Plantar Fasciitis
I have had this pain in my heels for some time that tends to get worse with extended activities and extremely agitated in the mornings following days of huge activity. Plantar fasciitis is a mouth full to be sure, but that appears to be the cause of my grief. For those that know me you know it had to be bad for me to see a doctor about something like, but it does appear that in this case it was maybe a good call.
This is a problem I have had for some time and just never been willing to admit to it. I know for at least three or four years, perhaps longer, then when I would do long medieval events that tended to have a lot of activity, a lot of walking, and less then perfect situations for bare feet I would end up in pain, especially in the mornings. Pennsic for instance this year, had be constantly changing out pads between my boots trying to find the best comfort and support levels. The problem usually clears itself up after a few days to just a light pain in the mornings.
Over the weekend past in addition to my regular activities, I pushed mowed a huge part of the yard – in theory working both weight loss and endurance build up and followed this with a good about of trimming up some items with a chainsaw. This resulting my hobbling around like a cripple both Sunday eve and especially Monday morning. After some conversation and web searching I had a pretty good idea of what had been causing the problem all these years. Looking at the pictures of the pain radiations and such it was like they had used my left foot. With some hesitation, I eventually went to see a doctor looking for both relief and getting back to normal usage.
As to expected, plantar fasciitis is the cause. This is basically an irritation of the tendon that comes down around the heel and along the bottom of the foot. I think, if I understand it, it connects to the Achilles tendon going up the back up the heel. Treatment includes rest, stretching the muscles, ice, boo-boo-profin, and padding/supporting the foot as best as possible. One should avoid barefoot efforts as much as possible and get good shoes with good inserts – oh and flat shoes (like I prefer when not in my boots of some sort) are pretty much out due to lack of any support.
In my particular case, the outsides of my arches have fallen as well, which is an aggravating circumstance to the whole situation. The flat arches on the outside of the foot is the reason, some of my friends have noted that I wear down the outside back edges of my heels on shoes (and why, with my know that on expensive boots I put a heel plate on them in such locations). As one can expect bearing extra weight can also be a contributing factor. Some of you will recall the weight I lost last fall and early this year. Most of it is back and I am feeling it to be sure. I am sure that combined with the extra physical activity has not helped the situation. So… one more reason to get some weight off now, but limited ability to be extremely physically active to get it off.
So, I am pretty much trying to take it easy on the foot now, wearing my boots all the time with a full laced tight and a big huge heal/arch support in them. I have some special orthopedic inserts on order that should be here shortly. All this extra attention to the ankles and feet is starting to play havoc on my poor knees though. Guess I am over compensating or overusing and as banged up as the knees are they are complaining. And for the record, the first person that says something about getting close to forty is in for a bruising.
Further, I am limiting activities for a bit – though I will be fighting this weekend at Harvest Day – Tournament of Chivalry – as I do have that ability to push through things when a need is there. I will maybe even do the suggested ice after fighting on Saturday, a very unlike me kind of thing to do. Wonder what this going to require of the 14th century period correct turn shoes I was going to order next month?
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 am
Some one needs a good foot rub.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:46 am
I have it too. I healed mine (after having it for 7-10 years) by wearing wedge heel shoes. I went to several different doctors and had inserts made (which made it worse), and when it was really bad, had injections into the heel (painful, but helped for several months). I also got so bad that i inflamed my achilles tendon…i ended up in a “boot” at night which wasn’t fun, and the whole plethera of treatments. I actually told them NOT to give me the injection that time, because i tended to not do the other things i was supposed to, to help me actually heal in the long run.
May 22nd, 2010 at 12:04 am
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