DrDPM
lil_rhody
member
Hey lady! I hope you remember me! I haven't posted on this board in a while. I have a foot question for you, if you don't mind.
Yesterday morning I woke up with a painful, VISIBLE spot on my right heel. Later in the day, my right heel stopped bothering me, and my left heel started. This morning, my left heel hurt so much that I couldn't put any weight on it for a bit. Again, there is a visible spot; it almost looks like I have a splinter or a bruise, but I havent done anything to it.
I have self-diagnosed (always a great idea) from Google that this may be plantar fasciitis. However, I do not have any of the key risk factors: my BMI is in the "normal" range and I don't do high-impact work. I do work out ~3 days/week, ellipitcal and weight training. However, this past week, I've been sick, so I haven't worked out at all!
Anyway, do you have any thoughts on this? If it IS plantar fasciitis, would it be common to occur on both sides simultaneously? What would you recommend as next steps? Tomorrow is supposed to be a gym day--should I skip it?
Thanks for all of your help!
Re: DrDPM
Of course I remember you! It's been ages since I've been on here; I just popped on today for the first time in weeks - good timing
Being overweight and doing high-impact activities will make plantar fasciitis more severe, but are the main factors. It's common to be on both sides at the same time, too. If there's a lot of inflammation, you may see redness, feel warmth, or even have what looks like a bruise.
How is the arch in your foot? When you're sitting, your foot should have a nice arch to it. When you stand, it will flatten a bit as it supports your body weight, but should flatten completely. Most PF is due to having a flat foot of some degree.
The pain is usually in the bottom of your heel, in the middle to front 1/3 (if that makes sense - closer to your toes than to the back of your heel). The pain is usually worse first thing in the morning when you first get out of bed and if you sit or stand for too long.
Exericse is good - don't stop going to the gym. I have my patients do 3 things: 1.) Stretching twice a day for 3-4 minutes each time. You'll find lots of stretches on Google. 2.) Anti-inflammatory meds (Motrin, Advil,or Aleve) 5-600 mg 2x a day for 10 in a row. 3.) Arch supports - everyone can use one. SuperFeet and Spenco are my favorites for sneakers.
Hope that helps!