About a year ago I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis after a positive bone scan and have been through many of the treatments discussed on this site:
- heel cups, taping and orthotics
- injections in the heel, ultrasound with electrostimulation
- casts (one last fall, one this spring followed by a velcro boot for a total of almost 4 months)
- physical therapy with trigger point therapy and message
- bone scan (positive for PF)
- EMG (negative)
Last fall I also had an MRI which showed degeneration of the L4-L5 vertebrae. I underwent a series of three therapeutic epidural blocks (steroid injections in the spine) which seemed to help the burning in my foot some...but now the pain is back.
Because my symptoms are worse when I stand and/or walk for even a short amount of time my doctor (a foot and ankle specialist/professor at a major medical school) wants to repeat the EMG/NCV in a standing position while I am experiencing a flare of pain. He is trying to rule out Tarsal Tunnel, and/or see if the problems originate in my back. Has anyone been through a standing EMG after a negative "standard" one while lying on the back? My orthopod says it is the only way to tell where the pain originates. I am not sure if I want to go through that test again...of all the procedures that I have had done, the EMG is by far much worse than anything (even the injections!)
Also, the physical therapist with whom I am working has recommended I try TENS (transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation). She tells me that it will not cure the problem, just "ratchet down" the pain from a 9.5/10 to 6/10 or so. Has anyone tried it? Was it worth it?
They are also talking about nerve suppressant drugs such as anti-depressants, anti-convulsants, etc. Sounds like scary stuff...
As many of the people who post to this site, my life has been dramatically altered by this affliction...I left the doctor's office today near tears when he said that I might just have to live with it.
I am too young to stop living an active life - have already had to give up tennis because of my back - and don't want to have to give up hiking if I can avoid it, but now I cannot even walk around the block without pain...
Thanks for providing a place to vent and share ideas!