Stiff and Painful Feet (Ouch)

[Tillyboo]

4 months after dd was born I started to suffer with extremely stiff and painful feet . They got progressively worse and I could hardly hobble around. They were worse after I'd been static for any length of time e.g. driving, watching tele, after sleep etc. Have been prescribed orthotics and seen an Orthopaedic specialist - all to no avail really. Consultant thought it might be Preg induced osteoporosis, but had x-rays and MRI scans showed nothing abnormal. The stiffness and pain has subsided a little after 18 mths but wondered if anyone else has suffered with this problem at all ?

Have you been to a chiropodist or podiatrist?

Yep, podiatrist said I had developed Plantar Fasciitis (Flat feet - over pronounted) due to pregnancy and the relaxin hormone. My ligaments were very loose but this should have rectified itself after a few months when your body gets back to semi-normality. My dd is now 21 months old and I still feel like an old lady sometimes shuffling around.

Didn't have SPD, but that's interesting. Funnily enough I didn't have any aches and pains whilst pregnant and I've suffered with lower back pain on and off for years and that's come back with a vengeance as well. God, I sound like a complete wreck, but that's exactly how I feel, a crumbling wreck. I've been having a blub today about my aches and pains as it's all got just too much after 30 months of feeling crap one way or another. If it's not painful joints, feet and back, it was feeling sick all day for 8 months of my pregnancy ... and I'm thinking of No.2 ???

Sorry to hear others have suffered too but at least I know I'm not alone.

Hi Tillyboo, I have got plantar fascitis as well.
I know what you mean, it is so painful. We went to Florida in August and walked around so much and when I got home my feet were aching and I just thought it was normal aching feet.
However, it got worse and sometimes I could not stand up when I got out of bed in the mornings. I actually limp sometimes it hurts so much.
The dr said it was plantar fascitis and said it would clear up but would take months.
He gave me some exercises to do to stretch the ligaments. One is to sit on a chair with your feet flat on the floor and raise your toes for a few seconds. You should repeat this 10 times. The other is to stand facing the wall, place the palms of your hands on the wall and lean forward so you feel a stretch on the back of your calf mucles and the bottom of your feet. You should also do this 10 times. You should repeat each set of exercise 6 times a day and they are supposed to be really effective.
I also bought some insoles from Boots which were over £20 but they have helped. I tried taking Ibuprofen but that didn't really help, but the best thing I have found is this cream called Algesal. It cost £2.10 from the local chemist and a nurse friend recommended it to me. I have used it for the last 2 days and already I am noticing the difference. I think you should try it.
I know how depressing it is, because some days you can hardly walk. I do feel like an old woman and I have also put on weight because I just shuffle along half the time. If I wake up in the night to go to the loo I nearly fall over!
It is improving slightly now although it is still very painful.
I know 2 other people who have had it and they said the exercises and the Algesal really helped.Its worth a try anyway.
Hope you start to feel better soon, take care xx

i have a painful foot at the moment,its in the middle underneath,when i have been sat down for some time , then get up i cannot put my foot on the floor. its very painful,i wonder if its the same. i have had it a few times in both feet at different times.my son is 5 now,but since i had him i have had a lot of joint pains in my arms elbows,hip, feet.

Tillyboo, sounds just like me after the birth of my dd in April 2005. Felt like a complete old woman hobbling around, esp first thing in the morning or when up in the middle of the night. Went a similar route to you, saw GP, was tested for arthritic markers etc, then referred to rheumatologist, saw her before christmas, had xrays, blood tests and bone density scan etc. Got all results this week, pretty much clear, except BDS showed slightly low levels in spine, not low enough to be osteoporitic, but below the "normal" level. Am now on calcichew D (calcium and vit D), which is what my mother (GP) had said I should be on way back in August (clever mum!). Do feel much better now (have been taking the calcichew since august on mum's advice), hobbling much less, pain levels much lower. Apparently when you are growing your baby inside you, the calcium the babe needs is taken from whatever calcium you are taking in at the time. But, when you breastfeed, the calcium for your milk is taken from your reserves (in your bones I think?), no matter how much you might be taking in at the time, hence the risk of post preg osteoporosis. Am rambling a bit now, don't really know what to advise you, but would suggest you take some pretty whopping doses of calcium and vit d, perhaps go back to your gp for it (is fiendishly expensive if not on prescription...). Really good luck!

Thanks all so much for your comments and advice, I will certainly try some of your suggestions. I'll hobble back to the sofa now .....

I've just been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, as well - ouch! My Dr gave me a leaflet on how to treat it. The advice to 'rest your feet' wasn't exactly useful, unless one can leave one'sr feet behind when going around doing things! I also have exercises to do and bought some heel support things today. It takes months to clear up, apparently.

Oh TillyBoo - I have just come back from the Osteopath today for a very similar complaint (been referred to podiatrist). Just wanted to sympathise with you - I know how painful it is.