I am new hear and wanted to say Hello. I am not new to these fantastic HealthUnlocked websites, I am normally found on the Thyroid UK where everyone has been so wonderful and been there in my darkest hours. As I have fibro I thought I would try to be more involved with this site as well.
Sadly things aren't going well for me, in fact to say I feel dreadful really is an understatement but what I wanted to ask was is this pain in my ankle and heel just part of the fibro? I have before had pain in the ankles that I put down to fibro but its the heel and ankle this time, very painful - ive been limping around for a few weeks now and its just getting worse.
I did see a foot specialist today but no joy there, he tried to put a support in the shoe but when I pressed my heel down to walk, I had this sharp pain and now its worse than before I saw him, Normally I would be so concerned it's just that I have been diagnosed with being close to having osteoporosis ( because I am going through a very early menopause) and I am a bit worried its not fibro and i have done some damage.
Thank you
Best wishes
Written by
Kitten-whiskers
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Just copied this from the NHS site as I wondered if this could be the problem:-
"The plantar fascia is a tough and flexible band of tissue that runs under the sole of the foot. It connects the heel bone with the bones of the foot, and acts as a kind of shock absorber to the foot.
Sudden damage, or damage that occurs over many months or years, can cause tiny tears (microtears) to develop inside the tissue of the plantar fascia. This can cause the plantar fascia to thicken, resulting in heel pain.
The surrounding tissue and the heel bone can also sometimes become inflamed."
If you have a problem under your heel you will naturally start to walk awkwardly which will put extra strain on your ankle. I often suddenly get shooting pains across my ankles and up my foot and have only had these since having fibro. As you have this problem with the osteoporosis it might be worth asking your GP for a Xray as my poor friend who has the same problem has found she has broken a bone in her wrist even though she has not had a fall all due to the osteoporosis problems. Good lucks with finding a solution.x
Thank you very much for your reply, that is very interesting.
I didn't want to go to the surgery unless I was sure I'd done something to it, but I guess its so hard to tell. Your poor friend, I hope she gets better soon
Thank you she was going on her hols the next day so thought it would ruin it. Just text me to say she is having a wonderful time and everyone at the hotel is waiting on her hand and foot because of her plaster. Never thought illness could have a plus side, lol.x
Poor you Kittenwhiskers.....I am sorry you are having all this pain...Unfortunately I cannot help you...thank goodness I do not have those horrid foot pains...I do get stabbing pain from my ankles but hope you get things sorted soon....Hope to hear from you again soon...xx
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Have you been on our Mother Site at fmauk.org ? This is very informative and helpful.
I am sorry I can't help with your foot pain, but you will find some doctors will put many conditions down to Fibro, which can be very irritating when you are looking for a specific diagnosis!.
I am surprised your foot specialist did not suggest an xray. Perhaps you could get back to your GP, explain your pain to him and remind him of your osteoporosis.
I wouldn't leave it though as you could be doing more damage every time you put your weight on it.
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Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance.
I am so genuinely sorry to read this and I sincerely hope that your pain eases soon. Many other Fibro member have complained about this and gone on to be diagnosed with 'Plantar fasciitis' a condition that causes foot pain. It may help to talk to your GP about this to have it ruled out of the equation? I have pasted you a link below to the *NHS Choices cache on this issue:
Thank you very much for your reply and the link on Plantar Fasciitis.
I am really struggling with my health at the moment and it really is wonderful to have such lovely people to talk with. Healthunlocked is fanastic and always been there in my darkest hours, when the doctors have not.
As others have mentioned, it sounds very much like the symptoms of plantar fasciitis.... I have had this in both feet.
It is possible to buy special heel cushions (I got mine from the chemist/ pharmacy) to put into your shoes.
I am very surprised that the foot specialist you saw did not suggest this. My doctor referred me to the physiotherapist who gave me special exercise s to do each day and they have really helped. I would definitely see your doctor and ask for a physiotherapy referral.
Thank you very much for your reply, it certainly does sound like plantar fascitlis.
I put of going to the doctors because I thought they would think i was 'putting it on' or its in my head. I have made an appointment, so fingers crossed i will get some help. I certainly won't be seeing that foot specialist again.
If you type Plantar fasciitis into the search box at the top, then go to section "Heel pain", then click on treatment and scroll down to "Exercise", there is a list of suitable exercise... I found the Wall stretches, Stair stretches, bottle rolling really helped me. My doctor also prescribed Naproxen tablets to help with the pain.
You need to do the exercises every day and it took several months before the pain was gone.
Thank you Phlebo123, this is really really helpful. I am so pleased to hear its something you can heal, instead of something I just have to put up with.
I will be starting the exercises tonight, it might even safe me from the trip to thI will be starting the exercises tonight, it might even save me from the trip to the doctors : >
I would still advise a visit to your doctor... just to check that it is plantar fasciitis... I was also worried it may be arthritis, as my mum has arthritis in her feet. I would also recommend those cushion heel inserts for your shoes, to help give you some relief whilst the exercises are starting to work, as it can take a while xxx
Hello Phlebo123, of course you are right , I will go to my doctors appointment Thursday. Not sure I will be able to keep cusion heel inserts in, when I saw the foot specialist yesterday he but this big padded insert in my shoe and as soon as I tried to walk the pressure on the heel has made the pain worse, sadly it hasn't eased much since then, it comes to something when you pay someone to ease the pain and in fact the opposite happens.
Sorry to hear about your mum, Arthritis in the feet must be terrible - does she take cider vinegar in warm water? I remember a nurse saying how great that was, it does take a while to get the optium benefit xxx
Hi Kitten-whiskers, I found using a massage ball to roll under my foot helped a lot. I also have shoe supports. It does sound like plantar fasciitis, it happens to those without fibromyalgia too.
morning Hope this info is of help. when I visit chiropodist, after having feet handled, they allways seem to feel like you described. When they should feel more relief. x
Thank you uggycat, It's good to know I am not alone with my experiences. He never examined my foot, he put some machine on it for a few minutes to stimulate the red blood cells, it was the pressure from adding a chunky insole that seems to have made it feel worse.
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