Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Foot Pain

Good evening everyone! I need advice on managing my foot pain. It is mostly right foot - heel and bottom of foot, plus big toe joint. It started last June and still hasn't cleared up. I had 3 injections and have done steroid packs a few times since then. I've tried all kinds of shoes and inserts. I work in a professional job and have to dress in suits. Ironically I'm okay in heels as long as they aren't too high (which then hurts that toe), its flat shoes that are the problem. I can't even wear tennis shoes anymore because that foot is so tender. If I'm on my feet too long both feet feel like they are on fire (which is the same pain I have in my hands at night). After treating me for 6 months it was the podiatrist that finally told me to see a rheumy. He listened to everything else I've been through over the years (story for another day) and said it sounded inflammatory - not mechanical. So I was diagnosed with AS based on positive X-rays in November.

i have been on humira since November-was twice weekly, just moved to weekly injections. I'm also on 1,000mg daily of a prescription NSAID. I take one tramadol to sleep at night. I haven't taken any pain meds in daytime since I'm at work.

I'm currently on a steroid pack and ALL of me feels great except my foot..why would the steroid not even at least temporarily make it better? Is this 'enthesitis'?

My rheumy said we are going to add methotrexate on my next visit in 8 weeks if the weekly humira doesn't work. I'm also doing no starch and minimal sugar. I can't promise 100% on this but I am making an honest effort.

Would just like advice and thoughts on making the stupid foot not hurt. Thanks in advance!!

contrast baths?

ultrasound?

physical therapy?

did your podiatrist give you stretching exercises? strengthening exercises? for your feet?

my feet were really bad in the past. much better now. though right now they're bothering me because i've been on them too much the last few days.

my LDN helps my feet recover better than most things.

a 6 day pred taper?

Hi Sue, thanks. I'm on a pred taper right now - day 3 and foot still hurts. My husband is a PT so I don't typically go to a clinic. I do stretch it a lot. At one point the podiatrist told me to stop stretching it and let it heal...theory being that if it was an overstretched fascia, stretching would make it worse. So I've tried both.

What is a contrast bath?

i can relate to not stretching "torn" tendons/ligaments. i've had a few issues where stretching definitely made things worse.

contrast bath: "hot as you can stand" water 1-2 minutes, ice cold water 1-2 minutes. back and forth for a total of 15-20 minutes total. repeat several times a day.

I am so sorry for your pain! Sanita or Dansko shoes have helped me so much. Flats are the worst, they stretch that tender area out so it keeps getting sore. Find therapeutic shoes that work for you, don't give up until you find the shoes that keep your feet safely supported so you can heal up. The stretches help me, if you have plantar fascitis, but I read you need to take a break from stretching. Back to shoes: for me, soft cushiony shoes like crocs feel good for a moment but then after awhile my feet hurt. Sanitas: I love them. xo

Hey Naj! I have a pair of danskos and like them except the angle of the shoes' toe box does bad things to my toe. But that is just one pair. I used to love my crocs but agree - now too soft. I have a hard-soled croc pair that I live in at home. Haven't heard of sanitas- will look them up, thanks!

How high is the steroid dose start at? The first couple times they gave me stereoids they did nothing for my pain because I needed a higher dose. It was like I took nothing the first time I took a steroid pack, that was the only thing I thought of when reading your post. Sure hope it clears up soon, it is hard in the winter to have foot pain.

I had arthtritis pain in my feet a couple winters ago and I had to buy a bigger size in shoes so my feet would not hurt.

It's a 6 day pred taper, first day was 6 tablets at 4 mg each, so 24 mg. Total for the whole taper will be 84 mg.

I guess I'm really curious if anyone is taking methotrexate in addition to a biologic for peripheral pain - and if its working? I hesitate to go full hog (Texas slang for all the way) on all these meds when I'm just diagnosed and under age 40. What is my long term future like when I'm taking all these meds already and have so many years (I hope) to go?

Hello, Jamie:

A long time before I learned of the cause and best treatment for my AS (antibiotics+NSD), I had plantar fasciitis severely in my left foot at the same time I was suffering from awful bursitis in my right hip. The only way I could get around was to sort of "throw" my body and fall forward, catching it with either severe pain in my foot or severe pain in my hip.

Certainly, I was in agony at a time when this was very inconvenient as I was dating several girls. One had a dog, a big German Shepherd, and I just wanted to walk along side them both but it was very difficult.

Of course I could get rid of the hip bursitis fairly easily by abstaining from food, but it was the plantar fasciitis that had me stumped. I think it was out of frustration, but one day I sat in the hot tub at the spa, and started fighting back--just beating my foot against the cement bottom and then holding the area against the strongest jet. Striking at various angles, that member that caused me so much pain and repeating the process many times. After the first several blows, the pain was just a dull ache instead of that intense sharp icepick sensation.

So it was not so bad. Someone told me to eat a fresh pineapple, but perhaps not recommended in Your situation. It took about two weeks, but I lost that plantar fasciitis and it has been afraid to come back in the ensuing 14 years.

So I was even able to play fetch and continue with my amorous adventures. I never tried to wear her heals, but...

Maybe one must be brave or crazy to try this, but anyone can (and perhaps should) resort to many things when in that much pain; and there are those multiple incentives.

HEALTH,
John

I happen to know a lot about big toe pain. My Doc called mine "End Stage Arthritis" (Bone on Bone pain) What have you been told your toe pain is??

Sherri