Heel pain

I’ve honestly never dealt with anything quite like this, and I’m at a loss for what to do.
The issue is with my left heel. The pain usually hits after I’ve been active and things start to cool down. That’s when walking becomes a struggle. It isn't so much the weight-bearing that hurts, but rather the actual moment I take a step with that foot. When I apply pressure, the pain is on the side rather than underneath, so I don't think it's a typical plantar fasciitis issue. My job requires me to be on my feet for 10 hours or more at a time wearing AT&T work boots. I'm basically in them for 50 hours a week. I use custom insoles, so I can't rule out the footwear being the culprit. It’s starting to get really bothersome. Every morning, it takes about ten minutes just to get moving properly.
Who should I go see? Is an X-ray the way to go, or is there another method I should consider?

It could potentially be plantar fasciitis.
Here is some helpful information regarding it:
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Plantar_Fasciitis

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...s/syc-20354846

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/plantar-fasciitis

You could call this thread "A Thorn in Your Side"—that might be more fitting. It really is a beautiful life, isn't it? 😁

Carol Richardson6 said:I’ve honestly never dealt with anything quite like this, and I’m at a loss for what to do.
The issue is with my left heel. The pain usually hits after I’ve been active and things start to cool down. That’s when walking becomes a struggle. It isn't so much the weight-bearing that hurts, but rather the actual moment I take a step with that foot. When I apply pressure, the pain is on the side rather than underneath, so I don't think it's a typical plantar fasciitis issue. My job requires me to be on my feet for 10 hours or more at a time wearing AT&T work boots. I'm basically in them for 50 hours a week. I use custom insoles, so I can't rule out the footwear being the culprit. It’s starting to get really bothersome. Every morning, it takes about ten minutes just to get moving properly.
Who should I go see? Is an X-ray the way to go, or is there another method I should consider?

First, go to a GP and get an X-ray to see if you have a heel spur.
Mine happened because I was severely deficient in Vitamin D and standing for 12 hours straight.
I tried ultrasound and injections, but that was just a total waste of time.

Custom orthotics made specifically from a computer analysis are the way to go. In my case, they put a soft pad under the heel to take the pressure off the bone where the spur is.
Also, do two rounds of shockwave therapy with a heavy-duty machine—the weak ones are useless. You're looking at maybe six sessions at a clinic that actually has decent equipment.
And look ahead; if you're going to be on your feet all day, you need to be wearing those inserts constantly.

Those sneakers with the cushioned heel? Absolute heaven for relieving foot pressure.

Carol Richardson6 said:I’ve honestly never dealt with anything quite like this, and I’m at a loss for what to do.
The issue is with my left heel. The pain usually hits after I’ve been active and things start to cool down. That’s when walking becomes a struggle. It isn't so much the weight-bearing that hurts, but rather the actual moment I take a step with that foot. When I apply pressure, the pain is on the side rather than underneath, so I don't think it's a typical plantar fasciitis issue. My job requires me to be on my feet for 10 hours or more at a time wearing AT&T work boots. I'm basically in them for 50 hours a week. I use custom insoles, so I can't rule out the footwear being the culprit. It’s starting to get really bothersome. Every morning, it takes about ten minutes just to get moving properly.
Who should I go see? Is an X-ray the way to go, or is there another method I should consider?

First, hit up a general practitioner and get an X-ray to see if you're dealing with a heel spur.
Mine happened because I was severely deficient in Vitamin D and spent 12 hours a day standing.
I tried ultrasound and injections, which was a complete waste of time.

Custom orthotics made specifically from a computer analysis are the way to go. In my case, they used a soft insert under the heel to take the pressure off the bone where the spur is.
Also, do two rounds of shockwave therapy with a heavy-duty machine—the weak ones are useless. You'll probably need about six visits to a clinic that actually has enough power in their equipment.
And watch yourself moving forward; if you're going to be on your feet all day, you need to stay in those insoles.

