Plantar Fasciitis and riding?
MA Sandy
Have been fighting what I suspected was PF for 2 or 3 months now (pain
on the bottom of my right heel after being on my feet for MANY hours
every day or walking a LONG distance) but have been tolerating it by
using my friend, Mr. Ibuprofen, and TRYING to rest it when I can.
Last Monday, I had to hop on our 11 hand pony (who was being a total
brat in the lesson with one of my kids and thus needed an immediate
attitude adjustment.) I put my foot into the left stirrup as normal
to mount and when I pushed off on the right foot, I felt something
TEAR in the bad heel. It hurt like the dickens briefly, but I did the
attitude adjustment ride and then dismounted. I was TOTALLY lame on
that foot (and I have a VERY high pain tolerance, trust me!) but it
loosened up as I hobbled around turning out the evening's lesson
horses. I had been on my feet pretty much non-stop from 7am and this
happened at about 6:30pm.
Saw a Primary Care Physician on Tuesday and he referred me to a foot
specialist on July 2. In the meantime, the PT who conducts our
Hippotherapy sessions, gave me some stretches and a cool way to ice
and massage the heel at once.
To get this back on-topic, I tried riding Reason on Thursday morning
and it REALLY, REALLY hurts to put my heel down. The only way to ride
pain free was to rest my weight on the toes of that foot (which is NOT
a secure way to ride my horse EVER!) I had a jumping lesson schedule
on Spice on Saturday and had to cancel since I figured that if flat
work hurt, jumping had to be more painful!
Anyone deal with this and how long am I grounded (or at least riding
without stirrups? ;-))
Sandy
Mary McHugh
> Anyone deal with this and how long am I grounded (or at least riding
> without stirrups? ;-))
> Sandy
I had a terrible bout of it last year but cured it with Nancy's helpful
stretches and exercises.
But, it never bothered me that much when riding. I think you might have
more going on than just PF. It was very sore but I never had a tearing
sensation ever.
If it is just PF, a shot of corticosteroid will probably cure it. I had
something similar in my right foot 2 years ago and I got the shot, and
by the time I drove home, I was pretty much cured.
I didn't want to get another steroid shot with the PF so I stuck with
the exercises instead. It was much slower to cure it with exercises but
it still worked.
Mary
Dr Corinne B Leek
<sandrab...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Anyone have any stories to share?
I seriously think you have *way* more that just PF going on, as Mary
suggested.
I had a diagnosed case of PF in ?94?. Only got better after I got
orthotics. The physio/exercises/acupuncture did nothing.
Orthotics - miracle (not quickly, but still...).
I make sure my orthotics are continuing a good fit. Never want to go
back to the PF.
Good luck.
Corinne & Crazy Canuck Crew....
--
*** Conserve Energy: Laughter is easier than Anger!
*** cl...@ns.sympatico.ca
Nancy DeMarco
> Anyone deal with this and how long am I grounded (or at least riding
> without stirrups? ;-))
It really depends on what, exactly, you have done.
Do you have heat and swelling? Or just pain? If heat and swelling
I'd suspect achilles tendon strain - probably a partial tear,
hopefully not enough fibers to be a structural issue, but painful
nonetheless. Length of healing would depend on how many fibers you
have torn, and, of course, the treatment you receive, but could take
weeks to months.
The thing is, your description of the pain leading up to this event is
not really consistent with plantar fascitis. PF *usually* is at its
worst when you get out of bed in the morning, rather than after a long
day on your feet. Your description is more consistent with achilles
tendinosis, which is a non-inflammatory breakdown in the collagen
matrix of the tendon, resulting, usually, from over-use or improper
use. If not addressed, it can get to the point where a significant
number of the remaining, weakened fibers tear, leading to sudden, then
persistent, pain - a tendon strain.
I am not a fan of heel lifts - I think they perpetuate the dysfunction
in more ways than they help. But if you've torn enough fibers, I
might use one initially, to take the tensile stress off of that tendon
so it can begin to heal. Stretch morning, noon and night. The soleus
and gastrocs are almost certainly hypertonic and shortened, and
pulling on that tear. They need to be lengthened and relaxed.
