Heel spur??? Race foir life??? HELP

[Dingle]

A friend from another forum has just been diagnosed with Breast cancer and last night I felt that I just wanted to do something positive.

I did the Race for Life (5K) back in 2006 and before that I did the Flora Light (5k again) - I did that for Down Syndrome Assoc as my DD had Downs.

I would love to do the race for life again this year, BUT I am suffering from a really painful heel. Went to Drs a few years back and he said it was a heel spur and to come back when it gets unbearable. Well it has been pretty bad recently, so much so, that I am considering going back to him, that takes a lot for me as I have little faith!! But that's another story.

Any experience please? Am I mad to even consider entering this year? Any advice on the heel spur itself?

Sorry,loads of waffle..brain going haywire!! I was even wondering if I could walk part of the course with my DD but that's probably a silly idea...but I do like a challenge!

Oh Dingle, I really symphatise with you.

I am training to do the Playtex Moonwalk in Hyde Park in May. Also for breastcancer as a friend in RL is currently suffering.
I am doing the half moon, which is a 13.1mile powerwalk.

I am extremely overweight and have recently developed excruciating heel pain (heel spur/plantar fashitis (sp) symptoms.

I was told that gentle stretching of the calf muscles can help reduce symptoms.

I will watch this thread with interest as I need coping mechanisms for this.

Pulling out of the Moonwalk is not an option, so I will need to limp my way round somehow, but after a mere 3.5mile training walk last night I was unable to walk this morning

I hope someone knowledgeable comes along soon.

I am so glad I am not the only one, we can get through this together then as I have bit the bullet and joined today- I "race" on the 1st June. LOL at least it is only 5k for me, I will hobble around if I have to!!!

My MIL has had another scare recently but thank goodness it was only more cysts..I just felt I needed to do something!

A sports physio should be able to help with your heel.
I've had this which flares up occasionally,it actually stopped me doing the moonwalk a few yrs ago despite £££ on treatment.

Sorry about you friend ,and good luck with your heel.

I have had a quick look here seems quite informative.

I cannot afford for private treatment! I am started private speech & language sessions again for dd soon..can I not get anything like that on NHS?

You can ask for nhs treatment but the waiting list for these sort of things is usually horrendously long.

Thanks ggirl. What a shame you had to pull out of hte moonwalk.

I am hoping that my heelpain is in part caused by my obesity and that with the large amount of walking I am doing I will lose weight and the strain on my heel will reduce. [wistful thinking emoticon]

I am not in a position to afford a private physio sadly, but may visit a gp anyway....

I have read up on shoe inserts etc which may help. Does anyone have any experience of those?

I've used shoe inserts in my trainers, not for a heel spur but because I had pains in my knees - they did make a big difference and I could run normally without any pain. Is there a physio at your doctor's surgery? I saw one at mine, I don't think he was specialised in sports injuries and he looked about 12 but he did give me some stretching exercises which helped. If you do an internet search I bet you'd find some exercises for heel spurs.

Hope you manage to do the race - I've done the Race for Life and the Moonwalk before and both have such a positive atmosphere - it doesn't matter if you hobble round, there will be loads of people cheering you on. Good luck!

I am recovering from plantar fasciitis and have been "resting" from running for about 3 months now. The pain is finally disappearing. The physio told me calf stretching and self-massage would help, but basically rest for as long as it takes. I have been wearing supportive trainers at all times and have been using gel heel inserts ( about £12 in Boots ) which seem to have really helped. There is no quick fix, unfortunately.

I had planter faciatis this summer, chiropodist told me to use ice packs on it 10 minutes a day,never go bare foot, and rest as much as possible. It worked within 2 weeks.

LOL With a disabled DD, there is not much chance of resting it and I am such a chilly morsel the thought of ice packs makes me shudder!!

I did find some stretching exercises today and have started some of those and I have been using a heat pad...not sure that is helping at all but my feet are lovely and cosy!

Thank you..I will crawl if I have to! Got 11 weeks to get it sorted anyway so fingers crossed!

LOL didn't get much rest either, as I don't drive, but the cold pad thing did work

It got to a point last week when I nearly put the kiddies into the car for what would have been a minutes drive...just because my heel was so painful. I would have spent longer trying to get DD in the car and into her SN car seat !
I suppose it's extra pressure having to constantly hold dd's hand and support her if she falls and now DS has started doing afterschool clubs so some days I am doing 3 school runs a day again- thought those days were done and dusted.

I will try the cold pad...once the warmer weather gets here!! (cowardly runs hobbles off!)

I'm pleased to see I'm not alone having heel pain. I'm doing the Moonwalk on Saturday and having suffered excrutiating pain in my heel and arch went and had a sports massage on my foot. I came out after the first session with bite marks in my hand but after a couple of days I could really feel a difference. Have had another couple of sessions and am now feeling more optimistic that I'll manage the 26 miles. It's certainly worth trying - I got the name of mine in the local sports centre and it wasn't that expensive. She told me that it is actually very easy to treat!