I might have yet another inflammatory condition: sudden agonising heel and sole of foot pain. I think I've been ignoring it, but boy is it in the fore front of my mind now!
I'm seeing a physio tomorrow.
My question: I'm not supposed to take NSAIDs, although I have taken a couple. Also Co Codamol.
I've started a taper from 4mg to 3.5 (dead Slow method) Am I right in thinking I should delay this taper? And maybe even take a few days higher dose?
Thanks,
Helen
I would stick where you are for now - I doubt more oral pred would help but your body is under stress with the pain and disability so I wouldn't try to taper any further for a week or two. Steroid injections may be a last resort - but it is a very local application of a highish concentration of steroid, nothing like an oral dose.
hopkinsmedicine.org/health/...
has a load of options to try to treat it.
I've often wondered whether it's linked to PMR because for me both started about the same time. After limping in agony for far too long I had steroid injections into both heels, which did the trick. One foot had to be repeated, the other was fine first time. I haven't had any more problems with plantar fasciitis but have had other foot problems.
PMR tends to have inflammation of attachments between soft tissue and bones so it could well be.
Also if you have one autoimmune thing going on it's likely you have another, even if the docotrs don't recognise it or have a name for it. It is estimated there are over 200 AI diseases and we know so little
I had plantar fasciitis years ago. Incredibly painful. I had steroid shots, shoe inserts, and at-home hot/cold therapy. Finally my doctor did ultrasound, and after the first treatment the pain lessened. I had 12 treatments, and all pain was gone. Good luck.
Plantar fasciitis will be aggravated by abnormal foot function and biomechanics. Very few people have normal foot function and PF is sometimes linked to calcaneal spur syndrome. I agree that long term Pred plays havoc with tendons so you may have the consequences of a tripple whammy! Could you see a podiatrist privately? They can organise insoles and foot padding to give relief.
I'm seeing my physio today, and will then see a podiatrist: they were all booked up this week and I'm desperate for some relief. I've been icing and exercising.
I’m glad you posted about this Daisy. I have been suffering with PF for about 7 weeks and wondered whether it was connected to my PMR. It has got progressively worse and is so painful when I get up after sleep or rest I can barely put my foot down. I was thinking perhaps I should seek treatment now so it’s good to see steroid injections and ultrasound have worked for people here. I’m at Centre Parcs for a few days helping with my grandchildren and feel so fed up I can’t properly enjoy all the activities here and walking through the lovely woodland. After lots of walking yesterday the pain was excruciating when I got up in the middle of the night. I have PF in my left foot and Achilles tendonitis in my right ankle, such a nuisance! Going swimming this morning for the first time in years so hoping that goes ok 🙏🏻
If you have achilles tendonitis you need to be careful and rest it or it may become chronic. I had achilles tendonitis in one ankle and peroneal tendinitis in the other last year! Took ages to calm down.
It's so hard as I'm an exercise instructor! Seeing my physio later.
Um - what would you do if you had a broken leg? Inflamed achilles tendons are delicate - and a ruptured one would put the mockers on exercising for some time!
Thanks, I get your point! But I think that it's PF. I'll take my physios advice later.
I wasn't let out of the ED here in Italy without a support boot and crutches for the achilles!!!
Thanks Pro. I’ve had the Achilles problem for almost as long as the PMR - 2.5 years. I try to be careful with it but also need to keep mobile or my back flares up. Like so many of us here, I have a multitude of ailments 
On the upside, about a month ago that awful deadly fatigue just went away. I still have to pace myself and am very tired come evening, but the horrible brain fog has gone too and that has made such a difference to my life. I’m at 5mg currently and not able to go below that yet, I’ve tried a couple of times. My GP has advised me to just stay at 5 for the time being.
I've had the back problem longer than PMR - and that is at 18 years!!!! So I do know what you are dealing with. If there has been inflammation of the tendon that long, it is likely to be particularly delicate.
I it took me over 2 years to get below 5mg. Sometimes yiu have to do what your. Okey needs. 5mg is not so bad, when you think where you started. Good luck.
