Heel pain

April 29, 2002

Yes. This was my first symptom of PA. Arch support is the key. My doctor

also made a splint for that foot to use when I was resting. It kept my foot

at a 90 angle to my leg. I would advise seeing a podiatrist. Mine was the

one who diagnosed the PA and sent me to a rheumy--but I like him so much

better than the rheumy!!!!!

Ks Di

[ ] Heel Pain

I remember at one time, seeing a thread about pain in the heels. If

anyone who has had this problem, could post some info, I would really

appreciate it. I feel like someone has driven a huge spike in my left heel

and it is unrelenting in the pain.

My rheumie wants me to have a radioactive bone scan on the foot to rule

out a fracture.

Am I dreaming, or did someone once describe this as plantar facsitis (not

sure of spelling on this one!)?

in Poulsbo, Wa.

April 29, 2002

I second that! My podiatrist made the initial diagnosis on my PA too

when I was having strange foot problems. I finally went back after

years of ineffective treatment from my rheumatologist. And I really

like my podiatrist!

-Meghan

> Yes. This was my first symptom of PA. Arch support is the key.

My doctor

> also made a splint for that foot to use when I was resting. It

kept my foot

> at a 90 angle to my leg. I would advise seeing a podiatrist. Mine

was the

> one who diagnosed the PA and sent me to a rheumy--but I like him so

much

> better than the rheumy!!!!!

> Ks Di

> [ ] Heel Pain

>

> I remember at one time, seeing a thread about pain in the heels.

If

> anyone who has had this problem, could post some info, I would

really

> appreciate it. I feel like someone has driven a huge spike in my

left heel

> and it is unrelenting in the pain.

>

> My rheumie wants me to have a radioactive bone scan on the foot

to rule

> out a fracture.

>

> Am I dreaming, or did someone once describe this as plantar

facsitis (not

> sure of spelling on this one!)?

>

> in Poulsbo, Wa.

>

April 29, 2002

Hi ,

When it comes to your feet, a podiatrist is the way to go. As I said

earlier, mine even did the initial dx for PA. The foot is an amazing

appendage! There are SO many joints there! But when it goes wrong,

owie!

I'm not sure what a radioactive bone scan is. Is that an x-ray?

When it comes to PA and foot pain it is a good idea to get an x-ray

to rule out bone spurs, fractures, bone absorption, joint

deterioration, joint impaction etc. I'm 30 yrs old and have had all

of that (minus bone spurs), all of it due to the arthritis.

After they rule that out, the soft tissue possibilities are plantar

fasciatis, tendonitis and all kinds of other things. Depending on

what they're looking for, they may want to do an MRI (magnetic image

resonance) to look at the soft tissue.

I know you're hoping we can help diagnose, but you really have to

someone trained take a look at it. Do let us know how it goes though!

A lot of us have foot problems, so you have our sympathies!

-Meghan

> I remember at one time, seeing a thread about pain in the heels.

If anyone who has had this problem, could post some info, I would

really appreciate it. I feel like someone has driven a huge spike in

my left heel and it is unrelenting in the pain.

>

> My rheumie wants me to have a radioactive bone scan on the foot to

rule out a fracture.

>

> Am I dreaming, or did someone once describe this as plantar

facsitis (not sure of spelling on this one!)?

>

> in Poulsbo, Wa.

>

May 8, 2002

in Poulsboro,

I had excruciating pain in both of my heels for about 2 years. I

finally went to a Podiatrist and was diagnosed with heel spurs (I don't

know if the correct term is plantar facsitis). He did therapy,

ultrasound and wrapped it tightly. He did not believe in surgery. He

described the bottom of the foot and arch as being like a bow (like in

bow and arrow), and every time I stepped down I irritated the tissue.

He said the bone spur (x-rays were taken) was not what was giving me the

pain, but the loose, irritated tissue. I would wake up in the morning

and put my foot down an scream and walk on the side of my foot. Not a

good idea. Anyway, I stayed with the therapy for about 4 months and one

morning, like a miracle, the pain was gone. I went without pain for

about 4 years then whammo back it came. The old Podiatrist I went to

retired and I found a new one, which I like much better.

I saw him, told him my history and he took x-rays and said the same as

the other Dr. BUT the only thing he said was surgery would take care of

it and the pain would not come back. He also found bone spurs in both

of my big toes because they were both starting to make a left hand turn

and a right hand turn and was very uncomfortable in closed shoes.

