Plantar Fasciitis and work

[IslamoradaILoveYou]

NC as could be outing.

I currently have plantar fasciitis. My symptoms started about 3 months ago, but were mild. About 6 weeks ago, my symptoms became very painful and I am currently using crutches.

For info, I do a lot of walking, around 15,000 steps a day to 25,000 steps a day. About 7,000 of those are in work, and I generally love to walk.

When I first started getting pain, I decided to keep moving and push through. The pain would be there first thing and then ease off. Now, the pain lingers all day and it’s like trying to walk on Lego bricks. Even when my foot is up and rested it aches terribly. My opposite hip and knee ache from limping. I’ve even started to use crutches.

I’ve had an x-ray and it showed bone degradation around the heel and arch, which I guess is osteoarthritis(?). This has not helped the PF.

Anyway, I have to stand a lot in my workplace and
cannot wear trainers, which is what I find most comfortable at the moment. My GP has insisted that I must be sat down and resting the foot as much as possible and was willing to sign me off work, although I declined this offer due to being busy. He gave me a note to work seated, which I can do, albeit not quite as effectively.

I do get the feeling that colleagues think I’m exaggerating my symptoms to get out of some of my more active duties. I’ve had a few comments of ‘oh, I get that, I just wear compression socks when it flares up and I’m fine’ or ‘so how long will you be off your feet’ etc. It may mean nothing and is probably just be me feeling sensitive, but I feel awkward and quite guilty nonetheless.

Incidentally, I have done the socks; tape; ice; roller; Volterol gel; cocoadamol; stretches etc and relief is only temporary. I’m waiting for physio and orthopaedics.

May I ask, if your colleague needed some adaptations to their job for a while due to PF, would you raise your eyebrows? Would you think ‘oh come on’.

I have an excellent work ethic and attendance records, so this is not typical for me.

If you got this far, thank you.

No, I wouldn't raise my eyebrows or think "oh come on" and nor would anyone in my workplace. Really. I'd be keen for you to rest up and get better and work however you need to for that to happen.

Thank you. I’m probably just self conscious and feeling embarrassed. My colleagues are perhaps trying to be supportive and show empathy.

Unless u have had this no one can understand the pain of it. I had this and I have damaged nerves in my feet as well. Sometimes it can take me a while get to the courage up to put my feet on the floor.

When I first got it I was a shop worker. I lasted only three months at work after that. It was too painful. It does get better over time. I found finding the proper shoes help massively.

I found that shoes have has no bend on the soles awful. So now I test and bend them before I even try them on. I live in sketcher shoes mostly as they are the most comfy. My winter shoes look like walking boots. Good support and bendable soles.

m it sucks. I’m so sorry. I can no longer to long days out. Luckily now I work for a family member and can rest when needed. But no one else understands

No I think if you've always been a good employee there is no reason to think your taking the piss about it - PF, osteoarthritis, bone degeneration - sounds very painful...I wouldn't judge personally.

I feel for you. My husband currently has this and is in agony. At least you are trying to go to work so people should keep quiet.

It sounds like they are trying to keep a positive tone "this can get better!" in making suggestions, not criticising you OP. Only you know if your colleagues are actually passive aggressive gits, though. Don't think I'd want to keep a job full of passive aggressive gits.

I know dozens of people who've had plantar and not one of them has needed work adaptations or crutches. I've had it myself and did the Great North Run while I had it. It's flipping painful. I get it. However I do feel you might be over egging it.

Fwiw I went to a great chiropodist who did agonising manipulation and deep tissue massage on mine and it worked really well (although it hurt like hell).

Get the gel inserts for your work shoes. Make sure all your footwear has a slight heel, no Toms etc.
All the things you described did nothing for me, I ended up with it in both feet and crying in agony. The only thing that helped was the laser treatment. I had it in one foot, and the PF then eventually went in both feet.

@Swampmonster1988 as per my post further up. Just because u don’t know anyone that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. As I said I did three months and then had to stop work as I couldn’t take the pain.
My sister currently has it and she has also had to have things made different st work for her becuase of it.

Thank you everyone. For the most part you’ve really reassured me. I appreciate your responses!

@Swampmonster1988 that’s what I worry, that people think I’m over-egging it as you say. I had PF for a while before it went like this, and you’re quite right, I was able to go on long walks with it and to be honest, it was only a slight inconvenience.

