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.

@MaChienEstUnDick

Yes, you’re right I might of rolled my eyes a few years ago too. And you are also right that this is getting me down (the pain). I’m trying to be jolly and think about all of the people who have much much worse to deal with, but it’s ruining my life and no doubt I am over sensitive.

I’ve not had an occupational health review. Should I? Perhaps I need to ask. I haven’t had any time off, so perhaps this is why I haven’t been referred?

I’ll look into this and I’ll also see what sort of all black options there are, or footwear that look a little more like shoes.

I have had PF and it really is no joke.

Poor you op you have my absolute sympathy

Have a look at Fitflop by shoes OP - they do loads of styles, not just flipflops and sandals.

They have lovely loafers pumps; I'm sure you could find something to wear to work.

I have PF and manage it by wearing Fitflops all the time. Get some Fitflop slippers and put them by your bed so you put them on for that first awful step - they help so much.

They are quite expensive but are very good quality and last for years. They also do good sales.

I had the steroid injection but it didn't do much. Wearing Fitflops all the time made a huge difference.

Now, many years later, I can wear other shoes for a short time, but I always have Fitflop slippers on in the house and their trainers for walking and boots in the winter.

I don't work for them but I should 😆!

Posting to offer sympathy OP and also for the footwear /insert recommendations .

Off to look at fit flops!

Thank you 😊

I had PF seriously bad a few years back, the only shoes that helped and I was on my feet in that job all day, was Skechers arch fit. You can also get them in a leather work shoe type affair that is very light and comfortable but provides the support. Between them and these socks from Amazon it went within a month or so after. I always dread getting it back but I have the items still just in case!

Would something like this be suitable?

This is them on

I keep looking at sites like Fit Flop and Skechers but so many of the suitable ones are mesh/fabric which I really dislike .

Yes! I’ve just been looking at these and there’s a pair in the sale!

I'm sorry you're suffering. I don't know if this helps at all, but I've experience chronic pain for the last few years, and stumbled across the Curable app early last year. I took a punt on trying it (it's subscription but was cheaper than one of the physio sessions I was paying for), and it has helped me so so much. I still get niggles but my constant daily pain is gone. I think they do a free trial is you want to check it out, and they have a podcast called "like mind like body" which talks about the lot of the science (and is free). I know a lot of people with plantar fasciitis use it and have found it helpful. Obviously might not be for you, but I wanted to share in case you hadn't heard of it.

Thank you for this!

I hadn’t heard of it, but will have a look. I’m very open minded, so thank you for the recommendation and if it works, I’m happy to pay!

Speak to occupational therapy. Your company footwear policy should not apply as it is really important for your recovery to be able to wear appropriate footwear.

I would stop telling people it's PF, you have bone degeneration in your ankle.

My physio and foot surgeon said to avoid Sketchers, they make a lot of people’s condition worse.

I would mention bone degeneration and see 8f they say they get that too.

I feel your pain Op! I've been suffering for almost 2 years and been fobbed off by by totally crap GP surgery who are still not seeing patients face to face!! I eventually gave up and paid to go private a few weeks ago, had an MRI scan and the results are clear (I have attached a photo showing the diagnosis).

I have various lumps on the soles of both feet (plantar fibroma) plus plantar fasciitis, but also insertional Achilles tendinopathy! He said that to have one was bad enough, two was pure bad luck...but all three was really bloody unlucky and wasn't surprised that I was in so much pain!

I'm a primary school teacher, so literally on my feet all day long, with no chance to sit down! This has been ongoing for almost two years now...I feel so low 😥 My head has this 'thing' that we 'need' to be walking around like military sergeant majors on parade the whole time, so I can't even sit with a group and rest for even 5 minutes...my feet are on fire, and I want to cry by 10am. I'm 58 years old...single, so haven't the luxury of packing in my job unfortunately. I'm hoping that now I have this actual diagnosis, she will take it seriously! 🤷‍♀️

I wish you well OP...it's horrid isn't it??? 😰

I have incredibly painful feet and work in retail doing around 20,000 steps a day .

I got some PF insoles from Amazon and although not life changing my feet hurt less than they used to .

I haven't been diagnosed at such because I don't see much point but I'm sure it's PF ... my feet have always hated me though so who knows .

I have PF and went to Shuropody and they have shoe inserts that they mould to your feet and you put them inside any shoes. They cost 59 quid but they have helped and it means I don't have to wear trainers all thr time.

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’.

Absolutely not.

PF can be excruciating and very debilitating too as we alter our gait to try to relieve the pain and this can cause fatigue in other parts of the body - legs, hips, back etc.

I have PF (both feet), plantar fibromas and complex regional pain syndrome (one foot). The pain has been 'off the scale' in the past, but the pain decreased significantly with the use of custom made orthotics, gel heel pads and ultra-sound guided injections.

I would suggest that you ask for a referral to Occupational Health so that the work footwear policy doesn't apply, enabling you to wear shoes that meet your needs. It is unreasonable that you are forced to wear footwear that increases your pain and reduces your mobility.

Oh bless you, I don't think you're being over-sensitive at all, just that everything can pile up when you're in chronic pain. Which is why I definitely think you should ask for Occy Health's help.

I had it after tearing a tendon in my ankle. The hip on the same side is shot as well.
Mine lasted for about a year, and more than the gel things, insoles and orthotics galore (including £££s) what worked in the end were good old Skechers, Ecco and Fitflop.
There are lots of good arch support footwear choices that aren't trainers- I wore trainers out of work and arch support shoes in.
Would they allow that?

Sounds like you’re already following the recommendation, but I second FitFlops smart shoes. I wear them (and their slippers, but not at work!) and they definitely help my PF. Really hope yours subsides soon (mine has done, with regular physio exercises and good footwear - along with never ever going barefoot).

I find formal lace up shoes are better for PF than trainers, as they are firmer and so more supportive. I wear Clarks, Hotter or Ecco lace ups and have a separate pair for indoors. I need to wear them all the time and sometimes wear the support socks at night. Can you wear flat lace ups at work?