I have had heel pain in my left foot for a month. I went to a podiatrist and he told me he thinks it's just overworked tendons. I think it is a heel spur. Anyway, I have tried ibuprofen, had orthotic insoles made, plus I also had a cortisone shot. The pain is still there. And I've tried ice too. Any suggestions on what I should do? I'm already out about $800, out of pocket for doctor bills and I'm tired of getting the run around.
By Rita from La Follette, TN
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It sounds like Planting Facetious. Look up your symptoms on www.webmd.com.
Good luck, that is not easy to deal with.
It's possible you have plantar fasciitis, which causes pain in the heels. I've had that in both feet, at different times, for years. Right now my right foot is acting up, and the podiatrist did see a small spur in a x-ray. He sent me to a physical therapist. The exercises he taught me helped, and I posted the following info in May 2011 in answer to a previous TF inquiry:
First, rest the ball of your foot on the edge of a step & gently lean forward as if you're trying to walk uphill; this stretches the Achilles tendon; do this ten times, once or twice a day.
Second, resting your hands on something for balance (like the edge of a sink), stand on your tiptoes & hold for 5 seconds, let your heels down & repeat 10 times, once or twice a day; this stretches the Achilles tendon & also the plantar fascia tendons.
Third, if you are not in too much pain to do it, stand on your heels 5 seconds, let your toes down & repeat; same benefits.
Fourth, the toe pointing exercises mentioned by fuzzytufts. Before you get up in the mornings and at least 5 more times a day point your toes forward then draw them back toward you. You don't hold them or anything just stretch them forward and then as far as you can back. (this stretches the Achilles heel tendon).
Fifth, if you have a stretchy exercise band or cord & someone to hold the ends or somewhere to attach them, wrap the band around the arch of your foot & from either a lying or sitting position on a bed (or something), pull against the band - if the band is attached to something on your right, pull your foot to the left - try to work all 4 directions, always pulling against the band; you can hold the ends of the band yourself to push your foot forward, similar to just pointing your toe; do this 20-30 times in each direction.
These exercises really helped me, & I am now pain free. I try to do some or all of these every day to keep the pain from coming back. I hope this helps someone; I had to pay the therapist, but I'm spreading this info for free! ;-)
05/20/2011
You can take an empty soda pop bottle and fill with water and freeze. Then you roll it back and forth under you foot. I did this every night before bed for a couple of weeks and I haven't had any problems with my heel since then.
Try different (perhaps gel 3/4 length) types of shoe insoles that you can purchase at different stores for not too much money. I have gotten many from Wal-Mart, Dollar Stores, etc.
Tendons take longer than a month to heal. Listen to your doctor.
Find another doctor.
I ha a bone spur on my left heel and after 2 or 3 years the Dr said it would have to be surgically removed and it was removed in that matter and no more pain
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