Constant pain, with just a sprinkling of depression:

[3dzapper]

A 3/4 inch spur on your heel and a beard? I'm hunting for you next turkey season!!

Rick

[Arky]

i had plantar fasciatis for two years. it sucked. here is how i was treated.

i wore a splint at night when i slept for several months. did not work

custom made inserts for both feet (only had it in one foot though) i still wear these today, but was not a cure. i do believe this will help prevent a reoccurrance.

i received two cortisone shots. the first one was painless and made me pain free for about 1-2 weeks. the second shot many months later was teeth gritting and hands held up in the air painful, about a week of relief.

finally the ossotron (might be misspelled). it was designed for kidney stones. it uses concentrated sound waves to break up the spurs (scar tissue) and dissolve away in the blood stream with no cutting!!!!!!!!!! i have been pain free for 2 years now. i also resumed my exercise routine. i was unable to do so when i had the spurs. the exercise is key for feeling good. it sucks at first because of the soreness, but ease into it. after a few weeks, you will look forward to it and be pissed when you miss a workout. you got to do it. exercise will take care of so many nuisance pains not to mention an increased energy level. it also helps me keep my girly figure.

Interesting topic to me as I've had this condition for 6 weeks. I believe due to being overweight & daily golf from April to September for many years. Two cortisone shots have alieviated about 95% of pain/soreness. Hopefully it will last.

My second shot hurt like hell also, I wonder why?

Fini, I hope you feel better soon.

[fini]

Thanks, Rick! You can take me out of my misery. I'm great with stuffing, too!

[joshnich]

Sounds like there is more going on than heel pain. If you truly are having a sprinking of depression get your self to a professional asap --- Please.

Josh

[dtel]

Hope you feel better Fini .

[fini]

Thanks for the support, folks. Josh, yeah, I'm seeing the podiatrist, and an orthopedic surgeon (for other on-going stuff with back and knees), and of course my primary doc. Yes, I'd say a sprinkling of depression is pretty accurate, given the constant nagging pain experience. I take Rx pain meds, but they only go so far (I pretty much have to decide what part of the day I want to feel "decent."). I think my primary doc may be most responsive. I'll give him a jingle.

[Me Loves Khorns]

As a gynecologist, can't help you much with foot pain.

But, if someone is willing to admit that they have some depression, they really are at a point that they could use some help with it.

I've had depression in the past, sucks big time. Hard to admit to. But, it really didn't get better till I started talking to others about it. Better now, but no fun at the time.

Good luck to you,

Paul

[colterphoto1]

depression kills, but there are many pharmaceuticals that can help. Unfortunately it's a bit of a crap shoot. In laymans terms (and I'm certainly no physician, but have researched), there are three main chemicals in the brain that may be out of balance. Most of the available drugs deal with one or two of those chemicals, so it takes a bit of trial and error to get it right sometimes.

If you do get a prescription, take it exactly as indicated (unless side effects are unbearable), and then report back to Dr. as ordered (usually 3 weeks or so). The side effects vary greatly from drug to drug and individual to individual but most of them decrease with time.

I had the foot cracking thing and cured mostly by being ultra-hygenic. Soaks in warm epsom salts, copious lotions in evening, with cotton socks to keep moisture in. But see your Dr. and take the advice to get a new one if the advice/treatment isn't working. A MD is preferred.

Good luck and we're pulling for ya. If you're of the mind- meditation and prayer usually helps me in such situations.

Michael

[sunburnwilly]

I bet Tom Cruise would have some solid advise on this matter .

[Erik Mandaville]

Fini:

I'm sorry........I've been on the same road. If you can exercise a bit, it can really help get rid of those darker clouds. Might sound uncool (or something), but some of the best stuff to drink is.......plain WATER. Have you seen a podiatrist for any of this? Eat what's good for your body.

Travis:

Let me apologize in advance: "Heavy doses of Vicoden with some Paxil, Bookers Bourbon can't hurt."

I always find myself sending out SOS signals about safety -- charged filter caps, working on energized electronics, that sort of thing.

....but on the meds and bottle, just in case someone might take the above prescription literally: DON'T MIX!!!!!!!!

Erik

[Erik Mandaville]

fini:

What did the little fish say when it bumped its head on a wall?

"Dam!!"[]

Here's an even better one -- and a true story, at that!

