Made my return to the gym last week after being on the disabled list since June (groin surgery) and a recent bout of plantar fasciitis. I was getting really down feeling like my body was falling apart -- not running for the better part of five months isn't exactly ideal for staying fit -- but felt a little better when Michael's nephew Justin, a personal trainer here in the city, informed me that Eli Manning suffered from the same excruciating foot ailment. (I'm not old, I'm a jock!) So I'm back at the gym, although I should mention that my groin surgery was not successful (somehow I fell into the 2 percent with complications -- but better there than my eye sight, I suppose) AND my heel -- even after an EXTREMELY PAINFUL cortisone shot (that REALLY HURTS!) and mass quantities of anti-inflammatories -- isn't exactly better either. But I decided to give the elliptical machine a try -- I've always preferred the tread mill as it's harder to "cheat," plus you don't look like such an asshole on it -- and so far, so good.Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Walsh, Kenneth (43): Questionable
Made my return to the gym last week after being on the disabled list since June (groin surgery) and a recent bout of plantar fasciitis. I was getting really down feeling like my body was falling apart -- not running for the better part of five months isn't exactly ideal for staying fit -- but felt a little better when Michael's nephew Justin, a personal trainer here in the city, informed me that Eli Manning suffered from the same excruciating foot ailment. (I'm not old, I'm a jock!) So I'm back at the gym, although I should mention that my groin surgery was not successful (somehow I fell into the 2 percent with complications -- but better there than my eye sight, I suppose) AND my heel -- even after an EXTREMELY PAINFUL cortisone shot (that REALLY HURTS!) and mass quantities of anti-inflammatories -- isn't exactly better either. But I decided to give the elliptical machine a try -- I've always preferred the tread mill as it's harder to "cheat," plus you don't look like such an asshole on it -- and so far, so good.
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5 comments:
If you will faithfully do foot-stretching exercises, the plantar fascitis pain will go away. Also, if you're not already, wear shoes with good support, like Rockport or Timberlands. I had horrible pain 10 years ago because of that, made those simple adjustments, and have been pain-free since.
Good luck!
I had plantar faciitis and none of the normal treatments worked. I finally had a minor surgery where they cut it into two pieces around the bone and I've not had any problems with it since.
It really was the easiest and least painful of any of the surgeries I've had. I recommend it highly if you don't respond to the other treatments.
there is only ONE shot worst than the one for plantar fascitis - the one for carpel tunnel! i've had both; i actually screamed with the plantar one because i didn't expect what was about to happen; the doctor's assistants came running because they never heard me do that before; the doctor, of course, was amused...; i was ready for the other heel;
i did get payback; the doctor, who was a runner, had to have it done a year later and all his friends were lined up to give him the shot (his twin brother who is also a podiatrist was first in line!);
I had plantar fascitis for years as a fitness instructor. As Topaz says, definitely stretch your calves, shins, and feet before getting out of bed. You'll need to ice and knead the bottom of your foot after any exercise.
What worked for me: Take an old plastic tennis ball can, fill it about 2/3 with water, cover, and freeze. Wrap frozen can in towel. Roll your affected foot over the can to massage the fascia. It will definitely help.
You're going to get a lot of unsolicited advice on PF, but, for god's sake, follow mine.
I had it some years ago because I'd unknowingly developed all sorts of foot-destroying habits while living in Florida, namely, a lot of running, running barefoot on sand, jumping rope barefoot, and rarely wearing shoes around the house.
Eventually I developed this awful pain just forward of my right heel, and it was at its worst in the morning when I first stepped out of bed. Familiar?
So I went to this jock podiatrist and he fixed me - near miraculously - and he never touched me with a needle or cortisone. He taped up my arch tight for a few days, then he prescribed this boot to wear during sleep that keeps your foot stretched. He also talked me into buying running shoes with better arch support, and out of spending so much time barefoot.
I'm happy to say he fixed it, and it's never returned. I also discovered in the course of this fix that this slight pins & needles sensation that I used to feel sometimes in my arch while running was actually the PF tearing and setting up the injury, and so I now recognize that as an important warning sign.
Follow his advice about running shoes and keeping your shoes on, but also get the boot. The boot was, in my appraisal, the most important thing. I've subsequantly loaned it to friends and they've all been healed.
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