My plantar fasciitis began almost 2 years ago as mild pain in both of my arches. Then it settled into my left heel. The pain was unbearable, throbbing, like a knife sticking in my heel when I stood on it. As a stay at home mom of 3, it limited my ability to care for myself and my children. I think it may have even contributed to the breakdown of my marriage.
The most frustrating thing was that nobody understood how bad the pain was and how difficult it was for me to move around. Everyone, even those very close to me would say, "Oh, yeah, I had that...." but they didn't have it quite this bad. "It'll go away before you know it..." but it didn't.
After a few months of pain, I went to my primary care doctor who sent me to the podiatrist. The first treatment he gave me was a night splint, and gave me a certain type of inserts to put into my shoes, told me to stretch, and said he was sure that I would be much better in two weeks and scheduled a follow-up.
I think it was at this 2-week follow-up that this doctor gave me my first of three cortisone injections. This is a painful injection, but he did it so fast without discussion that I didn't really have a chance to be worried. He did put nonvaccine into the foot first. It is a very big needle that goes in from the side of your foot.
Again, he said he was sure I'd be much better in 2 weeks, and scheduled a follow-up. And in two weeks, I went back to see him and I was much better. The pain was gone and I was able to function again. Then the cortisone shot wore off. And the pain was worse than before.
I went back to the doctor and got another shot, and was referred for my first round of physical therapy. Twice a week, I had ultrasound therapy and massage and stretching and exercises. Of course, I kept telling the PT how good I was doing, but again, once the cortisone shot wore off, I was back to square one.
Back to the doctor again for a third shot. When the PT went on vacation, I never went back to him. He was useless, as useless as the podiatrist who kept shooting me up with cortisone.
At this point, it's been about 8-9 months of pain and I decided to try to do my own natural treatment and try to stay off it as much as possible. This did not go over very well with my now-almost-ex-husband.
As I crossed over into a year of debilitating pain from Plantar Fasciitis, I made another attempt and called another podiatrist. She said she didn't think it was that bad and she was sure I'd be much better. She told me to ice and stretch and sent me for another round of Physical Therapy.
I can't say enough about how different my 2 PT experiences were. This place was a large group with a lot of equipment and totally different way of treating the Plantar Fasciitis. They measured the mobility of the foot and really pushed me stretching. They measured the pain at intervals, so they knew I was getting better even when it didn't feel like it.
The most frustrating thing was that nobody understood how bad the pain was and how difficult it was for me to move around. Everyone, even those very close to me would say, "Oh, yeah, I had that...." but they didn't have it quite this bad. "It'll go away before you know it..." but it didn't.
After a few months of pain, I went to my primary care doctor who sent me to the podiatrist. The first treatment he gave me was a night splint, and gave me a certain type of inserts to put into my shoes, told me to stretch, and said he was sure that I would be much better in two weeks and scheduled a follow-up.
I think it was at this 2-week follow-up that this doctor gave me my first of three cortisone injections. This is a painful injection, but he did it so fast without discussion that I didn't really have a chance to be worried. He did put nonvaccine into the foot first. It is a very big needle that goes in from the side of your foot.
Again, he said he was sure I'd be much better in 2 weeks, and scheduled a follow-up. And in two weeks, I went back to see him and I was much better. The pain was gone and I was able to function again. Then the cortisone shot wore off. And the pain was worse than before.
I went back to the doctor and got another shot, and was referred for my first round of physical therapy. Twice a week, I had ultrasound therapy and massage and stretching and exercises. Of course, I kept telling the PT how good I was doing, but again, once the cortisone shot wore off, I was back to square one.
Back to the doctor again for a third shot. When the PT went on vacation, I never went back to him. He was useless, as useless as the podiatrist who kept shooting me up with cortisone.
At this point, it's been about 8-9 months of pain and I decided to try to do my own natural treatment and try to stay off it as much as possible. This did not go over very well with my now-almost-ex-husband.
As I crossed over into a year of debilitating pain from Plantar Fasciitis, I made another attempt and called another podiatrist. She said she didn't think it was that bad and she was sure I'd be much better. She told me to ice and stretch and sent me for another round of Physical Therapy.
I can't say enough about how different my 2 PT experiences were. This place was a large group with a lot of equipment and totally different way of treating the Plantar Fasciitis. They measured the mobility of the foot and really pushed me stretching. They measured the pain at intervals, so they knew I was getting better even when it didn't feel like it.