Once upon a time there was a sort of 'modern-technology-challenged' guy who needed to perform a certain function on his computer, but didn't know how to do it. He decided to call his computer-wizard wife on the phone to ask for help. As she had done on many occasions, she took time out of her busy day, and said: "Okay, what you need to do requires a "right mouse click." He said, "I understand, hold on just a second while I do that." There was a brief pause while he put the receiver of the phone down on the desk. A moment later, the guy gets back on the line and says, "Okay, I did that, now what?" His wife responds, "Did you right mouse click?" He replies, "Yeah." She says: "Well, what do you see on the screen?" He answers, "Nothing. I just got a piece of paper and pencil and wrote the words "mouse click" like you told me to do. What do I do next?"

The technology-challenged guy sat quietly in his chair waiting further instructions, but then began to sort of cringe at the deafening silence on the other end of the phone. That silence, however, was suddenly broken by the sound of very loud laughter (not from him, but his wife) -- which of course only made him cringe some more.

What can I say?! the words 'right' and 'write' sound the same over the phone!!![]

Erik

[Erik Mandaville]

fini: Sorry, it's me again!

Try looking in your area for some support. There are likely groups with members that are unfortunately faced with chronic pain, and will get together on a regularly scheduled basis to just talk and share experiences. Something like that might be really helpful.

Trust me; you are not alone, okay!?

Feel better soon,

Erik

[oldbuckster]

Hard to believe fini in this scenario......isn't it?????? First off....Thank God for everyday that you wake up..........If you really take a look around there are many people WORSE off than you..........So, Enough........get up, take charge of your life, and head-on down the Highway of life Brother........turn-it around...you can, NO you WILL, it'll be fine...........the Old Roller Coaster of Life is a long ride......full of ups and downs.....some good some bad.....It is what it is..............SMILE it doesn't cost nuthin'................

[SilverSport]

To create it or to cure it?

Ohmigosh...nearly spit up coffee all over the flat screen...[] []

Fini, hope you are feeling better soon...you are not alone...manytimes you need to change your perspective..."How come I can never afford to go to that tropical Island for a vacation?"...to...WOW!...that guy on the tropical Island had a coconut fall on his head..."I'm GLAD I couldn't go to that Tropical Island..."...okay right about now your head is slitting (no Pun Intended)...listen to the music...and always remember...

You are not alone! (now get out of the bathroom...its occupied![] [])

Bill

[fini]

Hard to believe fini in this scenario......isn't it?????? First off....Thank God for everyday that you wake up..........If you really take a look around there are many people WORSE off than you..........So, Enough........get up, take charge of your life, and head-on down the Highway of life Brother........turn-it around...you can, NO you WILL, it'll be fine...........the Old Roller Coaster of Life is a long ride......full of ups and downs.....some good some bad.....It is what it is..............SMILE it doesn't cost nuthin'................

oldbuckster,

That's pretty much been my attitiude, and my experience. I DO see folks worse off than myself, which does lend perspective, and I DO count my blessings (family, friends, home, etc.). I've been getting up every day and working on a lame foot. That's where the problem arises. I'm the lion with a thorn in his foot, a big strong man who has trouble asking for help (doing the physical work). And no, I do not feel alone (although I do feel as though sometimes I'm seen as a broken record, complaining all the time). I did about 7 months ago take a pain management class at Kaiser, which helped at the time (I was not working maniacally then, though). When I think back, rest and "pacing" were big components (along with meditation, exercise, diet, etc.). Trouble is, I've been in this "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do" work mode for a few months. I am mostly done, except for cleaning out the garage, and getting debris out from the crawl space. I'm taking a break today...

[SilverSport]

Take care and remember perspective...as a bit of a smartazz myself...I was told after a long class (12 weeks)...man, thanks for the laughter...I couldn't have made it through this class without you...I was taken aback...I am just a smartaleck...I was being a smartaleck becuase I am one...but it made a difference to some other people...your responses put a smile on my face often around here...and lately...there has been some crabby stuff going on so...perspective buddy...today, kick back, relax and let those tired achy muscles...freeze up and get stiff from your inactivity...[]...See?...we need you around here to offer the quick, snappy comebacks!