Yeah, I know it takes time but I have developed cataracts and am also having surgery on November 2nd and worried about healing so have been desperate to get the dose down. I’m having to accept this just isn’t possible at this point in time. Thank you for your good wishes x
Actually 5mg at 2 & half year is very acceptable in most people’s minds… as for cataracts most damage is probably done at higher doses of Pred. Plus healing at that level shouldn’t be too much of an issue… good luck surgery.
Yes I know I’ve been trying to rush things. Realising now, like everyone else that it’s not possible and just causes a journey of frustration with the yo yoing.
I’ve developed the cataracts about a year ago, my optician said they were most likely steroid induced. The left eye seems to be deteriorating quite quickly now. Seeing optician again next week so will see what he says. Xx
They may or may not be steroid induced -you’ll probably never know.
I have one developing slowly on my “lost ” eye -first picked up last year and not much different now -and I stopped Pred 7 years ago -so can’t blame that …
Yes, the one in my right eye hasn’t changed at all in over 12 months but the left one is being very troublesome now. Xx
The cataracts won't go back because of the lower pred. Is the surgery for the cataracts or something else? 5mg is a pretty low dose in that context.
I just don’t want the cataracts to get any worse. No I’ve had problems with scar tissue/adhesions from my breast cancer surgery/axillary clearance and they’re going to try and sort that out for me. Praying the strikes don’t affect my surgery date 🙏🏻 xx
The cataracts will do what they do and they may have happened anyway.
Hope they succeed with the adhesions - always a pest in any surgery. And yes - fingers crossed.
Thank you. I had a really bad reaction to my radiotherapy, the healing was going well till then. They have to wait 2 years before they do any corrective surgery in case there’s a recurrence of the cancer. Had my surgery in 2020 but because of the Covid backlog I’ve had to wait another 12 months. Xx
I have had plantar fasciitis and it is very painful! Usually more painful after rest - first thing in the morning and when you have been sitting for a while and get up and walk. If this is what you are feeling it may be just plantar fasciitis. It is good you are seeing the physio tomorrow, she can advise. When I had it I was told by the GP to put a golfball or tin of soup or something under my foot and roll it along the bottom of the foot. Do this regularly. It helps to break down the tissue on the bottom of the foot. I bought some foot angels off the internet. Little socks that fit over the foot - toes exposed. They help to support the foot and I found them so useful. It took a long time to go away but it did eventually. Good luck, I know it is extremely painful.
I've known other people with PF and they were recommended the golf ball too.
I've been using my dog's tennis ball!
I’ll try the foot angels x
Please do, they are worth a try. They worked for me. I used to play badminton in them, even after it had gone away. I didn't want it coming back. So painful isn't it. Good luck.
I had that about 6 or 7 years ago. I'd had PMR for about 6 years and been on Pred for 5 at the time.
It lasted for over a year with me, and made walking very uncomfortable. The good thing was that it eventually faded away, but while I was suffering from it I found I had to wear trainer type shoes because of the thick spongy soles. They helped to cushion each step and made it easier for me to do the daily commute.
Thankfully now I'm retired, so it wouldn't matter so much, but at the time it was awkward as my commute involved quite a lot of walking between buses, trains and tubes, with a 5 minute walk at the end to reach the office.
So take it slow, use a walking stick if need be, and wear comfortable shoes with lots of cushioning beneath the ball and heel of the foot.
Best of luck!
I mostly wear trainers anyway, luckily they're fashionable with anything! I've cancelled going to a concert tomorrow as I just can't do the journey, or the standing.
I’ve also had dreadful plantar fasciitis and changing shoes has helped a little. I’ve also stuck with 5mg for now as every time I try to go to 4.5 mg I get achy in all joints and back. Hope you feet settle soon.
I had achilles tendonitis to the extent that I had to wear a surgical boot for a few weeks about ten years ago. I have also had plantar fasciitis at times. For the achilles tendonitis physiotherapy I had to do calf stretches. The calf stretches work for me plantar fasciitis as well, in fact here is a description which specifically mentions plantar fasciitis:-
Calf Stretch
Stand facing a wall with one foot in front of the other (the back foot should be the one with plantar fasciitis). Keeping the back leg straight, lean your weight forward, bending into the front knee. Make sure your back heel stays on the ground, stretching your calf muscle.