To make a long story short. I had the surgeries on both toes and heels

and it was a miracle. I would do it again and suggest it to anyone who

asks. I can now wear closed in shoes. It was an easy surgery. It hurt

pretty badly for about a week and in a wheelchair for a week, but I was

able to walk with surgical shoes and a cane after that. Recovery time

was about 4 months because I chose to have both feet done at one time.

I figured if the first one was not pleasant I wouldn't go back for the

second one. For me it really was a piece of cake.

Angera

June 29, 2002

I have had heel pain which went away with antibiotic treatment. My first clue

that it may be related to Lyme/Babesia/other TBD was that it was bilateral,

pain in both heels started at the same time and went away at the same time.

I also changed the kind of shoes I wore. Whether that was a factor in relief

of the pain I can't say.

Some people get relief with nsaid.

Martha A.

June 29, 2002

In a message dated 6/29/2002 6:26:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

peacefind@... writes:

> Anyone else have heel pain? Is this fairly unique to lyme or is it

> general for many illnesses.

>

Hi Kell,

I have been experiencing horrible " left " heel pain for several months

now.Sometimes I can't even stand on it . Its very painful. Must be another

Lovely Lyme thing !

June 29, 2002

In a message dated 06/29/2002 10:27:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

BearyPrety@... writes:

> > Anyone else have heel pain? Is this fairly unique to lyme or is it

> > general for many illnesses.

> >

>

> Hi Kell,

> I have been experiencing horrible " left " heel pain for several months

> now.Sometimes I can't even stand on it . Its very painful. Must be another

> Lovely Lyme thing !

>

Heel pain is neither unique to lyme disease nor other illnesses in general.

The two most common causes of heel pain are plantar fasciitis and Bone spur

syndrome, of which plantar fasciitis is the most common cause. Even with a

bone spur present the fasciitis is usually the cause of the pain, and not the

bone spur. Meaning in most cases treating the fasciitis will remove the pain

even if a spur is present. The spur is an incidental finding in such cases.

Both are independent conditions not related to other ilnesses, and are the

result of improper foot mechanics.

There are other less common causes of heel pain, but the above will encompass

most the cases. See a Podiatrist or orthopedist for evaluation and

treatment. However, orthopods are more prone to go after the spur, then to

correct the faulty foot mechanics causing the problem. I would say see a

podiatrist first for a more full evaluation and treatment options. Dont

consider it a lyme related condition and go along suffering. Heel pain can

become debilitating. I've never seen a case of heel pain from lyme. 98% of

the time its fasciitis.

DrSkip2

June 30, 2002

Yes, I had heel pain but both feet were swelled at the time. After many

months of treatment IV Rocephin I noticed I did not have the pain anymore.

I'm not sure if the pain was related to Lyme and other tick borne diseases

or not. But I am glad it is gone. Maybe check with a foot doc or your Lyme

doc.

Jeri in IN USA We can do it together!

_________________________________________________________________

MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

June 30, 2002

Hi...

I have had heel pain off & on for several years while being treated for Lyme &

all the co-infections. As with any symptom, you are right not to always

assume everything is from Lyme; so it can be a good idea to have it checked

to make sure there is not another problem.

About 12 years ago when my son was first diagnosed with Lyme, heel pain was

one of his major complaints. At that time our Dr. had never heard of that

complaint before...by the time we went for his next visit three weeks later,

the Dr. had recorded the same complaint from several other patients. The

podiatrist found nothing wrong...the heel pain was definitely caused by Lyme,

etc.

But, it is certainly a good idea to have it checked out. It's too easy to

become complacent & just blame everything on Lyme...it is important not to

overlook something that could be caused by something else or is treatable.

Take care

Deb

June 30, 2002

Kell-

Heel pain is EXTREMELY common with lyme. I was sooo bad, I could not stand to

make dinner back when I was 1st being treated. My husband was just as bad and

my mom/dad/step-mom, best friend, her family, etc, etc. ALL have complained

at one time or another with this. There is various forms, though. I had the

heel pain but what was worse for me was the ball of my foot pain....WOW!! It

was so bad and lasted about 1yr. AFTER I started treatment. Most people that

don't know they have lyme are diagnosed with heel spurs (like my mom). My dad

was dxd with shoulder spurs and was operated on. Both my parents had both

knees replaced too amongst many other symptoms.

Long term abx treatment will eradicate this problem IF it is lyme.

sue in nj

sue massie

June 30, 2002

In a message dated 06/30/2002 5:25:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

Cbreeze7711@... writes:

> But, it is certainly a good idea to have it checked out. It's too easy to

> become complacent & just blame everything on Lyme...it is important not to

> overlook something that could be caused by something else or is treatable.