Those sneakers with the gel cushioning in the heel were a total lifesaver for relieving the pressure.

I’ve tried every single remedy under the sun, and honestly, nothing worked. I eventually started asking everyone I knew for advice. It seems like everyone has a story—either they dealt with a plantar fasciitis flare-up themselves or they know someone who did. It’s one of those things where it just comes and goes, sometimes hitting you out of nowhere, sometimes lingering for ages.
My doctor actually told me to stay off asphalt as much as possible. 😁 But there's the problem: I live in the middle of a major US city.
Because of that, I’ve become incredibly picky about footwear; I exclusively wear sneakers with extra cushioning. The moment I feel even a hint of that familiar ache returning, I swap them out for a different pair. Believe me, there are plenty of things much worse than dealing with foot pain. 🙄

And now this one too... the guy who started the thread just vanished... 🤣

For those experiencing something similar to him... because, essentially, he explained that it isn't really his heel that hurts, but rather the inner side (I’ll take a guess, so tell me if I'm right—the area just below that bony protrusion on the inner ankle 🤣 🤣 🤣—since I've explained it so professionally). It’s that sharp pain when you take a step... plus he mentioned having "first step pain" (he said it hits him hardest in the morning right when he gets out of bed)... which is classic for plantar fasciitis .

(Insoles, cushioned shoes, physical therapy, home exercises, and one super effective thing that helps me most—wearing a night splint overnight. The first time I used one, I wore it for six weeks, then did another six weeks on the other foot... at first, it felt incredibly awkward and uncomfortable... but now, whenever the pain flares up, I wear it for about a week.)
(It actually took a couple of years of struggling because everyone insisted it was my Achilles tendon... I'd point to the inner side... an ultrasound technician would run that little wand over my Achilles... I’d say, "But it doesn't hurt there, it doesn't hurt the Achilles, it hurts right here on the inner side toward the sole"... but she wouldn't look at that spot and would just focus on the Achilles again... 🤣 ... we repeated that three times, each time with different movements 🤣 during what was supposed to be an ultrasound scan of the part of my leg that wasn't even hurting. Eventually, I begged for a referral to an orthopedic specialist; the second I described the pain and showed him the location, he immediately identified it as plantar fasciitis. He pressed on a few spots on my foot and... well, I saw stars everywhere 😁... He prescribed physical therapy, night splints, and specific exercises. That solved most of the problem—at least for now, I've been almost pain-free for the last four years.)

I dealt with some pretty gnarly pain for about 7 or 8 months—it eventually just fizzled out on its own after a while. It was my right foot, right around the middle area. Back then, I was running constantly—bad shoes, zero warm-up, just pushing too hard—and playing way too much tennis. I went in for two X-rays and one ultrasound, though by the time I got the scan, things were already starting to settle down. Naturally, I stayed off the track and away from the tennis courts from July 2018 all the way through February 2019. In January 2019, I started using custom orthotics because I have flat feet. Honestly, even the doctor couldn't tell if it was a classic plantar fasciitis situation, but the inflammation was definitely intense. Seriously, watch your footwear—like, MAXIMALLY—and when the pain hits, just stop and figure out what's actually going on. After that, I started having issues with my right hip, which ended up leading to arthroscopy. It’s totally possible it was all connected—the pain, the weird gait, the overexertion...

feralridge3 said:I’ve tried every single remedy under the sun, and honestly, nothing worked. I eventually started asking everyone I knew for advice. It seems like everyone has a story—either they dealt with a plantar fasciitis flare-up themselves or they know someone who did. It’s one of those things where it just comes and goes, sometimes hitting you out of nowhere, sometimes lingering for ages.
My doctor actually told me to stay off asphalt as much as possible. 😁 But there's the problem: I live in the middle of a major US city.
Because of that, I’ve become incredibly picky about footwear; I exclusively wear sneakers with extra cushioning. The moment I feel even a hint of that familiar ache returning, I swap them out for a different pair. Believe me, there are plenty of things much worse than dealing with foot pain. 🙄

My fifth thorn was massive, looking more like a damn rose thorn than anything else. It basically just trashed everything in its path.
When they saw the photo, they actually had to come over and help me get off the table. My knee is still acting up today too—got a nasty bruise that probably happened when I twisted my leg the wrong way.

