Pain in heel

[kazzawazzawoo]

Has anyone had this? I have a pain in my left heel. It's got worse over the past week. I can't find the place that hurts by pressing my foot, but when I stand on it, it hurts. Also strangely rubbing against it in bed can hurt. It's more a stabbing pain than an ache.

The skin on my feet is dry and I have psoriasis which doesn't help. I sometimes remember to rub in cream, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Dh said he thinks I have a small cut on my heel, but it doesn't seem to be where the pain is! My feet don't seem swollen or red.

I'm going to make a drs appointment, but just wondered if anyone has had something similar.

Hi kazzawazzawoo, is it worse in the morning when you get up? If so it's probably plantar fasciitis (i think that's how it's spelled!). I'm in recovery from it, first diagnosed in November 2012. I still get some pain sometimes but it's much much better.

You can ease the pain by doing some calf stretches and rolling a golf ball under your foot.

If you are diagnosed with PF, push for a referral to get some orthotic insert for your shoes, that's the one thing that's really helped me.

I hadn't noticed it being worse first thing. I've not heard of it, so will go and do some research. What causes it?

It's an inflammation of the big tendon (I think!) that supports your arch. It's attached to the heel, which is why that's where the pain is. I'd never heard of it before being diagnosed with it either!

Having read a bit about it, I imagine it could be pf. Doesn't found like they can do much, except tell me to do exercises and to buy insoles (or do they prescribe them?)

I always wear flat shoes, can't walk in heels. And my shoes are all cheap and rubbish at the moment - can't afford new shoes right now

i get this, its so painful - if you go into the chemist you can buy scholl insoles. Can't remember what they are called but they are shock absorbant and they really helped me. I can't wear my converse without them. Im better in shoes with a slight heel but i can't wear proper heels either.

I'm like you, never wear heels!

You can buy insoles or you can get them prescribed, you need to be referred to an orthopaedic practitioner, which unfortunately takes a while (it took about 6 mohts for me), but then it's completely free as they make them for you. Which is why I advise you to insist from the start for a referral.

Good luck whatever the diagnosis! :)

It might be "policeman's heel" or "guardsman's heel" which seems to be caused by long periods of standing.

You can get insoles with a soft cushioning pad under the heel which makes a tremendous improvement, if so. Ordinary gel insoles may not have this heel pad. Sometimes it is blue, in a clear gel pad, so you can see it.

Thanks . So if I go to the chemist, what insoles am I looking for? Do they have a specific name?

Kazza - I suffer from this. Like GreenMouse I am just starting to come out the other side! I saw a podiatrist privately and and he gave me exercises to do, also recommended inserts, which I bought on Ebay as much cheaper.

Was told to wear my trainers as much as possible - which actually were the most comfortable footwear at its worst. I have to be very careful what shoes I wear now too - completely flat is a no no and I need a thick sole too. Also rubbed ibuprofen gel into my feet.

Its a painful condition and can be very debilitating.

Thanks . Any recommendations for comfy shoes to wear with a skirt or dress at work? I'll look on eBay to bring the price down

I get mine from the podiatry dept at the hospital, and they are made to measure with an impression of my trotters.

I think I got some off ebay, or possibly in the chemist, so I would have an extra pair for other shoes. They are a translucent rubbery-feeling gel.

The ones I bought were mostly a heel cup, tapering away before they got to the arch.

If you are seeing your doc, try to get a referral to a podiatrist. If you can't, a local foot person may be able to advise or supply on a chargeable basis. Physios may know.

Any soles that will cushion your heel and support your arch will give you some relief. I initially got some Scholl ones, which did help, but the made to measure ones are much much better.

Yes to rubbing ibuprofen gel in your heel when it gets too bad. Also rolling a frozen water bottle under your foot.

If it is plantar facieitis (spelnig?) I found two things helped mine heal. Ibuprofen gel and then foot wrapped in bag and then a sock on top overnight (although the instructions tell you not to cover it)
Second thing is a Scholl orthotic but with the instep built up with sticky bandage in layers (a bit Blue Peter style)in a half moon shape until it's almost sore to walk on. This will relieve the pressure on the ligament where it inserts in the heel. This advice was given to me by a podiatrist who did not have time to see me so gave me this advice over the phone. I had had it for six weeks at this stage and it had not started to heal at all.

M & S footglove or Clarks cushion sole, but I have to be honest, I really struggled with shoes that were comfortable at it's worst, tho as I'm an exam invigilator and on my feet a lot, resorting to trainers whenever I could and shoes with a small heel were what got me thro!

Thanks for all the tips . I struggle with M&S Footglove, they don't seem to fit me well.

I can't wear trainers to work unfortunately, but I have worn them to walk the dog today and my heel didn't hurt as much as in my usual flat ankle boots.

My DS2 gets this problem and this tendon stretch excercise works if done 5 minutes several times a day for a week.

Stand at the bottom of a set of stairs. Put your affected foot on the bottom step but just your toes and the ball of your foot then press down as if starting to walk upstairs with the whole weight of your body on the affected foot and stay there lowering and raising your heel up and down to stretch the tendon that attaches to your heel.

Lower your heel as far down below the level of the step as you can and hold for a few seconds then go up as far as possible and hold for a few seconds. Repeat.

Thanks morebetta, I'll try that

are you standing on just the bad foot, or going up and down with both feet?

I had this last year and with stretching every day, and Scholl Orthaheel orthotics it went pretty quickly (ie 4-5 weeks). I had to stop wearing slippers around the house and wear something more supportive so I have an indoor pair of trainers. If I forget and go barefoot for a few days I can feel the twinges of it coming back so still keep on with the calf stretching every couple of days.

wellies are really, really bad.

Have to be honest, I never wear wellies, but I have been wearing a pair of loose ankle boots to walk the dog that are probably no better than wellies. Will stick to trainers for now.

It's a pain, as I had just started walking for an hour in my lunch break to get more exercise, now I have to rest my foot!

Piglet - just stand on the bad foot on the bottom step and stretch up and down.

I've bought some scholl orthaheel orthotic insoles, as I think they will help anyway - I have weak ankles and knee pain.

if you manage to get made to measure orthotics, they should hold your foot upright and prevent it rolling sideways on the ankle, which might help with the knee as well.