| iouliared | 03 Feb 2009 2:38 a.m. PST |
Anyone have luck with ice and stretching? Or those night booties? I heard the operation isn't all that great, and can lead to problems in %50 of the people who get them, nerve damage, flatten arches, chronic pain, etc. Plus the down time from work (can't afford right now) and the fact that I wouldn't be able to drive for a month. Also that it isn't really the bone spur causing the problem but the muscle around it being stretched that causes the pain. And naturally I'm over weight which just adds to the fun. So any stories or suggestions? Thanks. |
| mweaver | 03 Feb 2009 5:33 a.m. PST |
No experience to draw on…. but just wanted to say "good luck". |
| iouliared | 03 Feb 2009 5:46 a.m. PST |
Thanks. Right now I'm using some shoe inserts for the heels that are not too bad. My older sister had one of these, and my Dad as well. Maybe I should just couch it with a clown hammer? |
| Ron W DuBray | 03 Feb 2009 7:23 a.m. PST |
keep using the inserts and keep walking on it, it will heal. sometimes you will think the pain will never go away but it will. I have had 2 of them and it just takes time. I used one of those powered foot rubbing things that I think helped with the 2nd one but it was still about a year healing. also working out and loosing some weight (40lbs) helped a lot. |
| nazrat | 03 Feb 2009 7:49 a.m. PST |
I've got a huge bunion on my right foot that causes me a lot of pain occasionally. My brother has often offered to "fix" it with a ball peen hammer. Perhaps I could give him your number? 8)= |
| nycjadie | 03 Feb 2009 8:20 a.m. PST |
I used to get them regularly from running. Sometimes they'd be so painful that any pressure on the foot would be excrutiating. I used massage and stretching and they healed up fairly quickly every time. My wife has them right now. |
| Red3584 | 03 Feb 2009 8:53 a.m. PST |
I had this in the form of plantarfasciitis… link I had a course of physio from the local hospital…mainly stretching and ultrasound [although the physio that treated me wasn't convinced the ultrasound actually helps]. Along with some foam inserts it eventually went. It reoccurred last year when I started doing archery…obviously my positioning leaves something to be desired! Another course of physio and some decent foam inserts seem to have done the trick this time. The best advice I got was don't skimp on the inserts…buy good ones and they'll help. Using tape to reinfrce the arches also helps. It also allows me to finally claim to have a sports-related injury…as long no one asks too many questions!  |
| adub74 | 03 Feb 2009 1:07 p.m. PST |
"sports-related injury…as long no one asks too many questions!" I won't ask you about feet if you don't ask me about my 'sports' hernia. :) |
Wyatt the Odd  | 03 Feb 2009 6:24 p.m. PST |
Time wounds all heels. Wyatt |
| pphalen | 04 Feb 2009 8:21 a.m. PST |
If you can afford it, go see someone who specializes in making orthodics for atheletes. I used to have miserable feet from skiing and running. I had a custom footbed created, as well as other boot/shoe modifications and it made made a HUGE differentce. You really need to focus in on what is causing the spurs and try to avoid them, since the surgery is brutal. (I never had to have it, but it involves a kinfe and a grinder…) |
| FusilierDan | 08 Feb 2009 4:24 p.m. PST |
I've had succes with ice ( rolling my foot on a frozen water bottle) streching and excercises to streghten the plantar muscle. Also I took a Pilates class and that seemed to help. Mine reoccur every 6 months or so. I spend 8-9 hours a day on my feet. |
| iouliared | 08 Feb 2009 4:50 p.m. PST |
All suggestions were very much welcome. I like the frozen water bottle idea. Anything but surgery. |
| lebooge | 17 Mar 2009 4:37 p.m. PST |
The frozen water bottle helps a bit, but going under the knife is what really fixes it. I was lucky enough to have spurs in both heels until I really hurt the one on my left foot. Went in to see the podiatrist about it figuring I'd get some advice on inserts or the like and walked out with an appointment for 3-for-1 surgery. As it turns out in addition to the spur my left Achillies tendon was very tight and I had an extra bone in the ankle joint that was restricting movement. All three things were cleaned out. Biggest issue was being on crutches for a month. On the plus side, I lost all the calluses on my left foot and my arms got noticeably stronger & larger. If they hadn't scored the Achillies I don't think I would have been on crutches for as long. I almost never have pain in my left foot now… the right one is still problematic. |