Bill

[Daddy Dee]

fini,

I'm glad you've posted. I had no idea you were dealing with this. You have our prayers and support and caring. From what you describe, it's hard to imagine getting by without surgery, but i'm no doc and don't know much of anything. I hope you can get some relief. Best wishes on getting your mom's house sold. With the open house approaching, have you gotten the project finished? Take care my friend.

[fini]

...today, kick back, relax and let those tired achy muscles...freeze up and get stiff from your inactivity...

Yeah, maybe I'll rent some porno...[]

[rcarlton]

Try Pirates...it is in HD.

[Audible Nectar]

Boy does THIS all read to a familiar pattern. I'm not one to whine to the forum about personal issues, but this might be of assistance/give some perspective to your plight.

I was born with a rather severe case of bilateral clubfoot. Spent most of my first two years in casts from toe to waist. I went through two major reconstructive surgeries on my feet at age 10-12, involving a lengthening of the achilles tendons with a synthetic section, wedge shaped portions of my heels and tarsals cut out to facilitate a straightening of the feet, and other tendon and ligature work. Each surgery took over 10 hours under the knife, and about 9 months of recovery. I was told that I would be in a wheelchair by age 25 had these surgeries not been done.

My "Delta Tau Chi" name in college was "Big Bird", because I bend more often at the waist than the knee - and have a funny walk. Makes me a candidate for Monty Python's "league of funny walks". I always got a special kick out of watching that.

But "recovery" is a relative thing. I live with the sometimes daily bother of arthritic and muscle pain - depending on my level of activity, and the weather. I worked in a casino for 6 years, the latter two years spent dealing craps (wanted to make management - it didn't work). I used to take one full hour every morning just getting out of bed and loosening my legs just to be able to go do that job. No amount of coaxing would convince my bosses that I needed to get away from the craps tables, because bending over those tables caused my legs to be in severe pain (try bending over from a standing position at the waist and holding it there for a period of time, and you'll see how someone with fake achilles would have an issue with that).

I also suffer when doing things I enjoy - but I still do them. I attend music festivals in camping environments on occasion - and while it hurts like hell at times, the music makes me feel much better, so the benefits outweigh the pain. I HATE golf (and even played and made Varsity in high school), but carts are expensive, and walking that far HURTS.

I REFUSE to take drugs to deal with this. Any drug that is truly effective at killing the pain is highly addictive (a road I don't want to see), and the idea that I would need some kind of "mind medicine" to kill occasional bouts of "depression/down in the mouth" over this is ludicrous. In my book, obtaining a secure job that actually had a real future would be all of the "meds" I would need, because I CAN work, and do not wish to claim disability. I feel much of my talent is wasted, in part because my feet slow me down, especially when working longer hours.

The best answer probably lies in a desk job, but I've yet to get my "foot in the door" (pardon the pun) to a company, organization, or career that works for me. I HATE corporate environments and "doublespeak": I am an adult who expects to be treated like one, and not put in the dark and fed BS.....I wish I could find a job as quality and real as this place, for example. But it seems when employment is involved, people become different animals from what they are outside of employment. I, on the other hand, am the same no matter where I am......and that "mismatch" seems to get in my way.

But regardless of all of this, I have it better than most. I got a houseful of Klipsch and other associated musical equipment, a wonderful wife, and I live in an inexpensive market that makes it easier to earn my own way. I live with the limitations and pain associated with my condition, but at least I'm living......and every day above ground is preferable than not[]

Fortunately for you, Fini, there may be better answers to your problem than mine. There isn't really much I can do other than manage my condition, but it sounds like there could possibly be other treatments that you can try. My wife had a particularly pesky case of plantar fasciitis, and the first thing her doctor told her can be applied to anyone with podiatric issues: YOUR SHOES MUST FIT - PROPERLY. Then try all available treatments. Also, try to stay active, unless your doctor tells you not to. For me, INACTIVITY is just as bad as too much activity: If you "park it" and do nothing, things seem to get stiff, so I find that a moderate activity level/pacing that activity works better for me. I also made it an issue to lose weight. I did two things: Cut out 75% of my meat in my diet, and gave up sweets and soda and lost 50 pounds. I don't know about you, but my body turns meat to weight in a hurry. This didn't cure my pain, but I do have more stamina and can stay on my feet longer.

But most of all, approach it from a positive perspective. Yeah, I KNOW it hurts, but it's worse if you feel like giving up.....and keep exploring your medical options.