Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | managing IBS with plantar fasciitis

Spoon,

As a sufferer of PF for YEARS, I can feel your pain! I can make some suggestions. My best advice to you is to nip this in the bud as quickly as you can. The longer PF lingers, the more difficult (if not impossible) it is to get rid of. Since you cannot literally get off your feet long enough to get rid of it (especially if you work), you will have to learn to manage it. After attempts at wearing a night splint, a boot cast, a cortisone injection, pain relievers, ice packs, special shoes, custom orthodics, ultrasound (none of which helped), I had surgery for PF and tarsal tunnel syndrome in September. Mine was an extreme case. I was having constant pain from a compressed nerve. Most doctors won't attempt to do surgery on PF patients, unless it has lingered for years and all of the conservative measures (like those I listed above) have been tried---and have been unsuccessful.

The things that have helped me the most were:

1. using ice on the bottom of my feet at the end of the day (use a frozen bag of peas or roll a 16 oz. cold soft drink bottle back and forth.) This reduces the imflammation a lot.

2. NEVER, ever go barefoot! Wear supportive shoes at all times, even when lounging around the house or working out in the yard. Walking barefoot on tile, concrete or wood floors will make it so much worse. If I get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I put my athletic shoes on (I keept them next to my bed). And things like flip-flops and open-back shoes, even bed slippers, make it worse.

3. Physical therapy----a good therapist can teach you exercises to do that will help tremendously. I do my stretching exercises on the edge of my bed before I take my first steps in the morning. This has helped me more than any doctor I've been to (and believe me, I've been to many).

There is a new technique called electromagnetic shock wave therapy (ESWT) that is being used for PF. Some insurance companies will pay for it, and others (like mine) won't. It's very expensive, but has worked for many. It uses the same technique that's used to zap kidney stones. There is little to no pain involved and no recovery, like surgery. You might want to ask your doctor about this, if your problem continues.

I don't mean to be negative about this. Realize that my condition was, unlike most people's, severe, but I only caution you to take this seriously since many PF sufferers just laugh about it and continue wearing shoes that only make their condition worse. By the way, what type of shoes do you wear to work? You may be able to rid yourself of this problem by changing to a more appropriate shoe. Your doctor should be able to make a suggestion as to what is appropriate for you.

Good luck! I hope the medicine and rest helps you!

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