Heel Pain

[Eve]

Trying to work out what I've done if anyone has any suggestions? It came on over the weekend, is really painful and seems to be getting worse.

The pain is at the back of my left heel towards the top of the bony bit and is very tender to the touch and made worse by pressure on my heel (standing, walking or anything pressing on it and when flexing my foot up or to the right). It's down the middle of the bony bit and to the right hand side but the tenderness when pressed only seems to be only the hard bony bit.

Only on the one side whereas usually my RA pain goes for both sides.

Can thing of anything I've done to really injure it badly. Jolting it from the bottom would be the most obvious trying to on and off buses, especially when they haven't lowered the bus down.

I can flex my toes fine and it's actually "easier" to walk on my forefoot although that is painful from the RA so not really a solution.

I've had plantar fasciitis before which was different but that but pain in a different place? Have tried gentle stretching exercises which helped when I had Plantar Fasciitis previously but hasn't helped with this.

Any suggestions welcome as it's a pain walking as it is without this. Thanks for any help.

[Hopkirk]

Do you walk around without shoes on a hard floor a lot?

[Eve]

Hi, no I am very rarely barefoot, always wear slippers when I'm in the house and always shoes when out of the house. Never wear heels nowadays, haven't done for a long time due to the RA.

[Elina]

Eve, can I ask, do you change in to different types of shoe throughout your day?

[Eve]

Hi, no, I only have a couple of pairs of shoes which are comfortable enough to wear (due to the RA though, not the recent heel pain) at the moment, currently using some soft Sketchers ones which cushion the bottom of my feet. So go from slippers when I get up to one pair of shoes for the day out to slippers when back in. I've not been out for ages so no need for "nicer" shoes.

[Elina]

Eve, it may be you need a 'slight' heel always under foot. Do your other shoes have a slight heel? We use different muscles changing from completely flat to anything different.

[Buenchico]

Well I've been running my fingers down where you seem to have described and I seem to find that I'm very close to my Achilles tendon. So that suggests Achilles tendonitis to me. Further, I note that the NHS website says " . . . It can also be associated with rheumatoid arthritis":
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Tendonitis/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

Treatments here:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Tendonitis/Pages/Treatment.aspx

[tonyav]

Eve, have you tried those memory foam insoles.

[granny grump]

I have plantar faciitis and it does take quite some time to go away. I wear sponge inserts in the affected heel - have to be very careful not wear mules but shoes with plenty of sponginess in the soles plus the stretching exercises recommended by my physio It may be a recurrence but the pain may be displaced. It may be helpful to use a stick for a while to take the weight off that foot. Hope it feels better soon

[Elina]

She can't remember tony ;0) ...sorry .... I feel your pain Eve having suffered Plantar Fascilitis! x

[tonyav]

She can't remember tony ;0) ...sorry ....


LOL, oi pack that in.

[Elina]

Awight ....I apologise.

[Eve]

Haha, I had to think about that one :)

I've tried all sorts, memory foam, extra comfort... Have had some orthotics as have bursitis and edema in my feet from the RA. Orthotics guy I saw recently said orthotics can cause more pain in RA and although I have a sagging arch I don't have flat feet so it was a no go - this is all the RA stuff though, not since the heel pain.

I already use a walking stick, have two but usually just use the one as it's a nightmare to try and do stuff with two (not walking obviously but in shops and such). It has helped take some of the weight off.

I was wondering, having googled, Chris. I remember the plantar fasciitis pain I had last time not being where I thought it would have been back then. It was more in my feet though you're right, could still be it. Have been trying some of the stretching exercises I did back then just in case though. Just found my old thread, 2011, doesn't seem like that long ago! I found a pair of trainers with the curved sole (toners?) a godsend for it but laces are too tight on the top of my feet now but could see if I could find something similar without such a firm top & laces.

I don't think my feet could copy with any heels. Have been out looking for some more shoes but found nothing was a comfortable and un-aggravating to my feet as the ones I'm wearing at the moment. Podiatry/orthotics want something more supportive but anything too stiff a material, needs bending to get on or fasten or which irritates the top of my foot just isn't comfortable.

I honestly do welcome your suggestions, don't want it to sound all "done all this already", only due to existing stuff and no reflection on your answers which I'm really grateful for, and you made me laugh :)

[Eve]

Argh, sorry, was trying to reply to different people and got mixed up, looks like it could be plantar fasciitis again or Achilles tendons. I always remember my ballet teacher moaning I had tight ones, way back in the day! I have fibromyalgia too Chris, between that and the RA they seem to cause all kinds of things :(

I am heading to bed now as really tired and an early start but will look back in tomorrow. Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it x

[Sqad]

Almost certainly Plantar fasciitis.
You are between a " rock and a hard place" it would seem.
You are having treatment for one inflammatory disorder and have developed another inflammatory disorder which has the same treatment.
I think that you may have to monitor the situatio

[Sqad]

Sorry..pressed the wrong knob.

monitor the situation, rest if possible and wait until it goes away.....as it will.

[emmie]

sqad, unlike you to press the wrong knob, or is that too naughty

however i have same, don't know what's going on, feel virtually flat to the floor, get these stinging, electrical sensations in back of heels and underneath. both heels feels hard. back to podiatry friday.

[Sqad]

emmie.......yes....LOL......not my area.....;-)

[Eve]

Thanks Sqad, seems so. Will keep on with the exercises like I did last time for now and see how it goes. I was quite lucky last time in getting it to settle down compared to what some people have mentioned on here.

Only on a low dose of methotrexate (and no anti-inflammatories :() but now on a biologic too now, first infusion a couple of weeks ago so fingers crossed it will start to kick in soon, heard very good things about it.

If you look in, not got verdict from GP on my ECG, assume the result is back from the hospital and with them now as I got a call today to book in for an echo which is in a few weeks. It didn't sound like there was an issue with the ECG but not sure now but maybe they are just making absolutely sure.