Now, that's something I can do pretty quickly. Those are not the
easiest muscles to reach on your own, but if you sit on the floor with
your knees bent, and wrap your hands around your calf, you should be
able to bury your thumbs into the muscles most involved. Sink them
into the muscle at the midline of the calf, and draw them apart. Your
intention is to hook into the muscle fibers and pull them laterally,
while exerting pressure. It's gonna hurt a bit.
Once you've done this for a while, sink your thumbs into random tender
areas of the calf and hold static pressure while plantarflexing and
dorsiflexing the ankle. Then stretch. Start with leaning against a
wall with the bad leg behind you, foot on the floor, to stretch the
back of the calf. DO NOT stretch into the pain and tearing sensation
- stop just short of it.
Work up to doing downward facing dog - google it. It's a yoga
stretch. There is a fascial continuity that extends from the balls of
your feet, up the back, to the skull - a continuous, structural,
strong, tough, fascial continuity. The whole darn thing is capable of
shortening. This yoga pose will help to stretch it.
Friction directly to the tendon will encourage the formation and
activity of fibroblasts - the cells that produce the collagen fibers
that will eventually heal the tear. So, within reason, dig your
thumbs into the painful area, and the area surrounding it, and rub.
Don't go into searing pain, but discomfort is just fine.
Anyone who rides English is at risk for this type of injury. The
whole "heels down" thing puts the gastroc/soleus complex into stretch,
then asks it to work in a stretched position. Muscles do not like
this, and they tend to shorten to protect themselves. Chronically
shortened muscles then exert tensile stress on their tendons, on
surrounding fascial continuities, and onto the periosteum of the bone
where they attach. Some sort of failure is likely, and the achilles
tendon, or the plantar fascia, are often victims. So stretch those
calf muscles, at least, to avoid future problems. Stretching up the
entire kinetic chain is better.
Nancy
Una
the big toe or knee, and I know a case where it was mistaken for
plantar fasciitis for several years.
Gout involves crystals forming in the joints and also in soft
tissues near the joints. Thus it can contribute to tearing.
Una
Nancy DeMarco
> Another thing to consider is gout. It does not always start in
> the big toe or knee, and I know a case where it was mistaken for
> plantar fasciitis for several years.
My hubby has gout. Nasty painful stuff.
> Gout involves crystals forming in the joints and also in soft
> tissues near the joints. Thus it can contribute to tearing.
The crystals are microscopic. The pain is due more to an immune
response than to mechanical irritation from the crystals.
Jim's usually hits the knee or instep - almost never the big toe. His
was initially diagnosed as tendonitis, then cellulitis. He had lots
of IV rocephin before another doc wandered in correctly diagnosed it.
Nancy
Una
>The crystals are microscopic. The pain is due more to an immune
>response than to mechanical irritation from the crystals.
Yes the pain is attributed to an immune response and yes the
crystals start off microscopic. But, over time they can grow
into huge chalky lumps that break out through the skin. Even
before that happens, though, they can cause a lot of tissue
damage.
Nancy, I am sorry your Jim's gout got that far before it was
diagnosed. IV drugs, yikes! Does he have it controlled now?
Una
cindi
> Re gout, Nancy DeMarco <nancyd....@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >The crystals are microscopic. The pain is due more to an immune
> >response than to mechanical irritation from the crystals.
>
> Yes the pain is attributed to an immune response and yes the
> crystals start off microscopic. But, over time they can grow
> into huge chalky lumps that break out through the skin. Even
> before that happens, though, they can cause a lot of tissue
> damage.
