they can give you for a specific injury. When I broke my elbow rollerblading about 2 years ago I was being treated by a doctor who gave me a cortisone shot in the elbow during PT to help get the movement back, I could bend it, but not straighten it. I reinjured it at work, and got thrown into workmen's comp and a new doctor. He immediately gave me a cortisone shot, did PT for 2 weeks, and gave me another cortisone shot. When he released me, I paid my own way to the first doctor for a followup and he was furious with the workmen's comp doctor for giving me the 2 shots. He said one may have been warranted, but 2 was not and he said now we can't give you any more shorts. So in my case 3 shots in a few months was the limit. I still can't straighten my left arm it's about 20 degrees short of straight and my original doctor blames the timing of the cortisone shots.

I would guess it's the same with this injury, he wants to wait as long as he can before he uses the shot.

AZZenny · April 23rd, 2006, 03:18 PM

OK, that makes sense. I know you aren't supposed to have too many cortisone shots in any one joint.

I did some reading up, too -- they have started using single injections of Botox with extremely good short and long term results!

Also lithotripsy works well but is reserved for 'when all else fails' since its very expensive.

The surprising thing was that I could find not one piece of medical research that says expensive 'custom-fit/ fabricated' orthotics are any better than well-made, well-selected prefab orthotics, while there are several studies showing that prefabs have better outcomes! That will save me $250 off the bat.

I am amazed that after just 2 nights with the foot brace, for the first part of the day today my foot felt better than it has in months -- just some twinges, although it's getting more uncomfortable now as the day goes on. However it makes me sleep differently, more on my back, and my back is starting to ache.

Mature bodies, I tell ya. Can't live with em, can't live without 'em.

AZZenny · April 28th, 2006, 04:33 PM

Well, he says he's going to go ahead with the cortisone injection after looking at the Xray and scan. Not sure if he'll put me in an immobilizing boot. I'm royally pissed. I have to confirm or withdraw from my trip next Thursday, and don't get in to see him till Wednesday.

So -- what is the shot like?

Linderbee · April 28th, 2006, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZZenny

Well, he says he's going to go ahead with the cortisone injection after looking at the Xray and scan. Not sure if he'll put me in an immobilizing boot. I'm royally pissed. I have to confirm or withdraw from my trip next Thursday, and don't get in to see him till Wednesday.

So -- what is the shot like?

Better than having to commit or confirm on Tuesday, I guess. Good Luck with it, and when it comes time to decide, think about whether you will be more peeved if you're at home when you would have been on the trip and your foot feels fine, or if you're on the trip and your foot still hurts. I hope you're able to go.

AZZenny · April 29th, 2006, 09:19 AM

Quote:

more peeved if you're at home when you would have been on the trip and your foot feels fine

Definitely.
Good way to put it, Linderbee -- Tov Toda!