Knee and Foot Support Devices

It feels like it’s been months - and it has been. I have what I think is plantar fasciitis that started on both feet in June. Luckily one foot resolved but the other just won’t quit. I’ve been doing PT, ice massage, taping, new shoes, support braces, etc and nothing seems to work. Then to make matters worse about six weeks ago I fell on a very hard sidewalk in DC and landed on my left side. My knee has never been the same and my hip was also affected. The city and park service were notified of the very uneven sidewalk, but that doesn’t help the discomfort. So now I am wearing a knee brace and compression socks and I am going out of my mind. If things don’t finally get better an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon may be necessary. The trouble is is that there was one day this week that I was almost pain free and was walking a lot without incident. Then yesterday I sat too fast and hard on the couch and loosened up whatever is the problem again. I’ve been staying away from Advil but could literally take something almost every day. I tried an herbal heat patch but it smelled so bad I threw the rest away. I’m a big fan of heating pads but that was just awful. And at night I am extremely careful moving my leg and knee. Yesterday I was so tired of the tape and splint on my foot I just removed them all. Too much pressure on the leg causes swelling and having something tight around your leg isn’t a good thing.  Can’t even get a legitimate pair of compression stockings on because I can’t bend my knee and apply too much pressure. But the knee still needs support - both physically and psychologically. It’s all really quite uncomfortable. 

Taping Foot for Plantar Fasciitis

It’s been three months since I came down with what I think is plantar fasciitis. I have tried just about everything from new walking shoes that are supposed to be made specifically for this problem, ice massages, PT stretch exercises, night and day splints, compression socks, etc. Whenever it feels like it might be getting better it starts all over again. My sister in law mentioned that the one thing that worked for her was taping her foot. So I checked on line and found a reasonable looking way of tackling this issue. But I didn’t have tape. Since the idea is to keep the foot immobilized, stretchy tape wouldn’t do. So I found a brand called leukotape that is used over an undercover thin stretch tape that helps protect the skin. Additionally it can be worn for a week. So I tried this method last week by wrapping my foot as best I could. It did offer the support it claimed but there were still occasions of the same pain. It’s also difficult to keep the tape dry while taking showers even with covering the foot with plastic. Plus it can be very slippery which is the last thing I need. Actually the tape dries out quickly when it gets wet. So yesterday the bandage was changed again for another week. I am hoping that keeping the foot stable it might finally help. If only I didn’t fall on the sidewalk a month ago. Now my knee is aching and it had a setback yesterday. It’s really all quite uncomfortable. 

Compression Socks

One of the items that is useful for plantar fasciitis is compression socks. I’ve done just about everything you can do for this condition and maybe after three months it is slowly starting to subside. It may also be that I fell on a sidewalk last week and the pain in my hip and knee is more prominent. It’s just not been a good year for us. Anyway, since my husband now has orthostatic hypotension primarily due to new medications he is taking, compression socks could also work for that. So I ordered three different kinds of socks. He didn’t want any, but since we can wear the same socks I ended up giving him half of what I got - except there was only one pair of the knee high socks that I gave to him. He is usually reluctant to try anything so I am hoping that he will. All sorts of things can go wrong once you get to a certain age. But at least there are so many gadgets and helpful items to make it at least a little easier. I pulled out my knee brace today to wear on our morning walk. It made my knee feel a bit more secure. After two uncomfortable nights I may wear it to bed to prevent any odd knee bending. I’ve been wearing a foot splint at night for the plantar fasciitis. What else is next?

 

Vionic Ballet Flats and Loafers

Since coming down with what I think is plantar fasciitis in June or earlier, my foot has never been the same. And it hurts. I’ve been doing daily exercises specific for this condition via the Hinge Health app that I was already using for low back pain, icing my foot twice a day, wearing a hard splint during the day and a sock splint at night, and researching shoes that might be easier to wear and/or support the foot better. Some days are better than others but it doesn’t feel like this will ever go away. I can’t remember the last time I walked or stood up that I didn’t have to think about it. So I found some ballet flats and loafers on the Vionic website. It’s always tricky to buy shoes on line because you never know how they will fit. But right now I’m not as choosy as I once was. And wearing a size 11 it was always so hard finding shoes to fit. Now it’s so much easier, but they do sell out quickly! Anyway, the shoes arrived and will be replacing the old ones that have virtually no support. I wore the flats to a doctor appointment and they seemed ok. I haven’t tried the loafers yet. At least there are items that are out there to help make the painful situation less so. It started off with both feet and now it is just one. I have no idea why but am not seeing a quick recovery. It can be disappointing. If it continues on at this rate I may eventually seek medical attention. I just don’t feel like it right now. 

