Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Feet Issues....again...

Hi Angie!

I was recently at the podiatrists for just this problem. My heels ache something awful! (again)
We both suspected heel spurs and were shocked when my x-rays came back without any.
I was told the plantar facia, the tendon that runs the length of the bottom of your foot, was swollen (again). There are 3 choices for that. 1) Hope it goes away on it's own. 2) Cotisone injections, I tried that once, never again! I am not a needle person! 3) to be put on Prednisone or a Methylprednisolone dose pack.

The podiatrist also said orthotics may very well help. The molds of my feet have been made, but the orthotics have not come in yet, so I can not tell you if it helps or not.


The other thing she suggested is stretching.
The tendon stretching mentioned above is a good thing to do. Another thing the podiatrist told me (a PT told me this before too) is to get a belt or a bath towel. I use the blet from my bath robe. Before you even get out of bed in the morning, sit up straight with legs stretched out in front of you on the bed. Place the center of the belt over the ball of your foot. Grab hold of each end of the belt, and gently pull it back toward you. This stretches out the plantar facia in the bottom of the foot which is what causes a lot of heel pain.
If the plantar facia is tight and you step down on your foot to quickly you can tear the facia making the pain worse and the healing time longer.

Yes, I have thinning padding on my feet too. As someone mentioned above I use to go about bare foot all of the time. I can no longer do that as it hurts!

Into every life, a little rain must fall.

Jams,

Good luck with the orthotics. I have had mine for a couple of years now and they are great. Those along with the stretches, and I have very little heel pain anymore. (usually only after just HAVING to wear some cute shoes that they don't fit into )

Hope they help you out. One thing the podiatrist told me, was that for atleast the first few months, to wear them atleast 8 hours a day. I really could tell the difference if I didn't.

Take care,

Pam

"Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides. Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise." Maya Angelou

Angie,

Sorry you are in so much pain today. Although I have absolutely no padding in my heels as well and have bone spurs in them that occasionally hurt, I do not have my "AS" type of pain there. So, I can't relate, but I can certainly sympathize. I do get pain in my ankle , especially my achilles tendon. Sometimes I have to press in on it so hard , I think it's going to SNAP. Does soaking it in hot water help? It must be so hard to have it on your feet because you have to walk as a mom. I feel bad for our kids who have to deal with this , it must be so hard on them because they want their Mom to be 100%. I feel bad sometimes that they have to be little nurses sometimes. I hope you get some relief tonight, sweetie. Take care and put those tootsies up.

Love Deb

Angie,

So sorry that you are in pain.
Were you able to locate a hotel in the Addison area?



Betty (The Energizer Bunny)

Yep...mothers are tough Linda...
we keep going and going and going...like the energizer bunny...I am the energizer bug. Luckily they knew it was a real bad time for me. They also know sometimes that if they can let momma rest for an hour or two and I rest well, then I can scoot along again and they have ol' momma running around again or I take them out for a little ice cream treat or chips to make them feel like they did a fine job. [although they check on me every 20seconds, and bicker thru the whole tv shows]

Odd isnt it Linda??? When I first met Arthur..I refused to let him see my feet. He would laugh and laugh. As he wanted to rub my feet when I was tired. I didnt like my feet. I thought they were a little on the bony side. I was this way for a good two years believe it or not. He would see them, but I would tuck them under the minute I saw him "eyeing" them !! Then I felt more comfortable and now ...I inspect his and the same way. He said he loves my feet. He thinks I'm just too criticial of myself..he is correct!!

It was bad Linda...but right now I am not hobbling too bad...so thanks for the thoughts and prayers...it helped. I called my GP and he gave me some Ultracet to hold me thru. I want to see my orthopedic doc already. I received my dental insurance cards already but not my EPO health cards yet. I hope I do in the next couple of days.

Hugs from Nite bug]]]]

Toodles!
Angie

Hi Jams...
like your pic...

Wow, thanks for the tip. I've been doing the stretches Cheryl mentioned above..but my heels are relentless and I think it's my plantar facia too that is giving me problems. Did your podiatrist say if the padding of the feet was AS related or what caused it? I am at a loss as my feet never gave me problems. When I was dx in May of 2001...I never had this problem...I had all the other stuff...and I had problems a year before then but not the feet. All of a sudden about 6 months ago it starts at night time. I thought it was because I was walking too much at work or shopping LOL These last two months though it has progressed from that to on and off all day and night. I despise it as much as back pain. Gets me so frustrated.

I took some ultracet and it took the edge off I think..but Ultracet made me very nauseated...I think cuz I had a light meal....but who knows.

By the way...if you dont mind me asking..did your health insurance cover the molds done for your feet?? I heard they are expensive and wanted to see my ortho doc...but did not know if I needed to see an ortho or podiatrist.

Thanks again for all the tips.




Toodles!
Angie

Hey there Pam !!
Great! You answered my question as well..they helped !!
I heard about the molds but wasnt sure if they really make a difference. Ya' know i saw some adorable lace up leather boots at Ross..at a wonderful price..and my feet hurt so bad..that when i tried to slip one on...I said "forget it" ....Arthur and Gianna both gasped in disbelief!! I said "alright, alright you clowns...get off the floor.. your'e not fooling me !! " so dramatic...geezz!!
They know how much I love shoes !!

Take care..glad to hear you are heel pain free...



Toodles!
Angie

Hi Angie,

I hope your heel pain gets better soon. The orthotics have really helped me. The ones I had made were around $350. I have state medical in Washington, and as long as the podiatrist felt they were medically necessary they were covered. (Thank God, because that wouldn't have been affordable for sure)

Another tip the podiatrist gave me was that most womens shoes are really not made well. He said they are made cute, but not usually good for the feet. He said he understands that yes we women need that cuteness, LOL, and wearing them once in awhile is fine. He also said that so called "walking shoes" really aren't good either. They are usually too flat. He recommended mens running shoes for wearing most often. I still wear my sandals now and again. But I did start buying mens running shoes (and was actually surprised at how similar in looks and style they can be to womens) and he was right. They are much more comfortable.

Hoping you get happy buggy feet soon

Take care,
Pam

"Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides. Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise." Maya Angelou

Angie that is too funny!!

I am also a reformed shoe-a-holic. Whew that is still hard to say

"Hello...my name is Pam....and I have too many shoes"

And I found out it is genetic.... my son is a shoe-a-holic now... Every spare money he gets... he buys a new pair of shoes LOL He must have 8 or 9 pair of different sports type shoes. Oh well.... saves me money LOL

Take care,

Pam

"Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides. Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise." Maya Angelou

Nope Betty,
Pain or no Pain, I am going LOL
It will do us a lot of good ....

We havent foudn a hotel, we are going to wing it....

talk to you later....lookig forward to some seafood !

Hugs]]

Toodles!
Angie