Plantar fasciitis

What's the deal with plantar fasciitis? My physical therapist thinks I have it, I had just written off that pain (at the very bottom of my foot) as related to my PsA up until today. Is it related to PsA or is this a different issue I need to deal with?

Plantar Fasciitis happens to a lot of people with PsA. It is inflammation of the fascia on the bottom of the foot. PsA's hall mark is inflammation in the joints and tendons, bursa, all soft tissue could be inflammed from it. PT can teach you exercises, rest and ice. Good luck with it!

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Ok, thanks for the info. :o)

Yes, I also dismissed pain in my foot as it came about when I was pregnant, so I attributed it to the weight & posture changes during pregnancy. However after meeting with my rheumy, and the pain not resolving post birth after conservative treatment… Massage, ice, rest, chiro, over the counter orthodic… we agreed it was PsA. I’ve since had it injected with cortisone after not much success with NSAIDs.

I have it as well. Not sure what caused it, but my foot pain became unbearable. Went to podiatrist and last week got orthodics. I'm already seeing a big improvement. If PT doesn't help, ask the doctor if she/he thinks orthodics might help.

Thanks Sheila. :o) I've been in an Arizona boot for the past year for my ankle, then I started having really nasty issues with my opposing knee due to walking weird in the arizona boot, so I found a new foot dr. recommended by my rhu and he pulled me outta the arizona boot and I'm being fitted for a smaller orthotic It should be here in a couple weeks. I've been walking without any orthotic for about 3 weeks and now... planter fishitis, or whatever. So, great to know that it may clear up with the new orthotic.

Sheila said:

I have it as well. Not sure what caused it, but my foot pain became unbearable. Went to podiatrist and last week got orthodics. I'm already seeing a big improvement. If PT doesn't help, ask the doctor if she/he thinks orthodics might help.

I had it for about 10 years before I was diaqnosed with PsA, I was managing a restaurant and was on my feet all the time so I just chalked it up to that...... However, better living through chemistry, it is now gone thanks to the Humira or Methotrexate! Oh the joys of waking up and not stepping on glass first thing in the morning... Best of luck to you!!

I've dealt with plantar fasciitis in both of my feet on different occasions. I've been treated with cortisone shots and that resolved the issue for me. It took two shots.

Stepping on glass … that’s the exact description I gave to my rheumy. Leflunomide swept the glass shards away, but the stiffness and dull aching in both feet persist. I wear custom hard orthotics when I’m not in my Klogs or my Crocs.

Yes, plantar fasciitis seems to be very common with PsA. Of course, the foot is full of little tendons and ligaments, so when they get inflamed those feet are gonna hurt!







AlanH said:

I had it for about 10 years before I was diaqnosed with PsA, I was managing a restaurant and was on my feet all the time so I just chalked it up to that… However, better living through chemistry, it is now gone thanks to the Humira or Methotrexate! Oh the joys of waking up and not stepping on glass first thing in the morning… Best of luck to you!!

WOW! This is exactly what I'm going thru with MY feet! I wake up and they hurt so much to take those first steps. They continue to hurt throughout the day but first thing in the morning is the worst! I've had it for years.....it would come and go depending on how much time I've been spending on my feet. And when I worked retail years ago at a specialty shoe store several people told me it sounded like Plantar Fasciitis. But I thought they just wanted me to buy some of the expensive shoes! haa haa! Live and learn.

a strassburg sock is the way to go with PF. I made my own and the PF healed in one week. Never go barefoot and only wear hard bottom shoes.

PF is a symptom of PsA unfortunately. good luck

How did you make your own? Apparently they're used for achilles tendon problems too.



jot1 said:

a strassburg sock is the way to go with PF. I made my own and the PF healed in one week. Never go barefoot and only wear hard bottom shoes.