Walkhero House Shoes

For no known reason my heels started to hurt when I stood up over a month ago. Luckily the right heel pain subsided but the left heel got worse. When I looked up the cause it sounded like it was plantar fasciitis. So now I am doing daily exercises specific do this condition, icing and massaging the foot with an ice water bottle, wearing a sock splint at night for as long as I can stand it, wearing a fixed immobilizer during the day and keeping my foot up for as long as I can stand it, and trying to find the best walking shoe to absorb the shock of it all. It used to be walking wasn’t a problem but it is now becoming one. My house shoes were getting a bit worn down anyway so I searched for house shoes that might help with this situation and came across WalkHero. They supposedly have arch support and met my requirements of closed box toes and slip ons. Since my foot was really hurting the last few days I finally switched my old shoes to the new shoes. And I think they may make a bit of difference. I did automatically feel the arch support that took the weight off the back of the foot. This is really getting to be a tedious situation because once it starts to feel better it gets worse again. But it also seems a lot of people have the same problem. So I’ll keep up with the routine and hope for the best. I just hope we can continue to walk every day because it’s about the only exciting thing we do. It’s somewhat discouraging. 

Vive Health Soft Night Splint for Plantar Fasciitis

I don’t know how it happened but for over two months my heels started to hurt when I started to walk. The right heel improved but the left heel feels like a knife got stuck in it. Upon researching the issue it sounded like it was plantar fasciitis. And when talking to people it sounds like everyone has had it and that it takes a few months to get better. I also have access to Hinge Health that has a physical therapist available for help and comment. I’ve been using it for over a year for low back pain exercises. It has since been changed to cover plantar fasciitis exercises that I have been faithfully doing, along with icing and wearing a sock splint at night. But the sock splint didn’t help so I tried to find another sturdier type that would keep the foot in the appropriate position. The Vive Health soft night splint arrived and it was HUGE. I attempted to use it during the night and that lasted about five minutes. It looks like the boots people wear after surgery. Granted it it lighter and made from foam, but it is so claustrophobic I almost lose my mind thinking about it. Anything takes getting used to but this device is not one of those items. I decided to try it during the day when I’m sitting on the couch and it is a bit more tolerable, but then it gets overwhelming again. All I know is I don’t know how anyone could stand having their leg trapped in this or any other device twenty four hours a day. It seems like this issue will just take time to heal and/or I will just have to get used to the pain in my foot - along with all of the other irritating things that seem to be accumulating as we get older. 

Superstretch Resistance Bands

I have been using the Hinge Health app for preventative PT exercises for over a year. It is a voluntary part of our health care insurance. With it comes advice from an assigned physical therapist. Most recently I used her for exercises specific to plantar fasciitis. Initially it was geared towards low back pain but has now been tailored to helping with my foot. Some of the exercises require the need for resistance bands. I still had one from several years ago but it was almost worn through. So I ordered another set on Amazon. They come in a set of five strengths. So I use the second out of the heavy duty five. I don’t use them for other than the PT exercises, although they come with instructions. I also have a jump rope style resistance band that is used every evening for just a few minutes. I have to say I really get sick and tired of exercising all the time. We take a two mile morning walk, then this afternoon hinge health bit, and then again around ten PM both my husband and I do exercises related to pelvic floor strengthening due an other medical issues. It feels like Deja vu every day. I’m just hoping the plantar fasciitis pain eventually subsides. At least I have a way to communicate with a PT who can offer some help. 

Plantar Fasciitis Tool Kit

A few weeks ago my heels started to hurt. The right side improved, but the left side continued to have problems. Then I looked up “why would my heels hurt when I stand” and it sounded like plantar fasciitis was the culprit. Since it was both feet I couldn’t recall any particular incident that would have caused it. So I’ve been speaking with the Hinge Health physical therapist who recommended foot exercises, ice bottle massages and a night foot splint using this PT app provided through my health insurance company. I was using it for lower back exercises but started these exercises instead for this problem. Where it was once 100% awful, it is about 90% now. I also ordered a plantar fasciitis toolkit that has several different items you can try to help alleviate the pain. I tried them but don’t find them very helpful. Anything worn tight around my foot is annoying so I’m sticking with a tight sock. The night splint must be working somewhat but I end up removing it after four hours. People who have had this condition say it takes several weeks to months for it to get better. Every one of them says the pain is awful. So I am hoping that my foot continues to improve. I’m still able to walk about two miles a day. Just when you think it’s getting better it starts all over again. I’m not really sure if it’s improving - I may just be adjusting to another painful event over time. I guess time will tell. 

Plantar Fasciitis is Painful

More than a month ago I started to have pain in both of my feet - especially after sitting and then getting up. Finally I googled “why do my heels hurt when I start walking” and plantar fasciitis came up. I have no idea how it started or why. After a while the right heel became “normal” but the left heel feels like a knife stuck in it whenever I stand. We still walk for two miles every day because it is “okay” once you get going. I belong to Hinge health through our health insurance company and have been doing PT exercises for lower back pain for over a year - following a tailored program via the app. They also have PT’s available to message and request guidance. So I contacted my assigned PT and asked if she could recommend a program specific to this issue. She did update my existing program to include three levels of exercise for plantar fasciitis, and sent a link for some additional information. She also suggested using an iced water bottle for foot massage and wearing a splint at night. She has also checked in asking about progress. It seems like this is going to take a long time. I haven’t been to a doctor yet because I don’t want to see a doctor and will continue this approach to see if it may finally make a difference. I probably need to get another pair of walking shoes since they haven’t been changed for over a year.  I’m glad I have this option and I hope that it helps. I Could say there has been small improvement or I am just getting used to it. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Thank goodness it is only one foot.