Feet hurt SO much - ideas other than plantar fasciitis?

[YellowStripe]

My feet have been increasingly hurting over the last few months. Agony in the morning, or if I've been sitting, even for short periods, eg. ten minutes at breakfast. The less time I've been sitting down, the quicker my feet lose the stiffness once walking. If I have time to wiggle my feet before getting out of bed it's not as bad, but if not, it's like trying to walk without putting weight on my feet. They ache in bed at night, to the point of stopping me getting to sleep.

I know there is a lot above suggestive of plantar fasciitis - BUT the pain isn't really in my heel - it's forward from there, top and bottom and across both feet. I've exhausted Google. Can anyone make any suggestions as to what it may be?

Interesting! Just looked at the website - might make a calendula (marigold) massage oil and rub it in.

They do take NHS referrals. Good luck!

Rolling my feet on cold cans was heaven. I managed to get rid of mine mostly as I figured out a pair of boots were to blame. They were too big and after a while that was the result.

How very intriguing. I will check out the website too, thanks Lemon.

Interesting about gluten free diet and vit d as I have made both of those changes to my diet to the benefit of my overall health, hadnt linked the improvement in door pain to it though.

Osteopathy could help your gait if you are wearing your heels down on one side.

I had put this years improvement down to shuropody sandals instead of flats / Birkenstocks.

foot pain, not door pain

Ah, I'm so pleased I've found this thread!

Ds has huge problems with his feet. The NHS have been rubbish. He has insoles and see's a physio (who does nothing) but he finds walking so painful, and all of his feet and ankles hurt after a few minutes. When he stands, his feet squish outwards, as though the ligaments are not holding his bones together properly. He's hypermobile, his hands are the same too. I'm going to find him a podiatrist, but should he have been given an xray and an ultrasound too? He hates leaving the house as he's in pain all the time.

I'm sorry for the hijack . It must be a nightmare for you, Yellow I find his pain eases if he uses a footspa, and I make sure he has well fitting shoes. If you need insoles, shock absorbing ones are better than solid ones. I really do hope you find some answers

I may have inadvertently stumbled on something that helps! (Or it may be a complete coincidence.)

Last night, I opened a pack of argan oil moisturising socks (Poundworld special!) - put them on for the recommended twenty minutes, took them off, went to bed.

This morning - for the first time in MONTHS - I walked almost normally when I got out of bed. Assumed it was coincidence but have googled argan oil and there is anecdotal evidence of it relieving inflammation and/or arthritis-type pain. My feet have definitely not stiffened as much through the day today.

I will carry out further tests of this theory and let you know!

Foot pain is a real pain ! My GP said I don't have PF, did a blood test with normal results and just referred me to orthotics for insoles, I'm still awaiting the appointment.

In the mean time it is getting more difficult to walk and difficult to sleep due to pain as well, even taking co-codamols like smarties.

Thought I'd finally update! (OP here with a new name).

After a lot of faffing and permanently engaged appointment phonelines, I have finally seen someone in Ortho Triage. She has given a tentative diagnosis of early stages of midfoot osteoarthritis and referred me on again for orthotics. Also gave me some stretching exercises for tight calves.

I know this won't be a popular suggestion (it never is) but I can't see someone suffering in pain without wanting to at least try to share my experience.

I healed myself from so-called Plantar Fasciitis, along with debilitating sciatica and chronic lower back pain, by reading the work of Dr John Sarno, specifically The Mindbody Prescription. This book and others by the same author changed my life in ways I can't even begin to express. I've also just finished a book called The Great Pain Deception, the author of which also healed himself from some horrific chronic pain syndromes using Dr Sarno's techniques.

I won't go into the details here but the summary (based on this medical doctor's experience of seeing thousands of patients in various types of unexplained pain) is that the pain has a very real cause (i e it has a physiological explanation, just not the one we assume) but originates in unconscious emotional conflict which is especially prevalent in particular personality types.

The theory is based entirely on scientific evidence and medical observation and isn't the least bit woo. It completely transformed my view of pain, doctors and the connection between our emotion state and our physical health. Unfortunately most people get quite angry when this theory is first presented to them, dismiss the idea out of hand and continue to search for structural causes which the medics are quite prepared to give them.

Feel free to message me if you want to chat further about this.

Ah yes, Dr John Sarno who can perform miracles for all chronic pain conditions because according to him they are all psychosomatic. He even has a name for it "Tension myositis syndrome" which no other medical professionals recognize. All you have to do is buy his book and attend his expensive workshops.

I don't think anybody would deny the link between min and body, chronic pain and mental/social issues, but that doesn't mean anyone with undiagnosed foot pain is going to benefit from some quack therapy.

sorry if I don't buy the idea that my repressed (really?) anger is causing my foot pain, redness and swelling.

That's fine, eyebags. As mentioned previously, I sort of expected that kind of (angry) response but thought my experience might give someone out there a different perspective. I understand that it can be deeply frustrating to hear that your pain has an emotional connection when you are suffering. I hated the book when I first came across it and only returned to it months later when I was truly desperate.

I do want to take issue with the implication that Sarno is ripping people off, though. The 3 books cost me about £25 and I didn't attend any kind of workshop (he did used to give them in New York, but as he retired several years ago that's no longer the case). The vast majority of people who've healed using his techniques have paid only the price of a paperback.

I've got no agenda here, other than to let people know that I did heal my horrible foot and back pain and swelling this way, and am now totally pain free. It works, and continues to work for many many people out there. That's all, really.

Yellow, you may want to ask for a blood rest from GP for rheumatoid arthritis too.

Green - I had a blood test in August - looking for inflammatory markers? - but it came back normal.

I wonder though, will I be prone to arthritis in other joints eventually?

I have suffered feet pain both achilles heel and pf for the past 3 years amongst other intermittent pains here and there and although the podiatrist made up some special insoles to wear all day in footwear which are indispensable I have also found the following strategies assist:-

Stay at my correct weight
Drastically cut down on caffeine (2 cups daily) instead of up to 6 cups
Use a reflexology roller on the feet briefly morning and evening
Take parsley tea for circulation
Only ever wear lace-up shoes and boots and ALWAYS wear the in-soles
Keep moving, walking etc. Try and avoid rough terrain they say that is how pf etc. can come about so bad luck if you love fell walking or anything!

I don't bother doing the exercises though I suppose I should. These strategies have markedly cut down on problems I have found, in particular caffeine and weight loss.

Hope this helps, foot pain can be miserable! Trust me if I did not adopt all these strategies I would be in big trouble ....

Interestingly enough I did not have any of these problems prior to starting on blood pressure tablets BUT that may be a complete coincidence! I think some of it may well be circulatory however.