Plantar Fasciitis

[Denny]

Originally Posted by frazod

That cortisone shot in the heel hurts like bitch, but it sure does work.

My PF started a few years ago. Once you get it, it never really disappears altogether. You manage it. Mine was so bad that I literally couldn't walk.

Tried cortisone shots in the heels. After the pain from the injection subsided, I felt OK for about a week - then it was back just as bad as ever. So I personally don't recommend it, although your mileage may vary. Just remember that your heel has the thickest skin anywhere on your body and it takes a very big, very sharp needle with a lot of force behind it to get thru. Not a good experience.

Stretching as others have described every morning before I get out of bed does a LOT of good. The other thing is CONSTANT support for your feet at all times. Seriously, except when I'm taking a shower, I'm wearing shoes. It doesn't have to be a $500 specially-made pair. I'm in the Air Force and my combat boots do a good job - high arch and my heel is well-cupped. Any shoe that does that works great for me.

[ClearmontChief]

Originally Posted by Denny

My PF started a few years ago. Once you get it, it never really disappears altogether. You manage it. Mine was so bad that I literally couldn't walk.

Tried cortisone shots in the heels. After the pain from the injection subsided, I felt OK for about a week - then it was back just as bad as ever. So I personally don't recommend it, although your mileage may vary. Just remember that your heel has the thickest skin anywhere on your body and it takes a very big, very sharp needle with a lot of force behind it to get thru. Not a good experience.

Stretching as others have described every morning before I get out of bed does a LOT of good. The other thing is CONSTANT support for your feet at all times. Seriously, except when I'm taking a shower, I'm wearing shoes. It doesn't have to be a $500 specially-made pair. I'm in the Air Force and my combat boots do a good job - high arch and my heel is well-cupped. Any shoe that does that works great for me.

Air Force! I'm AF Retired. Make sure it's documented in your service medical record. When you are preparing to retire, you have the opportunity to claim medical issues you've had during active duty to get issues "service connected". Then, if you have enough "service connected" issues you are given a disability rating. Every little thing makes a difference. They have 'fuzzy math', I've got 8 10% Disability issues, and 3 other things 'service connected' but a zero rating (for now, they service connect it and rating can increase if worsens) for a total of 50% disability. Sleep Apnea is an automatic 50% disability unless surgically corrected.

Here's the key, once you hit 50% disability, it's an additional payday, VA provided 'career retraining' educational benefits, and so on.

[Denny]

Originally Posted by ClearmontChief

Air Force! I'm AF Retired. Make sure it's documented in your service medical record. When you are preparing to retire, you have the opportunity to claim medical issues you've had during active duty to get issues "service connected". Then, if you have enough "service connected" issues you are given a disability rating. Every little thing makes a difference. They have 'fuzzy math', I've got 8 10% Disability issues, and 3 other things 'service connected' but a zero rating (for now, they service connect it and rating can increase if worsens) for a total of 50% disability. Sleep Apnea is an automatic 50% disability unless surgically corrected.

Here's the key, once you hit 50% disability, it's an additional payday, VA provided 'career retraining' educational benefits, and so on.

Oh, it's all in the records. Plantar Fascitiis, arthritic knees, deep vein thrombosis, sleep anpea, hypertension, stress, etc, etc. 30 years of service can be a bitch. I'm waiting on a rendering from the medical board (going on 12 months now) before I'm medically retired. I'm going for a 70% disability.