Question:
Can any long-term post ops tell me if foot pain(plantar fascitis) gets better?
Hey there everyone - I have excruciating foot pain most of the time - I have surgery scheduled on 3/3/03 (yeah) - are there any post-ops out there who have had major foot pain that has gotten better or totally relieved after weight loss? I am 41 yrs old and act & feel like an 80 year old most of the time due to the pain !!! Thanks in advance for all of your responses !!!!! — Kewpidoll (posted on January 28, 2003)
January 28, 2003
I didn't have plantar fascitis, but I do have achilles tendonitis that was
a major reason for having WLS. I had bilateral achilles tendon repairs 4
years ago with little pain relief on the right one. Now I am down 60# from
rny, and the pain is SIGNIFICANTLY improved. of course my ortho Dr. always
said weight loss would help. the tendonitis was causeing near crippling
pain in my heel and up the back of my calf, similar to the pain with
plantar fascitis. One of the causes of plantar fascitiis is overweight,
over use etc, the fat pad on your heel can get very compressed and
increases your pain. A good ortho may be able to give you inberts for your
shoes to pad your heel. clear silicone heel pads may be useful for you.
talk to your Dr.in the meantime to help decrease your pain. you deserve to
be able to walk.
— **willow**
January 28, 2003
My plantar fascitis has almost gone away. i barely ever feel it anymore. I
used to have inserts in my shoes specially made from molds of my feet which
helped before the surgery. I am now 8 months post-op and down 100lbs. and
don't feel the pain anymore. I'm sure yours will get much better after WLS.
COngrats on your upcoming surgery!
— Lezlie Y.
January 28, 2003
Hopefully, you will be as lucky as I was! I had plantar fascitis something
terrible! It was so bad that if I didn't stretch before getting out of bed
in the morning, I would limp in pain as soon as my feet would hit the
floor! I saw a chiropractor (I also had chronic back pain) and massage
therapist every week because everything just plain hurt!! The good news is
that I haven't seen the chiropractor since surgery and I haven't had foot
pain since 1-week post-op. This may sound unbelievable, but it's true! I
noticed relief immediately! Good luck.
— pam29922
January 28, 2003
At times I was walking around like a cripple!! Now my feet feel GREAT. The
only thing which ever helped a little was acupunture <sp?> Good Luck
— Robert L.
January 28, 2003
I had plantar fascitis and heel spurs in two places on one foot pre-op. I
was undergoing PT 3 days a week and had inserts for my shoes. Now? I
don't have any pain whatsoever AND I don't wear the inserts at all. Hope
the same is true for you.
— Leah H.
January 28, 2003
I was in agony all the time-It went away fairly quickly, now I can wear any
type of shoes, walk forever and even jog!!
— ~~Stacie~~
January 29, 2003
I used to have plantar fascitis--the skinny dr told me to stay off my feet
and lose weight >:# What helped mine was wearing higher heels! I am sure
that losing the weight will definitely help but I got pretty much instant
relief by wearing 2-3 inch heels all the time (I had changed jobs). Also,
chances are that you will be exercising more. Be sure you buy the right
kind of shoes for your chosen activity and that they fit well. My plantar
fascitis was brought on by jogging in the wrong type of shoes.
— ctyst
January 29, 2003
Thanks for posting the question, and I am so glad for the answers. This
and low back pain are my biggest problems right now (pre-op), and I have
been hoping that losing the weight would help this problem. It's really
needed, too, because I'm unable to walk or exercise the way I should now.
I'm glad to hear that losing weight has helped others with heel spurs and
plantar fasciitis.
— Carlita
January 29, 2003
Mine hasn't gone away, it's gotten worse! OUCH!!!! I am only 29 years
old, 5'3" and starting weight in Nov. 2002 was 252lbs. I have since
lost 50 lbs so far (just now 2 1/2 months post op). I have plantar
fascitis in both feet with heel spurs on both heels. I cannot walk flat
footed on my left foot at all at any time of the day, which is making my
ankle and back hurt too. I had the cortisone, trigger point injections in
June 2002 and that helped fantastically. I had my RNY in Nov. 2002 and
just before surgery I could tell that the cortisone was wearing off, but I
knew that I would be having the RNY so just thought, I lose weight and it
will go away. It has come back full force now. I am barely able to walk
20 minutes before I am in excruciating (and I mean excruciating) pain. I
have went back to the podiatrist just last week and he is wanting me to get
orthotics for my shoes. It is so awful. I feel like I am 90 years old or
something. My husband makes fun of me all the time. Mornings are the
absolute worst for me!!
— Lori F.
January 31, 2003
YES! It does get better. I thought my foot pain would never go away. I too
have low back pain and pain meds helped it but not the foot pain! Even
after surgery when they got me up to walk, I didn't feel the surgical pain
but I certainly felt foot pain LOL! One morning, about 6 months ago and 70
some odd pounds lighter, I stood up and could walk without nearly passing
out. Stretches had not helped and my PCP told me to lose weight. He was
right. It's not totally gone...but I can live with it.
BTW I will be 1 yr post-op on the 7th at this point I have lost 145 lbs. I
am 65 lbs from goal.Good luck and blessings to you.
Julie S. in Louisville KY
— Julie S.
January 31, 2003
As others have said .. it will.. but there are some things you can do NOW
that might help.. I cured my pf long before I has weight loss surgery with
teh following: always wear good shoes with SOFT support and soles,
including in the house. Never, ever go barefoot. Before getting out of
bed or putting my foot down at all, stretch that muscle by flexing your
toes up toward your face, pull hard -- finally if you can stand it... rest
your heel in an ice pad. Its a very hard thing.. but mostly good shoes
(sneakers really) helped the most.. wearing them all the time... NEVER
NEVER EVER go barefoot when you walk in those feet. I promise, it will
help. good luck
— Lisa C.
Click Here to Return