Question:
heel spur,or just plain MO pain??
I apologize if this question has been asked before,I tried searching for any previous statements with no success.I'm wondering if someone that may have had heel spurs in the past can tell me kinda how they feel.The past few months I have been having alot of pain in my right foot(mostly in the mornings when I get out of bed).The pain is right between my heel and the arch of my foot.When I put weight on it,it almost brings tears to my eyes.I swear it feels like I am walking on rocks!! It does get better after I walk awhile.I'm kind of afraid to bring it up to my PCP,for fear that I might have to have surgery to have it taken care of if it is a heel spur.I'm hoping to have a WLS date in October,so I don't wanna risk having to delay that.I'm hoping that maybe it's just from my weight and that it will go away as I lose the weight.It has just started in the last 2 months and I have even lost 10 lbs.Any advice or suggestions appreciated!!! Good luck to all and thanx in advance...... — kim M. (posted on August 5, 2002)
August 5, 2002
Yes that does sound like a heal spur, i have them also. One thing to do is
before you go to bed stand a couple of fee away from the wall, then lean in
to the wall and stretch your feet. I was also told to put my heel in a
bowl of ice for as long as I could stand it, a couple of times a day. I do
day care in my home, so ice in the bowl is out for me. I have talked to
people who have had surgery for heel spurs,and they said it was a tough
recovery, due to not being able to walk on both feet. I have also heard
that they will come back. I dont think this will stop your surgery, I
have had them for years, and have to learn to live with them.
— paulsgirl
August 5, 2002
The pain you describe, particularly the part about it being worse in the
morning, sounds like heel spurs. I went to a foot doctor for that a few
years ago. He gave me gel cushions to wear in my shoes (just the heel
part) -- very specifically measured, if I recall. It did the trick, and
quickly. I think I wore them faithfully for six months or so (I worked on
my feet), and haven't needed them since. Consider it. Good luck.
— Karen F.
August 5, 2002
I developed a severe pain in my arch a couple years ago. My PCP ran an
x-ray and said it was tendonitis. She showed me a spur on my heel and said
she was surprized it didn't bother me. She said most people develope spurs
and sometimes they flair up ;and sometimes they don't. I am 2 weeks pre-op
and have a pain on the bottom of my heel. I figure my weight must
aggrivate it so I am doing nothing until after my surgery. One thing my
doctor did have me do is: before getting out of bed in the morning, point
your toes towards your knee and hold it 5 seconds. relax. repeat this ten
times with each foot. Then do the same exersise, only point the toes down
(or away). I swear, it helps. Like any exersize, it takes time .....but
what do you have to lose? Good Luck
— Carol H.
August 5, 2002
I have never had heel spurs but i have had the same exact pain as you
describe also in the right foot. I went to a foot doctor and found out i
had bursitis. He gave it a few shots of cortizone and i walked on a special
gel pad for awhile. It hasn't come back in a year and since i have lost
lots of weight my feet are doing a lot better.
— Tammy N.
August 5, 2002
It could be a heel spur... but it could also be plantar fascitis, a severe
inflammation of the long tendon at the bottom of the foot. I had this prior
to my wls -- I had it so bad (along with arthritis in my knees) that when I
woke up in the morning I had to crawl to the bathroom. It hurt so bad I
couldn't stand up! I was getting cortisone shots in my knees and heels to
help control the pain. I swear, the day I left the hospital after my RNY, I
was in less pain than the day I hobbled in. The heel pain got better with
all the rest from the surgery, I guess, and kept getting better. It almost
never bothers me now. Every once in awhile I have a little twinge, but it
goes away with a good stretch. It is very likely that you will see a
dramatic improvement as you lose weight. Good luck!
hugs,
Ann
rny 9/10/99 260/130
— [Deactivated Member]
August 5, 2002
I agree with the previous poster- it could be plantar fascitis. I suffer
from that as well. It has gotten a bit better since my LAP RNY 2 months ago
(after losing almost 50 pounds). The pain would get worse especially after
walking on hills. I didn't have to get surgery on my feet, so I wouldn't
worry about that. I got orthotics made for my shoes and had to take
anti-inflammatory pills, both of which helped some. Goodluck to you, i know
how painful they are!
— Lezlie Y.
August 5, 2002
Plantar fascitis is my guess. I had suffered with it for months, and being
a nurse, I was on my feet all the time. Several nurses I work with, along
with my sister, who is also a nurse suffer with this. I found a brand of
shoes that we all wear now called Merrells (sp?). My pain is now gone.My
sister, along with my co-workers swear by them. Maybe they will work for
you.
— januaryrn
August 6, 2002
Heel spurs are the result of irritation (such as plantar fasciitis) in the
foot and don't cause any pain by themselves. I have one in my right foot
that is over an inch long and looks like a nail--but since my plantar
fasciitis is gone it no longer hurts. Weird, huh? It sure looks painful. I
had horrible plantar fasciitis in both feet for years. I also had to wear
heavy steel toe boots and be on my feet 12-14 hours a day. It was sheer
hell. The first dr I saw told me to stay off my feet and lose weight (he
weighed about 110 pounds soaking wet with a whole 5% body fat--jerk!). The
next dr told me that he didn't recommend removing the heel spur because
unless you get rid of the problem (plantar fasciitis) the spur would only
come back. He told me to do exercises several times a day (like scrunching
up a towel with my toes) and if that didn't work I could get a cortisone
injection. I got pregnant right after that and changed jobs. I didn't lose
any weight but the problem went away on its own after that. I was still on
my feet a lot but do you know what changed? I started wearing moderate
heels every day. I continue to wear comfortable shoes with about a 2-3 inch
heel on them and don't have any more problems with it. Flat shoes are very
uncomfortable. You might try wearing a shoe with a bit of heel for a while
and see if you get some relief. It worked for me and I hope I NEVER have
that pain again!
— ctyst
August 8, 2002
I had a problem similar to that for about 2 years. I was diagnosed with
just about everything and was given so many suggestions from doctors
ranging from wearing a small heeled shoe to standing with toes up only on
the phone book to cortizone shots. What we have finally determined that it
is my achilles tendon, and it's basically too short. My pain would go from
my arch all the way up to my ankle. The only thing that has helped me (no
prescriptions!) is a walking cast. It is just a boot looking thing that
you velcro on. I only wore it during the day and took it off as soon as i
got home. somehow it stretched that tendon. Now if i go for about 2-3
months with out it my foot will start hurting again. I put that cast on
for a day and voila! all better for another 2-3 months.
— salymsmommy
Click Here to Return