Los Angeles County only has three machines total that could have possibly fried, and that would be the ones over at the Spa and in Newport, since the unit in Cleveland was already busted back then and would’ve cost a fortune to fix.

I honestly can't wrap my head around how this didn't work for you guys, whether it was some bottom-tier equipment, a technician who clearly had no clue what they were doing, or just whatever specific issue you're dealing with.
They basically told me there’s zero chance of anything working unless I either retire or go under the knife.
I stopped working around New Year's, spent April doing some spa treatments, and I've been good to go ever since.

My uncle actually had two surgeries for a plantar fasciitis issue. He had the first one done, but then it flared right back up about two years later, leading to a second procedure.
I see a lot of people mentioning that it doesn't always have to be painful.
It’s a bit like weather patterns—some days it's a storm, and other days it's perfectly clear.

I dealt with something pretty similar about two years ago, maybe even longer, though I didn't really seek out any professional help for it. What eventually worked for me was just switching over to shoes with more arch support and much better quality soles, because man, it used to
really ache, my entire foot would just throb, especially this sharp, stabbing sensation in my heel that felt way too intense sometimes. Now, I only wear those flat, flimsy spring sneakers when I know I won't be on my feet for very long,
and honestly, most of the issues have cleared up; I haven't had a single flare-up in a few years now.

I'm back, still here, didn't disappear 🙂 just haven't had a moment to check in here. Thanks for all the replies, everyone!!
I wouldn't call it a heel spur; the pain isn't there when I'm standing still, but rather when I take a step, like I mentioned before. It’s pure madness the second I lift my heel off the ground... Someone suggested getting an X-ray. I'll get that done and then figure out my next move. I suspect it might be those damn work boots—they feel like they're made of lead and I'm wearing them all day. But I'd really like a doctor to confirm that so I know which direction to head in. I'm heading to my primary care physician in the next few days to get some guidance..

Carol Richardson6
Have you looked into what plantar fasciitis actually is?
It sounds like you're dealing with the same kind of pain I went through.
I’m not saying you definitely have PF, but it’s certainly one possibility worth considering.
My best advice would be to go see an orthopedic specialist. It took one of them to finally tell me what was actually going on. Before that, I was just bouncing between physical therapists and rheumatologists... getting X-rays, being told everything looks fine, yet my foot felt like it was going to explode every time I took a step.
Maybe read up on PF symptoms and see if they match where and how yours hurts.

Nicholas Davis4 said:Carol Richardson6
Have you looked into what plantar fasciitis actually is?
It sounds like you're dealing with the same kind of pain I went through.
I’m not saying you definitely have PF, but it’s certainly one possibility worth considering.
My best advice would be to go see an orthopedic specialist. It took one of them to finally tell me what was actually going on. Before that, I was just bouncing between physical therapists and rheumatologists... getting X-rays, being told everything looks fine, yet my foot felt like it was going to explode every time I took a step.
Maybe read up on PF symptoms and see if they match where and how yours hurts.

Hey, hi there... Been gone for a while, just haven't had a spare second. Anyway, I finally started dealing with this foot pain a few days ago—it's still killing me, God help me. I went to an orthopedist, though I wasn't thrilled with the visit; the doctor seemed totally indifferent, even though I paid for a private consultation. Regardless, we did an X-ray. No bone spurs, but they suspect fasciitis, so that's the diagnosis. Now I have to figure out the next steps... maybe a physical therapist or some kind of treatment. The pain is brutal. I need to find somewhere to get custom orthotics made.