Ohhh The Pain!! Could Cost Me. How Much?

Over the past few months, I have had increasing foot pain. After I mentioned it to co-worker and how it came and goes. In fact the morning, I mentioned it, I could barely walk when I first woke up. She suggested it might be heel spurs.

So I came home and looked it up. While, the Doctor writing on about.com, says heel spurs aren't painful, and the painful is Plantar fasciitis. I will still call it heel spurs, because that is what most non-medical people, like myself, calls it, rather then the medical term.

Plantar fasciitis is a common, painful foot condition. Patients, and sometimes doctors often confuse the terms plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. Plantar fasciitis refers to the syndrome of inflammation of the band of tissue that runs from the heel along the arch of the foot; a heel spur is a hook of bone that can form on the heel bone (calcaneus). About 70% of patients with plantar fasciitis have been noted to have a heel spur that can be seen on X-Ray.

Who gets plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is most often seen in middle-aged men and women, but can be found in all age groups. Plantar fasciitis is diagnosed with the classic symptoms of pain well localized over the heel area of the bottom of the foot.
Often the pain from plantar fasciitis is most severe when you first stand on your feet in the morning. Pain often subsides quite quickly, but then returns after prolonged standing or walking.

Plantar fasciitis is sometimes, but not always, associated with a rapid gain of weight. Plantar fasciitis is also sometimes seen in recreational athletes, especially runners. In these athletes, it is thought that the repetitive nature of the sports causes the damage to the fibrous tissue that forms the arch of the foot.

Since, it costs money to go to the Doctor, I have not been to a Doctor. I have insurance, once I have paid out the $500 deductible. However, then I would have to pay 20% for a while. So I have been reading up to try to get ideas how to cure the pain without such huge expenditures.

Treatment of plantar fasciitis is with short-term rest and controlling the inflammation. Here are the steps patients should take in order to cure their plantar fasciitis:

Rest
Avoiding the precipitating activity; for example, take a few day off jogging or prolonged standing/walking. Just resting usually helps to eliminate the most severe pain, and will allow the inflammation to begin to cool down.

Since, my job requires me on my feet all day, this one is not an option for me. In fact another site, suggested staying off your feet for like 20 days. Something, they admitted wasn't an option for most people. So I will look at other treatments. However, as much as possible I will stay off my feet.

Apply Ice Packs
Icing will help to diminish some of the symptoms and control the heel pain. Icing is especially helpful after an acute exacerbation of symptoms.

A great way to ice plantar fasciitis

Exercises and Stretches
Exercises and stretches are designed to relax the tissues that surround the heel bone.
Some simple exercises, performed in the morning and evening, often help patients feel better quickly.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Anti-inflammatory medications help to both control pain and decrease inflammation. Over-the-counter medications are usually sufficient, but prescription options are also available.

Shoe Inserts
Shoe inserts are often the key to successful treatment of plantar fasciitis. The shoe inserts often permit patients to continue their routine activities without pain.

Night Splint
Night splints are worn to keep the heel stretched out when you sleep. By doing so, the arch of the foot does not become contracted at night, and is hopefully not as painful in the morning.

These modalities alone will cure the plantar fasciitis pain in most patients. Be forewarned that the symptoms will not resolve quickly. Most patients find relief within about three months, and over 90% within one year.

If the pain does not resolve, an injection of cortisone can decrease the inflammation of plantar fasciitis. However, many physicians do not like to inject cortisone because there are potentially serious problems with cortisone injections in the heel area. The two problems that cause concern are fat pad atrophy and plantar fascial rupture. Both of these problems occur in a very small percentage of patients, but they can cause a worsening of heel pain symptoms.

A new treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis is being investigated. This treatment, called extracorporeal shock wave therapy, or ESWT, uses energy pulses to induce microtrauma to the tissue of the plantar fascia. This microtrauma is thought to induce a tissue repair process by the body. ESWT is recommended in patients who have failed the previously mentioned treatments, and are considering surgical options. For more information on shock wave therapy treatment:

After successful treatment, how can I prevent plantar fasciitis from coming back?
To prevent the recurrence of plantar fasciitis after treatment, proper fitting footwear is essential. Many people use shoe inserts to relieve pressure over the tender area. Custom orthotics can also be made if there appears to be a problem with the mechanical structure of the foot. It is also important to continue the stretching and exercises. These simple exercises will help maintain the flexibility of the foot and prevent the plantar fasciitis pain from returning.

One thing I did is went by a business called, Foot Pain Solutions. This business makes custom orthopedic inserts. They in fact do the inserts for all the athletes at KU (Kansas University) in Lawrence and Washburn University, here in Topeka.

He connected me to a device, he inserted into my shoe and strapped around my leg, then had me walk around for a couple of minutes. When I came back, he connected the device to the computer and we could see images of where the pressure was.

It seems I have no support whatsoever, on my right arch. For my left foot, I have absolutely no support anywhere on the middle part of my foot. All the pressure is on the heel and toes.

He suggested two things:

Proper foot wear

He said I need to wear quality foot wear. Shoes that are better quality then the $25 Payless Shoes that I currently wear. He suggested a shoe company in town that actually takes time to measure your foot (both width and length) to find a proper fitting shoe. They also will look at your feet and if are like me, and you kind of walk on the side of your foot, they have shoes that force you to walk on your entire foot. They even have a treadmill, and they might even have you walk on it, to make sure you get the correct shoes. The cost of these good shoes are in the neighborhood of $100.

I have known for sometime, I needed to get better quality of shoes. However, with my budget, I always went to budget route. Now, as I am developing (and the images seem to indicate, it's the early stages of my condition) foot problems, it has come to be more mandatory.

Custom Made Inserts

Of course the Free Evaluation, was to try to sell me the custom made orthopedics. Inserts specifically designed for my feet, to correct the problems that I am faced with. The cost of these things are $195. Certainly outside of my price range. However, they do come with a lifetime guarantee that they will work or they will refund my money. They are about 1 weeks take home pay.



However, coming up with the funds for these two things will greatly help correct and prevent future occurrences of my foot problems. So I need to find the funds. In the mean time, I have bought some "cheap" $8 gel inserts to help pad my feet some. While I can still feel the pain, I notice a big difference in the pain, when I walk.

I probably should visit the doc also. Seeing as they can take care of the Anti-Inflammatory Medications, if that should be needed. Of course do I visit my family doctor? Or do I find a podiatrist?

Whatever, this pain will cost me. Not only in the treatment, but also in my enjoyment of walking to nearby places. I love walking to church (4 blocks away), to events, I might go to at the arena (2 blocks away) and even things at Washburn University (5 blocks away). However, now because of the pain, I will have to drive to these nearby locations.

Hopefully, I can get this problem fixed quickly.