Adventures beyond time

Adventures beyond time

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

12 Days to Go, Plantar Faciitis, Help!

About a month ago my heel hurt a bit. When I am training, things always hurt a bit. I didn't think much of it. 
With Donna and my pack
My new boots arrived...identical to the ones I wore in September so I knew they would fit well and be comfortable. The old ones have almost the 500-mile limit on them and I wanted new.
Turtles are good luck and I welcomed him
We did a 6-mile training walk. My heel hurt a lot! I took several days off and just did stretching and icing and took ibuprofen for 10 days. No cure.

Last Thursday I went to a podiatrist. He shot my foot with steroids and said "Go out and train." Being a good patient, I walked 7 miles on Friday with my backpack...although I did lighten it to 12 pounds.
Pygmy rattler on the trail
Lunch in Suwannee was fun after the hike
It was actually a very fun walk. Check more photos of the Adventure Bridge near the end. Russ and I opted to not try it with our packs on and back-tracked out to the road. When I got home, I cancelled our dinner plans took ibuprofen, and went to bed. The longest I've walked since Friday is 2 miles.
Jane shows off the adventure part of the hike
Today I went to a physical therapy/massage/acupuncture/Chinese herbal medicine center. I'm going back. They seemed to have the idea and maybe they can help me heal faster. Afterwards, I went to the Fitness Center and worked out briefly on the elliptical trainer, so as not to pound on my heel. Much harder than walking, so probably good for me. Tomorrow I'll go to yoga, another brief elliptical workout, and another massage.

Any advice. Help!

2 comments:

ksam said...

Oh how I know this pain! It's my left foot this time. It was both of them when I arrived in Villa Franca del Bierzo. Massage. Someone else or yourself. Actually lately I've been checking on Google and Pintrest for any and all advice myself. So, be thinking of you and saying one for you with each twingey step I take. Buen Camino.

peg's prague blog said...

We leave in a few days now and I have hope that it will be manageable. I got lots of advice from my Facebook post on the American Pilgrims on the Camino page. I think you are right... massage has really helped. My next favorite tool is "toe scrunching." A doctor/hiker/friend said place a towel or pillowcase on the floor and use your toes to scrunch it up under your arch. I can almost feel myself healing, but it is intense and I can only do about 5 repeats. Other tools: Chinese herbal patch, stretches, walking less, overnight brace to stretch the fascia while I sleep. I am much better, but I'm not yet walking 12 miles a day, so we'll see. Hope you are doing okay.