My mom has had that several times now, the stuff coming out thru the
skin, usually around a thumb or finger joint. Pretty gross. She
started two gout meds and is SO very much improved.
cindi
cindi
of the bottom of the foot also. The classic sign is feet that are
worse when you first wake up and better after you start walking
around. When I had it, I was so debilitated I almost got a handicap
parking permit. The worst was in the morning, or after a long rest on
the couch or driving. Walking was HORRIBLE but after walking for a
while it would get better. I rode way more then than I do now and
never noticed anything about putting my heel down or mounting. It can
start with heel spurs though - I have a bunch - and if I whack a heel
spur, man, that is painful. But it's not the same chronic pain of
PF. It's an OUCH, I just did something type of pain, which sounds
more like yours; specifically in your case it sounds like something
tore. OUCH! Take care of yourself.
cindi
Grizzly
I had a bad case of it once. If it doesn't self resolve through
stretching exercises, they might have to do surgery on it. I had the
equivalent of the surgery done by a horse who bulldozed me from behind
sending me on a forward torqeing fall over my big toe. It tore the
tendon loose from the bottom of my foot, and the heel pain was instantly
relieved, or should I say replaced by the pain of the torn tendon. If
you tore your tendon loose when you were on that pony, I'd advise you to
go out and get some orthotics to put in your shoes. Dr. Scholls makes
some that aren't too pricey. This will help to keep your arch from
falling. I think I hobbled around for about six months before it was
healed completely, and have never had any residual pain in my heel
since. Note to self, the horse incident was painful, but cost a lot less
than the surgery would have. I do however advise you not to go that
route if you can avoid it. So there you go. Tendons take longer to heal
than broken bones.
Nancy DeMarco
It would be unusual for it to start with heel spurs. The spurs form
in response to chronic stress, often the tensile stress of the
shortened plantar fascia and associated soft tissues. Unless the spur
is the result of a traumatic injury, usually, by the time you have
spurs, the whole syndrome is fairly advanced.
They can go away, you know. :)
Nancy
Nancy DeMarco
> Nancy, I am sorry your Jim's gout got that far before it was
> diagnosed.
Thanks, Una. He sure was in a lot of pain, poor guy.
> IV drugs, yikes! Does he have it controlled now?
The IV antibiotics were for cellulitis, which he didn't have. So they
were pretty useless.
He was wheelchair-bound for a few months at the beginning. But
nowadays, he only gets an occasional mild flare-up.
Life is good. :)
Nancy
Ruth Baltopoulos
> It would be unusual for it to start with heel spurs. The spurs form
> in response to chronic stress, often the tensile stress of the
> shortened plantar fascia and associated soft tissues. Unless the spur
> is the result of a traumatic injury, usually, by the time you have
> spurs, the whole syndrome is fairly advanced.
> They can go away, you know. :)
I don't know nuthin bout no steenkin PF, but I can relate my story of
Things That Go Away :)
When I was 19, I had surgery on the front of my right foot and the back
of my left. Don't remember anything technical, but a big bump was
shaved off the back of the left (casted for a few weeks) and lumps were
taken off of both sides of the right. All was well for almost 30 years.
Several years back I began developing another bump on the back of my
left heel, lots of soft tissue swelling (bursa), extremely sore
Achilles, etc etc. Saw the Podiatrist a few times, had a cortisone shot
(almost passed out - blech), surgery was recommended blah blah.
It was so bad for awhile that I was completely overcompensating with my
right foot, and developed an Achilles tear on that side. At that point,
I had an Oh Shit moment. I was majorly disinclined to have surgery
AGAIN, as I would have been on crutches with no weight bearing on the
foot for six weeks or so. Sorry, but no can do with my business.
I completely stopped running, playing softball, etc etc for about a
year. Riding was done carefully and lots of no stirrups. The huge
swelling on my right foot completely disappeared and the Achilles on
both sides are fine. I was kind of amazed.
I'm pretty much back up to speed on all of my activities, although I'm
much better about stretching prior to running or softball.
But now my hips hurt. Old age, she sucks...
:)
--
Ruth B
Ruth Baltopoulos
> The huge swelling on my right foot completely disappeared
Replying to my own post because I am an idiot -- make that LEFT foot
(like anyone cares).
--
Ruth B
Emily Brooks
"Ruth Baltopoulos" <rud...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:qFrZl.209235$4p1....@en-nntp-03.dc1.easynews.com...
prefaced with odds- or evens-. We ride in odds on the left, evens on the
right, paired up, I'm in the 2nd pair. The called directions are "at C
odds-left, evens-right". The leaders both turn left ...