Hold this position for about 45 seconds, take a break and repeat two to three more times. You can repeat this exercise four to six times a day.
I have never had a repeat of the achilles tendonitis, thank goodness, but whenever I have a familiar pain starting in my heel and sole (often after having slept with my legs bent into foetal position) I do a few calf stretches and it disappears. I don't know whether this might help? I expect your physiotherapist will be able to help, in any case.
I got p/f in February after wearing a bad pair of slippers. My chiropodist suggested rolling my feet on a small frozen water bottle for about 10 mins a couple of times a day & stretching the Achilles heel by standing on a book about 1-2 cm deep so the heel is still in the floor. I also saw a physio & he gave me some stretching exercises. I was on 6 mg & kept reducing by half every 4 weeks & used voltarol gel on my heels. It took a while but really did help. I still have a little ache if I walk too far but mostly it has gone. Good luck I know how horrible it is.
I've recently got rid of plantafasciitis. I got it after walking on hard floors during the heatwave of 2022, started in the September. After many months wait, I attended a specialist physio at the hospital on NHS and she gave me special inserts to put in special well padded trainers. Helped a lot. By the time I saw her, I didn't need a steroid injection as almost better.I have flat feet and not much under padding, that's the problem . It lasted for 8 months. I used anti inflammatory gel which helped and did all the exercises . But unless you have a steroid injection which they were loathe to consider, it unfortunately just takes time. I've had it twice so don't intend to have it again.
sorry, I also meant to say I bought a pair of Skechers go walk arch support trainers. They gave relief from the moment I put them on compared to normal trainers & shoes. x
Thanks for the recommendation, I’ve just ordered some online. Wish I had them here at Centre Parcs with me!
Hope they help x
My husband has never had PMR but suffers from high arches and plantafasciitis so has to wear insoles all the time. I shouldn't think there is a link to PMR. It's just a specific problem of a persons feet and aging.
horrible for you! Do not wear backless shoes or slippers,no flip flops etc. This excercise may be helpful.. stand shoeless on a step or curb or bottom step of stairs so heels are over the edge (front of feet is supporting you) hold on so don’t fall please. Feel stretch under feet and heels,then gently bend your knees and the stretch subtlety alters. Just a few minutes at a time,gently so don’t make things worse! Best wishes!
I had drug induced lupus about 15 years ago and plantar fasciitis. Having limped into the Cosyfeet shop in Street Somerset I was able to try their excellent SmartGel plantar fasciitis insoles and they were so comfortable that I wore them out of the shop . Since then I have bought enough for my slippers and boots and have never had any more problems..unless I walk barefoot for any length of time. The insoles last for many years and are washable. The shop has a delivery service.
Do hope you find some help with your foot pain.
try gel heel inserts from superdrug - worked for me
Thank you all for your input! I saw my physio, and I have an unusual tear to my plantar fascia. The attachment under my heel is torn, luckily not completely. Probably caused by long term steroids. It's taped, and I need to keep up with the ball-rolling exercise. I've also ordered some heel cups to take the pressure off my heels. And only to wear proper supporting trainers.
Yet another side effect of prednisone
I was diagnosed with Plantar fasciitis three years ago. In desperation I turned to YouTube, I followed the instructions on how to alleviate the pain - it worked. Perhaps you should investigate!
I’ve been suffering with plantar fasciitis on and off for over a year. Have had PMR/inflammatory arthritis for 7.5 years. I feel the two are connected. The first time it came from walking around in flat slippers too much through covid! Now it appears for no reason that I can work out. I’ve tried the ball, the frozen bottle, stretches, heel dips etc I’ve got shoe inserts and now I rarely wear anything other than comfy trainers. I’ve got an excruciating right heel at the moment so off to see my podiatrist this morning. It always settles in the end but this is a particularly painful episode. I’ll discuss a steroid injection today as that might finally help. I feel my PMR doesn’t give my body a chance to heal properly anymore or it’s a very slow process. I dog walk daily, do Pilates twice weekly and have been getting back into golf until a few niggles has stopped me again 😡 but foot pain has to be one of the worst!!
I feel for you! It's so debilitating. I hope you get some relief today.
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