PF is a symptom of PsA unfortunately. good luck

I have PF as well. Seems like it is fairly common with PsA. The best relief I found is to freeze a bottle of water and roll it under the arch of each foot.

hi everyone, another PF victim here ! I have been dealing with this for almost a year now, First a podiatrist and cortizone injection, it felt good for about a month, then returned with a vengence. Went to an orthopedic foot specialist who did an MRI and found a tear in the plantar fascia. The first thing he said was NEVER get a cortizone injection for PF, in his opinion it weakens the tissue even more with the potential to cause more tearing. I was in a CAM walker book x1 month..no improvement...short leg cast x1 month..no improvement..PT x8 weeks, some improvement . During that time i also developed post tibial tendonitis. Giving that, the plan for surgery was scrapped and I will be picking up my Arizona brace this week. Dr. told me the brace will be for 6 months and then "take it from there". Very , very frustrating to deal with and I am worried about the brace, it doesn't seem that comfortable. But now my new problem is I just had surgery x2 days ago for a rotator cuff tear and bicep tear, but that'sa story for another time ! What I DO NOT understand is that my Rheumatologist DOES NOT think it's related to my PsA, I am not happy that he feels that way since all I read say it's a common occurance with PsA. I just don't get his reasonong.

I struggled with plantar fascitis on and off since I was dx 30 yrs ago. When I flare, I sometimes get the PF, and when I've had remissions, it goes away. It is *incredibly* painful. Sometimes I would look like I was walking on nails I would be wincing and stepping so carefully.

I know that this is a *counter recommendations* for PF, but I've found going barefoot as much as possible has helped strengthen my foot muscles and keep the tendons stretched. When I have to wear shoes at least 60% of the day, it flares up. I am lucky that I am home with my kids, and I slip shoes on to go places and slip them off the second I get home. It was painful at first, but over time I only have recurrence when I'm having a bad flare and / or having to wear shoes a lot, or shoes a lot many days in a row.

Stony I made it out of a knee sock . made a 4 in wide band that went around my calf under the knee and used velcro to attach together. I attached a pair of D rings in the front. On the sock I sewed a 24 inch band that was about 3 inches wide. I attached it at the heel and toe. I think it was 24 inches long. It would depend on how long your shinbones are and how long your feet are. Anyhow you have this sock on with a cotton band that you attach to the D rings. It keeps your foot and toes at a right angle to the bed . It is not that comfortable to sleep with but I man aged to last most of the night. I will dig it out and take a pic if I can find it. I know I have it somewhere LOL if I did not loan it out. It took me two times to get it right but saved me about 40 dollars. I bought the kneesock at he dollar store and had some fabric laying about. You do have to have some knowledge of sewing. I hope this is helpful and underdstandable.

I see that Marietta says she must go barefoot and it is counter to reccomendation but hey what ever works for you. I find I cannot walk properly anymore if I do not have my orthotics and hard bottom shoes or at least slippers on. When I go barefoot I get very sore achilles tendons and cramps in the tendons on the top of my feet never mind the toes! But that is another horror story . :)

Thanks for the description. With seeing what the thing looked like, I can easily picture how you did it. And yes, I sew. I finally got myself the scissors with springs, and have learned that I can't do too much at a time. I have osteo in my wrists now, and they get tired and seriously swollen if I try to do too much sewing. And right now I've been completely off knitting for a while. Which is a shame, I have a really cool bath mat I was making out of rags.

It's funny, I find that wearing shoes is pretty critical for me. I don't have plantar fasciitis, but I do have the achilles problems.

I have a bunch of pairs on Dansko shoes. They are amazing for PF!

I had to stop wearing them when they started irritating the tendons on the top of my foot :( It's so sad to see them in my closet still.

fairemaid said:

Dansko nursing shoes are my life savers. I bought them for work but they are great with the amount of relief it give PF. I still after working all day limp once they are off and I have been sitting. I use ice packs and bengay ice therapy. it is the blue gel physical therapist use.

i find the dansko don't fit me right. My BFF loves her dansko shoes and has a couple of pairs. I have 3 sets of orthotics 2 pairs for sandals and one to fit in shoes or boots. I lucked out and the othotic company sent me a free pair of sandals because they took 3 tries before they got my inserts right! If my PF comes back I don't know what I would do. I don't think I could cope with the pain . I find it more and more difficult to cope with pain.

this is useful info