Emily
cindi
Oh! My doctors told me the spurs caused the PF. This is fascinating.
> They can go away, you know. :)
Oh that sounds potentially painful. I have a bunch of spurs on each
heel, and apparently I have a ton on my toes as well. I had a foot
xray for something and the xray tech did a bunch of "wow, oh my gosh"
stuff and even called in another xray tech so they could both oooh and
ahhhh over all the spurs in my toes. Then they asked me how much they
hurt. My toes actually don't hurt at all, and they were shocked.
(Well I was there for a suspected broken toe after an injury, but in
general, my toes don't hurt - knock on wood.) How does one get toe
spurs?
cindi
Lisa W
> I had a bad case of it once. If it doesn't self resolve through
> stretching exercises, they might have to do surgery on it. I had the
> equivalent of the surgery done by a horse who bulldozed me from behind
> sending me on a forward torqeing fall over my big toe. It tore the
> tendon loose from the bottom of my foot, and the heel pain was instantly
> relieved, or should I say replaced by the pain of the torn tendon. If
> you tore your tendon loose when you were on that pony, I'd advise you to
> go out and get some orthotics to put in your shoes. Dr. Scholls makes
> some that aren't too pricey. This will help to keep your arch from
> falling. I think I hobbled around for about six months before it was
> healed completely, and have never had any residual pain in my heel
> since. Note to self, the horse incident was painful, but cost a lot less
> than the surgery would have. I do however advise you not to go that
> route if you can avoid it. So there you go. Tendons take longer to heal
> than broken bones.
I've taken to wearing orthodics, but what I found helped the most in
starting to fix my PF was the stretcher boot thingie that was
prescribed. I've run into Over the Counter versions that cost a whole
lot less than the medical one I have. But I felt a difference the first
time I used it (keeps the foot stretched while resting / sleeping so the
tissue can heal in a stretched position). It didn't take a lot of time
for that initial healing to help ... so I wasn't reinjuring every
morning when I put my foot down on the floor.
LisaW
--
�If you believe you don�t need a miracle. If you don�t, a million
miracles wouldn�t matter.�
"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy
out of freedom. What one
person receives without working for, another person must work for
without receiving. The government
cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take
from somebody else. When
half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because
the other half is going to
take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no
good to work because
somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend,
is about the end of any
nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."
Dr. Adrian Rogers,
1931-2005
Lisa W
> On Jun 15, 4:33 am, Nancy DeMarco <nancyd....@gmail.com> wrote:
>> cindi <allisonac...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> It can
>>> start with heel spurs though -
>> It would be unusual for it to start with heel spurs. The spurs form
>> in response to chronic stress, often the tensile stress of the
>> shortened plantar fascia and associated soft tissues. Unless the spur
>> is the result of a traumatic injury, usually, by the time you have
>> spurs, the whole syndrome is fairly advanced.
>
> Oh! My doctors told me the spurs caused the PF. This is fascinating.
Mine seems to have started almost from a deep bruising -- I stepped on
something in the early morning murky light and for a few days babied
what felt like a bruise. About the time it started getting better, I got
out of bed one morning to a feeling like a knife was going through my
foot. That started over a year of getting over it.
Grizzly
> cindi wrote:
>> On Jun 15, 4:33 am, Nancy DeMarco <nancyd....@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> cindi <allisonac...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>> It can
>>>>
>
>
> something in the early morning murky light and for a few days babied
> what felt like a bruise. About the time it started getting better, I got
> out of bed one morning to a feeling like a knife was going through my
> foot. That started over a year of getting over it.
>
>
> LisaW
Mine was instigated by stepping on the plug on an extension cord. Early
in the morning too I might add..the kind with the sharp edges.. Ouch
ouch ouch..cuss, cuss, cuss...yep deep bruising and all here also.
Lisa W
That's exactly what I did! Now we know EXTENSION CORDS ARE EVULLE!