Plantar fascia tear, due to long-term prednisone use?

[HelenDaisy]

Following sudden and agonising heel pain on Monday morning, I've seen my physio. He says it's an unusual injury, but likely due to long-term steroids. I have a tear to my plantar fascia, where it inserts under the heel. He strapped it and suggested heel cups to lift my heel (Amazon) and only supportive trainers while it heals. Ice won't help as there's no blood supply there, just to use the ball under my arch to mobilise the area. I can do anything I want, no need to rest unless the pain stops me. (No more dog walks for a while I think.)

I am so fed up with this, just one thing after another. But I've also had cancer, so it could be worse! Trying to stay as upbeat as possible (I'm finally on 4mg after 4 1/2 years.)

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pred MAY result in rather fragile tendons but I think there is a great deal of variation to be seen, I have had achilles and peroneal tendon problems but they can also happen anyway.

I have to say, I do find the UK very dilatory in managing such things and I think it often makes them worse or at least take longer to heal. Here you would almost certainly have been offered a boot for immobilisation in the acute phase. Strapping isn't as good - and as soon as you shower it won't work as well.

sportdoctorlondon.com/plant...

[SheffieldJane]

Ouch! Poor you, it sounds agonising. I wonder if Norwegian walking poles would help you? They look good and offer great support - if you have a good little dog.

[HelenDaisy in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you, but for now hubby will be taking her out. I do have poles and that's a good idea for when I'm a bit better.

Here's Mabel, who cheers me up every day!

[SheffieldJane]

Awww! Perfect little dog.

[PMRnewbie2017]

Heel padding with a hole cut out in the area of the heel bone where the tendons insert is helpful. If you find having padding on your foot long term is annoying it is possible to make insoles with the modification for your trainers. You need a cooperative chiropodist or podiatrist.

[Stills]

I use foam powder puffs from B**ts under my heels, washable, breathable, cheap so able to insert in all the shoes I’m still able to wear after a severe grade 3 rupture of my gastrocnemius and soleus during covid 2020 and therefore no treatment. I also use them to cushion corns and bunions.

PS: I took steroids for Stills aged 17-23ish now 61

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Stills]

There was a "mystery disease" article on a German medical programme the other day - Morbus Still as they call it there!

[Stills in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting, where do I search for the link?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Stills]

Oh golly - not sure where to find it or even if it is one of the programmes they put up. Will have a look later - they made quite a meal of the diagnosis though!

[whitefishbay]

I have had plantar faciitis and it was not due to pred but my feet. Get a strauusberg sock to wear at night. That cured it for me (had pf for a year in both feet). Good luck.

[tangocharlie]

I'm a bit cyncial tbh every time a doctor or physio says what I've got is down to long-term steroids, that's just a supposition on their part. Like at the moment I have back problems and they tell me it's down to muscles and ligaments etc being eroded. But if it all worked perfectly fine in December I can't believe they suddenly gave up the ghost om January, somethng prooked inflammation of some kind. The way I see it is that things worked perfectly well with the steroids, so underlying inflammation must be the problem, not eroded body parts. As in so many times times in the last 10 years I'm banging my head against a brick wall with their pre-conceived ideas and refusal to listen to me. I just want to try a steroid injection in my back, there's no harm in trying, yet I'm getting crap like I'm already on too many steroids. Before I was diagnosed I just kept being told I was unfit and needed to exercise more yet when I got steroids, voila, up and moving again and all sorted in 24 hours. When I had plantar fasciitis, nothing they suggested like exercises and splints and custom made insoles worked until my GP gave me steroid injections in my heels, and again, voila. I hope what they suggest works for you but if not keep seeking solutions

[HelenDaisy in reply to tangocharlie]

I called my GP...I've got a physio appt for....NEXT WEDNESDAY! Pretty poor when I'm having difficulty even walking. I can't bear the thought of A and E, but they give you no choice.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

They can't say that to me - I had the back stuff years before pred, PMR just made it worse. Christian also appreciates that steroid injections are not a no-no with oral pred and actually SAVE on oral pred. It is the pain kady who won't do them as I am on anticoagulation drugs and I might bleed. The cardiologists won't let me stop them even for a day for procedures ...