>

> Take care

> Deb

>

Thats my point, well said Deb. Lyme is known to cause arthritic problems.

Several forms of arthritis are associated with pain in the heels. So it is

possible.

DrSkip2

June 30, 2002

In a message dated 06/30/2002 8:31:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

Ssadlermas@... writes:

> I had the

> heel pain but what was worse for me was the ball of my foot pain....WOW!!

> It

> was so bad and lasted about 1yr. AFTER I started treatment. Most people

> that

> don't know they have lyme are diagnosed with heel spurs (like my mom

The ball of the foot is made up of five joints that compose the base of the

toes, and is a major weight bearing area of the foot. Since they are joints

there in the " ball of the foot " , and since lyme is known to cause arthritis,

makes sense. And once inflammed, for any reason, due to the weight bearing

aspect, can be very painful. A podiatrist may not be able to cure this if

lyme related, but should of been able to balance pad your foot and give you

some relief. Too bad they were not able to.

Bone spurs in the heel are very common and quite often found as an

incidental findings on foot x-rays, with no symptoms. Many people have them

with NO pain, and many have excruciating heel pain with NO spurs. THen you

have severe heel pain with spurs. Heel spurs form from mechanical stress of

the fascia pulling on the bottom of the heel bone (calcaneus). Over time

reactive bone growth forms the spur. The same thing that causes the spur to

form causes heel pain...the pulling on the fascia. (in an earlier post i

mentioned that fasciits is due to a mechanical imbalance of the foot). To

and to the misery, you can also inflame the bursa in this area, addign

bursitis to the problem.

With heel pain and spurs, i never recommend removal of the spur first. Treat

the pain first. Most times the pain will go away and you can leave the spur

alone. I have seem too many people who have had the spurs removed, only to

have the heel pain back in 2 months. Many articles in med. literature

support this happening now. Years back the spur was blamed for the pain, now

we know it is a result of the same forces that cause the pain. This is

different then spurs in shoulders, etc.

DrSkip2

July 2, 2002

The information on foot pain and heel pain is a shocking surpirse to me...just

goes to show you learn something new every day.

In 1981 I had two very expensive foot surgeries on both feet. It was very

expensive surgery for the time, and the pain was so incredible I could not wear

any type of shoe comfortably, and going barefoot was impossible.

I won't go into all the details, but the feeling at the time was that my foot

problems were caused by my teen-age vanity...trying to wear shoes that were too

small, wearing 3-inch heels (or higher) all the time...I couldn't walk

flat-footed because of back problems...and wearing the fashionable (at the time)

VERY pointed shoes. Also for wearing shoes that weren't all-leather, and wearing

strapped shoes and sandles instead of closed shoes that offer more foot support

and cushioning.

What Dr. Skip says below makes sense to me, because the feet take so much abuse.

Back problems and arthritis, which I have endured since I was 12 or so, also

alter the way you balance your weight on your feet. So, that could contribute to

a gait that is not friendly to the feet, and an unnatural stance.

But what Sue said really surprised me. Is there really a connection with foot

problems and undiagnosed Lyme?

From: DrSkip2@...

n a message dated 06/30/2002 8:31:44 PM Eastern Daylight

Time,

Ssadlermas@... writes:

> I had the

> heel pain but what was worse for me was the ball of my

foot pain....WOW!!

> It

> was so bad and lasted about 1yr. AFTER I started

treatment. Most people

> that

> don't know they have lyme are diagnosed with heel spurs

(like my mom

The ball of the foot is made up of five joints that compose

the base of the

toes, and is a major weight bearing area of the foot. Since

they are joints

there in the " ball of the foot " , and since lyme is known to

cause arthritis,

makes sense. And once inflammed, for any reason, due to

the weight bearing

aspect, can be very painful. A podiatrist may not be able

to cure this if

lyme related, but should of been able to balance pad your

foot and give you

some relief. Too bad they were not able to.

Bone spurs in the heel are very common and quite often

found as an

incidental findings on foot x-rays, with no symptoms. Many

people have them

with NO pain, and many have excruciating heel pain with NO

spurs. THen you

have severe heel pain with spurs. Heel spurs form from

mechanical stress of

the fascia pulling on the bottom of the heel bone

(calcaneus). Over time

reactive bone growth forms the spur. The same thing that

causes the spur to

form causes heel pain...the pulling on the fascia. (in an

earlier post i

mentioned that fasciits is due to a mechanical imbalance of

the foot). To

and to the misery, you can also inflame the bursa in this

area, addign

bursitis to the problem.

