May not be able to afford trip due to heel spur....help!

[Aurora D]

I'm a teacher and yesterday was my last day of school. I waitress every summer for a little extra money so we can take a vacation every few years. Our trip is planned for August so plenty of time to save those cash tips! Now I have 2 problems....this past week I started having calf pain, which led to severe heel pain. Went to the dr. who sent me for an ultrasound and x-ray. I'm waiting on the results but school co-workers kept saying I probably have a heel spur. I called my restaurant job and took the week off because I can't be the limping waitress. Soooo....no money coming in and if this continues, no money all summer. Also, if it does resolve itself will I be able to do all that walking in Disney? Anyone had experience with a heel spur? If so, what happened and what can I do about it?

 

[Marionnette]

I'm a teacher and yesterday was my last day of school. I waitress every summer for a little extra money so we can take a vacation every few years. Our trip is planned for August so plenty of time to save those cash tips! Now I have 2 problems....this past week I started having calf pain, which led to severe heel pain. Went to the dr. who sent me for an ultrasound and x-ray. I'm waiting on the results but school co-workers kept saying I probably have a heel spur. I called my restaurant job and took the week off because I can't be the limping waitress. Soooo....no money coming in and if this continues, no money all summer. Also, if it does resolve itself will I be able to do all that walking in Disney? Anyone had experience with a heel spur? If so, what happened and what can I do about it?

Your co-workers are in education and not medicine. Why not wait to see what your doctor says instead of jumping the gun? It could be something that can be resolved with well-fitting walking shoes or orthopedic inserts. Just follow his/her instructions for relieving your pain and move forward once you know what you have and how to treat it.

 

[mrsklamc]

Your co-workers are in education and not medicine. Why not wait to see what your doctor says instead of jumping the gun? It could be something that can be resolved with well-fitting walking shoes or orthopedic inserts. Just follow his/her instructions for relieving your pain and move forward once you know what you have and how to treat it.

I agree. Also I must make this face for "yesterday was my last day of school" It is almost the end of June!

 

[marmalade]

I agree. Also I must make this face for "yesterday was my last day of school" It is almost the end of June!

Our last day was yesterday too.


OP, I would wait to hear back from the Dr., it could be an easy fix.

 

[mrsklamc]

When does school start?

 

[marmalade]

When does school start?

Usually the first Tuesday or Wednesday after labor day. Our district doesn't even have next years schedule out yet, so I am not sure of the exact date. It will either be Sept 4th or 5th.

 

[Aidan's Mommy]

With the calf pain starting it off, I would say it sounds more like tendonitis in your Achilles tendon. Definitely rule out the heel spur but it might be something easily treated with anti-inflammatories as well.

 

[Aurora D]

OP here! Thanks Aiden's Mommy, I'm now thinking it might be tendonitis after Googling. Pain in the calf doesn't really present as a symptom of a heel spur. That makes me feel better because it can be treated more easily but is still gonna lay me up for awhile so it can heal. Probably got it from too many 12 hour waitress shifts on my feet to begin with!
And school is actually out early this year. Next year our calendar is until the 27th- but we don't start until September 1st...so it all evens out in the end!

 

[NYCDiane]

If it is a heel spur, your podiatrist can give you a cortisone shot. That will get rid of the pain. It could also be plantar faciitis --- for that, you just need GOOD shoes with a lot of arch support. It's usually caused be either being on your feet a lot and wearing shoes without good support (flats, uggs, etc) or from being overweight or from being very athletic (runner)

If it IS Plantar Faciitis (excuse my spelling), there is a site called Orthaheels that sells shoes/sneakers/sandals just for that.

Good luck and, as a fellow sufferer, I feel your pain!!!!!!!

 

[taylor3297]

That is how my achillies tendonitis started. After physical therapy and other measures didn't work, doctor lengthened my tendon. It is now so much better.

I even made a trip to Disney while all of this was going on. Did my foot at the end of the day at Disney? Yes it did but I iced it and took some medicine and I made it through.

Good luck and I hope you hear something soon.

 

[NYCDiane]

That is how my achillies tendonitis started. After physical therapy and other measures didn't work, doctor lengthened my tendon. It is now so much better.
I even made a trip to Disney while all of this was going on. Did my foot at the end of the day at Disney? Yes it did but I iced it and took some medicine and I made it through.