Then it changed and it just doesn’t go away. That painful first step in the morning, is no longer a first step, but every step. I don’t understand why. And my step count has dropped dramatically to just a few thousand steps a day, because I can’t do what I enjoy and go walking.

It’s clear though that people who have had PF will naturally make comparisons with how they dealt with it.

I really wish I was over-egging this.

I’m so sorry that PF affected you so badly and cost you so much. It really is ruining my life at the moment, no exaggeration, so I can relate to the pain and also the frustration! I’m just praying it’ll go away soon and I’ve promised my feet that I’ll look after them with appropriate footwear going forward.

I am going through this at the moment. I’m seeing a second specialist this week and hoping for a steroid shot. I had an operation on my toe in May and since then I haven’t been walking correctly and it’s caused the condition. I’ve tried acupuncture and physio therapy. It’s absolute agony, I hobble around my bed in the morning. I really feel for you OP, it’s no quality of life having this condition.

Bless you - I hope you get that shot and feel better soon.

My Gp mentioned the shot, but said my physio will be able to sort that quicker that he could. He reckons there’s a 6 month waiting list 😥

I dont understand why you cant wear trainers. Do you have to wear steel toes or something? They do trainer versions of those tio.

I have this mildly in comparison and saw a podiatrist privatley. I got some inserts for my shoes and wear shoes that are supportive.

Your work might even pay as its a work related issue...

Oh gosh I’ve had PF so I know exactly how painful it is.

i had mine for a few years, it got worse and worse, I didn’t know what it was or go to the doctor until late on and the gp was useless

mine only got better when i moved to a sit down job and it’s gone now, more or less.

yours sounds worse than mine and I hope you find a solution soon. If you have to sit down in work you have to sit down!

I've had PF, it's bloody awful. I found the best thing was having proper shoe inserts that offered immediate relief. Not cheap but worth every penny. I still get the odd twinge but nothing like it was. There are loads of exercises you can do. There are loads on YouTube. I really really feel for you. I've been left with horrendous knee and hip problems because of it.

You said your GP gave you a note saying you need to sit down. Will / can he put on the note that you need to wear trainers too?

Our policy is quite strict on how professional we need to appear. I’m not in steel toes, it’s not that type of job.

I won’t go into what I do, because I think my particular workplace has a set of fairly ‘unique’ policies that may derail the thread away from PF.

I do really need to look at my shoes though. I need to find something that looks professional, that has cushion and support, as good shoes do really make a difference.

I had it to a degree, partly brought on with unsuitable trainers used for running, but actually the pain is now more in my hip and I’ve had to give up the running. I’m sorry you’re suffering with it.

Your colleagues clearly have no sympathy. To be honest it sounds like you need a job where you are not on your feet much and with nicer work colleagues. Easier said than done I know but if it’s that bad then you are only exacerbating the condition. Your colleagues sound like arseholes. Just get the medical notes / sign off to give you the best support you need. They really just need to f* off and mind their own.

I could definitely ask.

Walking shoes could be an option? You can get ones that look like boots / shoes and not trainers.

I've had PF and it's awful. However I work in a GP surgery and was directed to Podiatry who gave fabulous assistance to manage it. I was allowed to use dark coloured trainers because it was summer and lace up shoes were hard to get locally. When it was the end of August and lace up school shoes were in abundance I switched over to those and wore orthopaedic insoles. No problem since (except sweaty feel in the summer).

Honestly? I probably would have thought you were over-egging it when I was younger, because I was self-absorbed and invincible and nothing ever hurt for long. Then I got old and stiff and, yep, got PF... This isn't about you, it's about them (and I include my younger self in 'them').

That said, chronic pain is a depressor and I find when I'm depressed I take things to heart a lot more than I usually do...

I'm gobsmacked about the no trainers rule though. If I had an employee in pain and this would alleviate it then it would be a no-brainier (unless it was a steel toe cap sort of workplace, which you say it isn't). Talk to your boss about trainers and use the words 'reasonable adjustment'. Have you had an Occy Health review? They'd support better shoes too.

I really think suitable shoes under direction of the gp is something your work needs to allow.

Oh gosh! Please tell me the hip pain goes. My right hip aches from the side right around into the glute and feels tender to the touch. This came about from the limping, and is why I’ve ended up using crutches. It’s a nagging pain and I can’t lie comfortably. I was banking on this being temporary!

In retrospect I’m sure most of my colleagues are probably just trying to be supportive and show empathy, perhaps with one or two who think I’m over-egging it. Sort of reflecting the opinions on this thread. I hope so anyway.