With heel pain and spurs, i never recommend removal of the

spur first. Treat

the pain first. Most times the pain will go away and you

can leave the spur

alone. I have seem too many people who have had the spurs

removed, only to

have the heel pain back in 2 months. Many articles in med.

literature

support this happening now. Years back the spur was blamed

for the pain, now

we know it is a result of the same forces that cause the

pain. This is

different then spurs in shoulders, etc.

DrSkip2

TOIL for Lyme

T = Teach tolerance

0 = Overcome ignorance

I = Initiate insurance reform

L = Labor for Lyme literacy

---------------------------------

July 2, 2002

In a message dated 7/2/02 9:29:57 AM, toil_for_lyme@... writes:

<< But what Sue said really surprised me. Is there really a connection with

foot problems and undiagnosed Lyme? >>

I will GUARANTEE it. I have personally experienced this, my husband, my 5

kids, my mom, dad, step-mom, best friend and lyme guru, her husband, her 3

kids, my 4 other neighbors ALL tested positive and treated for lyme, a

consensus of the over 7,000 people that have personally written me since

1998....should I go on?

You can't read about lyme in a text and say " THAT is lyme " . When you hear and

experience the same thing over and over and over again.....that to me is

science.

I will also say that MS is lyme, so is Lou Gehrig's (ALS), fibromyalgia, CFS,

misdiagnosed lupus, RA, and so forth. Call me crazy... argue with me that

" Everything is not lyme " . I will agree, EVERYTHING is not lyme, but lyme left

untreated will result in the body breaking down and developing into lung

cancer (father-in-law as well as many, many cases), breast cancer, fibroid

tumors, prostate cancer, etc.

I don 't mind being an island. There are MILLIONS of people that are

suffering with lyme disease, many don't know what it is YET.

The truth will prevail and we will all surely understand this one day. The

tides are turning and we are on the dawn of it.

sue in nj

sue massie

July 2, 2002

So sorry to hear of your problems, Rose! Foot pain was one of my

most uncomfortable symptoms prior to treatment. I found the

Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health website, and their lyme disease

page lists painful feet as one of the symptoms of lyme. I think that

is what finally convinced me to find a lyme doctor. That, and other

symptoms plus a friend with lyme who was convinced I had lyme!

> ---------------------------------

>

July 2, 2002

In a message dated 07/02/2002 9:30:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

toil_for_lyme@... writes:

> I won't go into all the details, but the feeling at the time was that my

> foot problems were caused by my teen-age vanity...trying to wear shoes that

> were too small, wearing 3-inch heels (or higher) all the time...I couldn't

> walk flat-footed because of back problems...and wearing the fashionable (at

> the time) VERY pointed shoes.

Ahhh..now this is another interesting foot problem you bring up! WHen you

wear high heeled shoes for a long period of time, your achilles tendon

tightens up and does not allow your foot to bend the required 10 degrees

upward at the ankle when you walk. This disrupts the gait cycle. Over time

the tightness gets so bad you cant comfortably put your foot flat on the

ground..so to walk in flats is near impossible, bare foot out of the

question. (my mother in law has bedroom slippers with a wedge heel for this

reason).

This tightness also pulls up the back of the leg, back of pelvis and lower

back, throughing the lower back out. This can lead to serious lower back

trouble, and even stress up to the neck. THere are studies out where this can

even cause severe headaches in some people! And since you cant walk

properly, even more stress is thrown to the lower back ad hips. And if one

leg is tighter then the other, this will cause a limp length imbalance,

leading to scoliosis. Many people gooing to chiropractors for back trouble

also need to see a podiatrist to fix the gait, or five minutes walking after

the adjustment, and the back is out again.

The forefoot compresion from heels leads to neuromas and hammer toes,

bunions, to name a few. Plus since you are walking on the ball of the foot

an not back on the heel, the ankle is stressed...many women have chronic

ankle sprains - just watch a women in heels from behind...and see the wobble

that goes on at the ankle.

Heels are the worst thing invented as far as the mechanics of the lower

extremity is concerned. Oddly enough though, and old folk treatment for heel

pain was to wear cowboy boots! This worked by taking the tension off the

fascia by raising the heel, slacking the heel cord. Of course, over time, you

continue to tighten, and problem comes back.

