I've recently started to have severe pain in my right foot. Basically, it feels like someone inserted a drill bit into the bottom of my foot and keeps working it around. It's not in my heel, but directly in front of it. X-rays show no broken bones and no heel spurs. Any pressure on it at all hurts like the devil, so I've been on crutches for two days. It's less swollen in the morning, but even keeping it elevated, by night it's swollen and hot. Ice hurts, and ibuprofen does exactly nothing. I don't know what to do, and how to fix it.

Got any ideas?

Melissa, it sounds to me that you have developed a condition known as a Heel Spur, or Plantar Fasciitis. You really need to see a doctor soon to take care of this problem before it becomes worse.

Did you start any recent physical activity that may have brought the onset of this pain? On that same note, have you started excersising on a new type of material? IE: Grass to Cement, Dirt to Concrete?

For clients that are experiencing what you have listed, I usually recommend 2 things. First, try the htp heel seats (www.heel-that-pain.com). My clients have shown the highest level of overall relief with this product compared to others.. Secondly, try to learn stretching methods that may prove useful in speeding your recovery and also help prevent against the worsening of your condition.

Feel free to post any further questions and comments regarding your condition here and I will be happy to answer them in a timely manner.

Cheers!

Melissa,

Here are some very effective stretching techniques you can use:


Stretching of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Hold each stretchfor 30 seconds, relax slowly. Repeat stretches two - three times per day.

Remember to stretch well before running stretching of the plantar fascia. Sit on the floor with one knee bent and theankle flexed towards you. Pull the toes back towards the ankle. Hold for 30 seconds. Relax slowly. Repeat to opposite foot. Repeat 2 - 3 times per day. Remember to stretch well before running strengthening of the muscles of the foot. 1) Pick up marbles or golf balls with your toes. 2) Pull a towel towards you with your toes. Grab some of the towel with your toes and pull, then release, grab, and pull some more to loosen the plantar fascia, place a golf ball under the foot, and roll the foot over the ball. Start with the ball at the base of the big toe, and roll the foot forwards over the ball, then back again. Move the ball to the base of toe and repeat. Repeat for each toe. Always exert enough pressure so that you feel a little tenderness. correct shoes, specifically motion-control shoes and orthotics to correct overpronation


And the link for the HTP Heel Seats are as follows, forgive me for I did not know how to link in my previous post.

Heel Pain Heel Seats

This condition sounds more like infracalcaneal bursitis than anything else. It is an inflammatory condition. Untreated, the problem can last for months. Some patients have it for more than a year before seeking professional help.

The site of the pain is weight-bearing, and each step is an injury. The recommended safe doses of antiinflammatory medications are generally useless in treating this condition. One mechanical means of treatment is the use of custom-fabricated orthotics designed for relieving the pressures at the site of the pain. Those are frequently fairly thick in the heel area, and many people don't use them because they cannot use them in their regularly worn shoes.

I have never found stretching, or any other exercise, effective in treating this problem.

I have successfully treated many cases of infracalcaneal bursitis by injecting the site with an acetate-based steroid mixed with local anesthetic. Some cases are cured with a single injection, but others may take 3 or 4 injections at weekly intervals. The injection is painful, but the pain abates in a minute or two. If serial injections are required, each injection provides a deeper level, and longer-lasting period, of relief than did the preceding injection. Each injection is also less painful than the one which preceded it.

A few patients who see treatment through to complete resolution may have a recurrence within 3 to 6 months. Such recurrences are responsive to shorter treatment cycles. I have never encountered a patient who experienced a third bout of infracalcaneal bursitis.

I overlooked posting the cortisone dose. Although ridiculed by some physicians, many, including myself, use 1.6 CC of 0.5% Marcaine (local anesthetic agent) with 0.4 CC of 40mg% acetate cortisone, such as Depomedrol or Kenalog. The injection technique is by "stippling" (injecting very small amounts into numerous spots in the site of the pain).

Your condition does sound like plantar fasciitis, a common heel pain condition. Research has shown that the key to treating this is by stretching technigues and insoles or strappings. I find much relief from my patients with these techniques. I strongly recommend the Visco heel cradles or the Posted heel cradle by Anti-Shox to help alleviate the heel pain. If you have flat feet then you would benefit from the Posted heel cradle. These both work fairly well and are great because you can change them from shoe to shoe. The design allows for cushioning to your heel. You can find both of these items by going to Foot.com and viewing our products. I suffered from this condition when I was pregant and these brought me great relief.

I also recommend that you make an appointment with your podiatrist for a thorouhg evaluation. You may benefit from a steroid injection, but you want to be careful to limit this to only a couple per year. If you are interested I would be more than happy to provide you with some stretching exercises that may also work.

Foot.com Staff Member