The first symptom of heel or foot pain that I remember experiencing was, sharp pains in the heel region of both feet, most acute immediately after getting out of bed in the morning, sometimes this pain was so bad that I had to hobble of grab on to things to help support me getting to the bathroom. I would come to discover, that this is possibly the most typical and common symptom of "plantar fasciitis". This condition got progressively worse, if I walked 2-3 miles, walked 18 holes of golf, worked a trade shows (6-8 hours on my feet) or even did work around the house that required me to be on my feet for a long time, it would sometimes take until the middle of the next day for me to recover enough to feel comfortable and pain free. I attributed this to getting older (about 50 at the time) and the possible onset of arthritis, and thought there was no treatment or cure. One day I saw a television informercial from a well known national chain of foot care stores, they were talking about what I was experiencing. As a traveling salesman I get around quite a bit, so the next time I was in a large city, I looked them up. At this time after a long drive, the first dozen or so steps away from my car were quite painful, usually this would alleviate after a few steps. I parked directly in front of the store, and one of the technicians saw me walk into the store and greeted me with "You seem to be suffering from "plantar fasciitis", we can help you! This was the first time I had even heard of "plantar fasciitis". The technician explained to me that the "plantar fascia" is a band on tough tissue that connects the heel to the toes, and runs the full length of the bottom of the foot. Tears develop in this tissue and cause inflammation or "iitis" this is the origin of the pain, usually most acute in exactly the circumstances I was experiencing. Many people are susceptible to "plantar fasciitis", especially athletes, runners, people who stand for long periods, and people who are overweight. The technician then took a mold of the bottom of my foot, stating that this would allow them to correctly size my foot and recommend the correct size "orthotic". He gave me a brief history of the invention and use of "orthotics", and of course attributed the founder of this chain as the inventor. He took my mold to the back room and returned with 2 different orthotic products, he placed one type in my shoes and asked me to walk across the room. These devices felt as if I was trying to walk with a golf ball in the middle of my foot, this was somewhat uncomfortable, however the relief from pain was immediate. He stated that I should wear these orthotics for at least an hour per day, and increase that time each day, until I was able to wear them all of the time in all of my shoes. He did have a pair that was made from another material and with a somewhat lower rise, that he suggested for later in the day as a break for my feet. I was presented with a bill of over $500.00 for the exam and both pair of orthotics, we compromised, and I purchased the "golf ball" pair for $249.00. That same evening I played golf in my weekly golf league, and was talking to one of my team mates about the orthotics, only to discover that he was well aware of this affliction and in fact had been suffering from it for a couple of years! what I also discovered was that he wore orthitics in his shoes, that he had only paid $24.00 for. We compared his to mine, and found that with the exception of the material they were made of, and a small variation in size, they were identical. Later that evening I got on the Internet and researched the symptoms, causes, treatments and long term prognosis for plantar fasciitis. Treatments range from stretching exercises to surgery, with over 90% of persons afflicted being helped substantially with stretching exercises and orthotics. I also found that there was little difference in recovery using "custom orthotics" vs. "off the shelf" products. Treatment using these methods lasts 2 to 30 months, with the average patient being helped in about 9 months. The next day I returned to the chain store and demanded a refund, the same technician who had helped me the day before and the store manager, went into a prolonged explanation that they were aware of the competing brand which they said were made of inferior materials, which would break down very quickly, and they were not available in as wide an array of sizes. Again we compromised and I ended up with a refund of $197.00. Later that day I went online to DrLeonards.com searched for Phase 4 orthotics, and bought enough for all of my pairs of shoes for $14.95 a pair! Of course you don't need a pair for each pair of shoes, you can switch them from pair to pair. I wore these devices for about 12 - 18 months and then stopped wearing them more than 2 years ago, the heel pain that I had experienced has not returned, I now do the recommended foot exercises before a long walk, or just at random when I think of it, and I know I can always go back to the orthotics if I need to. In that length of time the "off the shelf" orthotics performed just as well as the 1 pair of "custom" orthotics that I was using and showed no sign of deterioration. Note: This is a description of what worked for me, and may not work for you. If you suffer the described symptoms, you should consult your Dr. and follow his or her advise. Resources for more information: DrLeonards.com Healthlink Foot Health Heel That Pain American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons American Academy of Family Physicians To Your Health, Jim Newell |