DrSkip2

January 10, 2005

Hi, Kim. That does sound like spondy to me. The dr should do that test -

where they have the child try to touch their toes and they measure how

the back moves - I cannot remember the name of it. They can check the

blood for HLA-B27, but that is not a definite diagnosis, but rather an

indication of possible severity. is negative, but 's Rob is

positive, and both are diagnosed with spondy. had lots of heel

pain, and lower back (actually the pelvic rim)pain, but with the MTX he

is better. If I can remember the name of the test, I will post. I am

sure someone here knows the name. Michele ( 17, pauci & spondy)

Heel Pain

has been complaining of heel pain the past couple days. We went

shopping up by the cities yesterday and, while he seemed to be doing

fine while we were out, when we got home (45 mins drive) he could

hardly walk. The pain seems to be located right at the base of his

heel (where it just starts to curve up into the ankle).

Looking at Dr. Lehman's book the only thing I can come up with is

Spondy...? has lower back pain/stiffness (can't touch his toes)

also but the Rheumy didn't seem too interested in it last month.

is currently diagnosed as " probable " poly JRA and I'm just

wondering if this is correct or if maybe he also has spondy (hoping

not!).

We go back to Mayo on Friday and I will definitely be bringing this

up with the Rheumy....

, mom to (10-poly?)

January 10, 2005

Michele,

tested negative for HLA-B27 back when all this started last

summer but I know, like you said, that doesn't rule it out....

, Mom to (10-poly)

> Hi, Kim. That does sound like spondy to me. The dr should do that

test -

> where they have the child try to touch their toes and they measure

how

> the back moves - I cannot remember the name of it. They can check

the

> blood for HLA-B27, but that is not a definite diagnosis, but rather

an

> indication of possible severity. is negative, but 's Rob

is

> positive, and both are diagnosed with spondy. had lots of heel

> pain, and lower back (actually the pelvic rim)pain, but with the

MTX he

> is better. If I can remember the name of the test, I will post. I am

> sure someone here knows the name. Michele ( 17, pauci &

spondy)

January 10, 2005

Hi ,

Just something to think about... when joints have been acting up

either currently or in the past, the muscles and tendons can get

tight. For instance, my son had had hip involvement. At every

appt., our rheumy asks him to touch his toes -- he can't -- and

we're always supposed to work on that stretch. He said that with

the hip involvement, it is common to have tight hamstrings. I'm

wondering if has had any ankle or knee involvement either now

or in the past and maybe his calves and achilles tendon may be tight

because of that --- that would definitely hurt in the heel. Just a

thought.

Stacia and Hunter 8 systemic, iritis

January 11, 2005

Stacia,

Thanks for the reply! does have knee & ankle involvement but

it's mostly in his right side and the heel pain is on the left side?

He's never been very flexible which I always thought was odd for a

child, especially since I was very flexible at his age. My husband

says that he was never able to touch his toes as a kid.

Interestingly he also had periodic trouble with his knees swelling

when he was a child but his mother insists it was " growing pains.... "

, mom to (10-poly)

>

> Hi ,

>

> Just something to think about... when joints have been acting up

> either currently or in the past, the muscles and tendons can get

> tight. For instance, my son had had hip involvement. At every

> appt., our rheumy asks him to touch his toes -- he can't -- and

> we're always supposed to work on that stretch. He said that with

> the hip involvement, it is common to have tight hamstrings. I'm

> wondering if has had any ankle or knee involvement either now

> or in the past and maybe his calves and achilles tendon may be

tight

> because of that --- that would definitely hurt in the heel. Just

a

> thought.

>

> Stacia and Hunter 8 systemic, iritis

January 11, 2005

Hi guys!

Robbie's recent bout of heel pain appears, based on exam to be a result of

inflammation, tendonitis in the area. He seems to be doing better in that area.

Val

Rob's Mom (7,systemic)

In a message dated 1/10/2005 9:14:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, " staciar101 "

<staciar@...> writes:

>

>Hi ,

>

>Just something to think about... when joints have been acting up

>either currently or in the past, the muscles and tendons can get

>tight. For instance, my son had had hip involvement. At every

>appt., our rheumy asks him to touch his toes -- he can't -- and

>we're always supposed to work on that stretch. He said that with

>the hip involvement, it is common to have tight hamstrings. I'm

>wondering if has had any ankle or knee involvement either now

>or in the past and maybe his calves and achilles tendon may be tight

>because of that --- that would definitely hurt in the heel. Just a

>thought.

>

>Stacia and Hunter 8 systemic, iritis

>

January 11, 2005

When was in physical therapy, the therapist said that it is common

in boys (not just kids with arthritis) to have tight hamstrings and not

being very flexible there. Having the arthritis affect the tendons makes

it worse. The same fluid that covers the joints also works with the

tendons and that too can become inflamed, as in spondy, and that can be

why they are tight and have pain. Michele (17, pauci & spondy)

Re: Heel Pain