Good luck and I hope you hear something soon.

I would love to have this done. What was the procedure??

 

[dimimi]

I would also wait until the doctor gives you his decision. I had similiar issues, but stretching helped a ton! Good luck.

 

[KKB]

I have had heel spurs (plantar fascitis) for years & had achilles issues this last year--MIGHT be that; doubt it is heel spurs, though certainly cannot rule it out yet.

For me, heel spurs came on after standing w/o shoes all day preparing Thanksgiving dinner then running the next day. Have had issues on & off ever since. Calf pain preceeding is not typical. Stretching the calf muscle (pull toes toward front of calf; heel lifts on edge of step) very helpful if done regularly; ibuprofen. But heel orthodics (over $500/pair) are best bet (I use them when it flares). Very flat shoes are impossible to wear now (no rubber flip flops, skimmers, etc.) My mom has had steroid injections--painful, work well, not a permanent fix. (hers came from nursing--even w/ supportive shoes, years of standing on concrete floors took their toll)

Last fall I ran a distance in bare feet on concrete & screwed up my achilles for months--again, not calf pain, but the area between the calf & heel. Excruciating. Heels more comfortable again (shortens the achilles). Rest, ibuprofen, time heels, but always a tendency....

Wait for the doc's answer. If it is either of these, sadly waitressing will NOT help matters...rest & time are essential to healing them both--and you have a tendency for them to flare at anytime.

(You COULD try the Dr. Scholl's inserts--much less expensive--certainly can't hurt)

 

[KY*Figment]

For years I believed people that I had heel spurs. I then went to a podiatrist for x-rays and examination. It turned out I have extremely tight Achilles tendons along w/ poor shoes. My Achilles heel was inflamed. I got steroids injections in both feet, orthodics, stretches to do daily, and instructions on proper shoes. That was 10+ years ago. I now do stretches on most days, I take Alieve if I have inflammation (rarely), and I go to a shoe store that has a shoe clinic for orthodics & diabetes who also specializes in running shoes, and I ice my feet if I wear improper shoes..... I wear running shoes (Brooks) most of the time even in p.j.'s if need be. The most running I do is to get to Toy Mania at HS but I don't think it would qualify as a run to most people! My 10 & 7 yr old dd have the same thing. The 10 yo has Severs Disease a.k.a. crack in growth plates and the orthopedist said to do the same thing for her as for me. Pediatrician dd 7yo but gave a new stretch that I like better. I had both fitted for Brooks and on occassion they take one Alieve approved by docs. Relax and wait for results it may be as simple as mine.

 

[maggs1035]

If it is a heel spur, your podiatrist can give you a cortisone shot. That will get rid of the pain. It could also be plantar faciitis --- for that, you just need GOOD shoes with a lot of arch support. It's usually caused be either being on your feet a lot and wearing shoes without good support (flats, uggs, etc) or from being overweight or from being very athletic (runner)

If it IS Plantar Faciitis (excuse my spelling), there is a site called Orthaheels that sells shoes/sneakers/sandals just for that.

Good luck and, as a fellow sufferer, I feel your pain!!!!!!!

I have had this twice, you are correct you need good support and my doctor put me on a strict Ibuprophen (sp) therapy, meaning 800 mg every 6 hours, because it reduces swelling and swelling needs to be reduced in order for it to heal. Usually this condition hurts in the foot when you first get up in the am or after sitting for long periods of time, and then after everything stretches out the pain goes away or reduces? I have never had calf pain with this condition? Unless your calf is cramping up due to walking funny to avoid the pain in your foot? Sometimes we can make other muscles hurt by over compensating for the "hurt" muscle!

Good Luck! You can try Ibuphrophen therapy on your own, just dont take more than 800 at a time, and start out with smaller doses first!

 

[KKB]

If you have any stomach issues, it can cause you problems. And don't take these 2 products at the same time. You can do one of them & tylenol at the same time if it helps.
Good luck.

 

[NYCDiane]

I have had heel spurs (plantar fascitis) for years & .....

Heel spurs and plantar faciitis are two completely different things.

Heel spurs are a calcification of bone on your heel.

Plantar faciitis is an inflammation of the tendon that runs the length of the bottom of your foot.

Typically, people who have PF also get heel spurs.