Does this sound like plantar fasciitis to you? (Read 1447 times)

So as I was cooling down after my 5 mi run yesterday, I noticed what felt like a temporary cramp in the middle of my right foot. But then it didn't go away and actually got more intense, so that I actually had trouble just walking around the house yesterday. I've been taking advil and icing iit which helps for awhile each time, but it doesn't seem to be improving. I can walk but every step is painful. Obviously I didn't run today but the prospects of (a) time off from running or (b) medical bills are freaking me out so much I can't think about anything else! I'm a barely-insured grad student and running is the only thing that keeps me sane... I've been reading a little about foot injuries and what makes me question whether this is PF is that the pain is localized more on the outside of my midfoot than on my inner arch. And while it did hurt when I got out of bed this morning, it wasn't any more intense than it had been all yesterday. There isn't any visible swelling and there is no especially sharp pain when I touch any one area on my foot. It's just the weight of walking that's hurting it. I don't know if it makes a difference to know, but I have relatively high arches. I don't think I have major gait issues, though. Also, this week I didn't rest the day after my long run like I usually do. I was feeling so good I went for an easy run instead -- could that change alone have caused something like this? I just don't know what to think, but I can't think about anything else. And I have to walk to class in three hours! I'm a mess. So any advice would be so great. Thanks!

Could be peroneal tendinitis too. I too have high arches and have had peroneal tendinitis twice since I've started running. What you are describing sounds like the same thing I had, intense outer (and even under) mid-foot pain when you put weight on it. I took a week or two off and iced it regularly, then eased back into running. Look at the peroneus brevis and longus tendons in these pictures. The brevis attaches to the middle of your outer foot. The longus makes a turn at the outer/mid foot, goes under the foot and connects to the area around your big toe. Also, the tendons attach to the two muscles on your outer leg. These muscles were very sore each time I had the tendonitis.

Could also be cuboid syndrome. Just a thought.

You probably have the answer you need already, but I'll throw in my 2 cents, since I've had recurring plantar fasciitis issues. For me, pf is like a sharp pain in the middle of my heel, so every time I take a step, it hurts, like I'm stepping on a pebble. It's worse first thing in the morning - when I first get out of bed, I swear I can almost feel the tendon snap a little bit. It is also worse when I walk around barefoot -- which I hate, because there is nothing I love more than padding around the house in my thick fleecy socks!!! This sounds different than what you're experiencing though, so I'm not sure what you've got, or if you have pf perhaps you have the pain in a different place. What's annoying to me is the recurrence of the problem. I had it so bad years ago, I had custom orthotics made. Oddly enough, after I had my son, it went away, and is just now starting to come back (5 years later). What I think is interesting is I was starting to get complacent in my shoe buying. I used to be so particular, and would spend $100 on a pair of shoes, because they had to fit my orthotics. In the last 5 years I've gotten lazy and have bought most of my shoes at Target or Fred Meyer (other than my running shoes & hiking boots, of course!), and now I'm having pf problems again. Just goes to show ya... don't scrimp on your shoes, and wear your orthotics!!! (and by the way -- those cheap shoes?? They fall apart in a year. The $100 shoes I bought 7 or 8 years ago, I am still wearing, and they still look great)

I don't think it matters, but I would prefer to give a general description & see if they come up with the same thing that you think is wrong with you. If they come up with something else, you can ask & say "really? I thought it might be X" and you could start a good discussion that way.