Fit to Print Volume 23 Issue 3 September 2014 | Page 14

M e m b e r Pe r s p e c t i v e

By Christine Jelley

A Pain In the Foot
Fun Times with Plantar Fasciitis

T

here were clues,
like waking up,
getting out of
bed and taking the
first few steps as if I
was Frankenstein.
Nothing I couldn't
shake off. Then my
foot started to hurt.
Pretty bad. My team of
hobbyist doctors
diagnosed the problem as
heel spurs, and I kept with
spinning, yoga and my usual around the
gym, but added some half-hearted
stretching. Okay for the moment. I wore
my regular sneakers and shoes until I was
actively in pain and limping. Now it was
a problem, especially since I was
scheduled to go to Italy in two weeks.
I called the local witch doctor who said,
“ooh eeh ooh ahah, ting tang
wallawallabingbang,” in essence, Plantar
Fasciitis and heel spurs. I treatment
binged: chiropractor, physical therapist,
acupuncturist, podiatrist. Got stretched,
lasered, electrically stimmed, needled,
pinned, cortisoned, Adviled, iced and
had orthopedic inserts added into a pair
of highly supportive Saucony running
shoes. I was told to “live in them” until
it was better. Which I did, except at two
(2) dinners in Rome and Florence, where
the treatment protocol became sturdy
sandals and red wine. Are you feeling a
little something going on in one or both
of your feet? Here's what the Mayo Clinic
has to say about Plantar Fasciitis:
“Plantar fasciitis (PLAN-tur fas-e-I-tis) is
one of the most common causes of heel
pain. It involves pain and inflammation of
a thick band of tissue, called the plantar
fascia, which runs across the bottom of
your foot and connects your heel bone to
your toes.
Plantar fasciitis commonly causes
stabbing pain that usually occurs with
your very first steps in the morning. Once
your foot limbers up, the pain of plantar
fasciitis normally decreases, but it may
return after long periods of standing or
after getting up from a seated position.
Plantar fasciitis is particularly common in
runners. In addition, people who are
overweight and those who wear shoes
with inadequate support are at risk of
plantar fasciitis.”
Me again. You don't have to be

14

overweight or a runner to get it and
plenty of our gym luminaries are
recovering sufferers, but they're very
quiet about it. When people assured
me that it does go away, I didn't
believe them. I thought, “THIS IS THE
REST OF MY LIFE”. Well, I was wrong,
as usual. But it doesn't go away by
being passive and it doesn't always go
away fully, like an errant love letter
that flutters out of your divorce
papers. Here's what I do every day to
keep Plantar Fasciitis at bay.
Before I get out of bed, I take a crewlength winter sock, put it around the

After work, while I'm
scrolling through email
and celebrity gossip
websites, I roll my bare
feet over a thing called a
“Foot Log”...
bottom of my heel and raise the leg. I
stretch both feet separately to a count
of fifty. I wear Fitflops instead of
slippers as my podiatrist said that my
barefoot days are over. The only time I
am baref oot is in bed or in the shower.
Something having to do with a high
arch that collapses as the foot is
placed on the floor. Blah blah blah.
Anyhow, my feet feel best with
support and I don't want to regress, so
I do as I am told. When I get to work, I
sneak into an empty office and do a
series of stretches prescribed by the
physical therapist. It takes five
minutes while Mr. Coffee is sputtering
out the daily pot. I also add a few of
my own stretches for the upper body
so I can feel like a ballet dancer.
(Optional). Some shoe brands that I
find supportive, comfortable and not
terribly ugly are: Naot, Fitflop, Gentle
Souls and Tsubo. (Birkenstocks also
have a big following among the
troubled foot set, and happen to be
considered high fashion at the
moment.) Best non-sneaker shoe
options for me are wedges with
adjustable ankle and foot straps. Some
of these brands also make men's shoes.
Autumn 2014 FIT to Print

They are not cheap, but can be found at
6PM.com, the discount sister site to
Zappos. Zappos has reviews, which I read
like mad to see if customers that bought
a certain shoe share my foot issues. Once
you find shoes that alleviate the pain,
buy in multiples, because they may not
be there when you return for more.
After work, while I'm scrolling through
email and celebrity gossip websites, I roll
my bare feet over a thing called a “Foot
Log.” It is recommended on a runner's
website. It's about 18” long and a little
smaller than the width of a homemade
jellyroll. It's made of rubber, has nubby
spikes and is brightly colored in red,
blue, green and yellow. I mention this
because my dogs are sure that it is a new
toy for them, so I keep it high on the
bookshelf. I use it instead of the oftrecommended frozen Poland Spring
water bottle because it feels better and
really gets into the plantar fascia.
Amazon has it, natch:
http://www.amazon.com/Foot-LogFL101Rainbow/dp/B004QZPVEA/ref=cm_cr_pr_
product_top. It comes with a free 64page very boring book.
Per my spin and yoga instructors, I've
modified my workouts and practice to go
easy on the area. Tell them if you are
having a problem, they will help. It's a
heck of a lot better than staying away
from the gym for so long that you
contemplate returning in a trench coat
and fedora.
When I'm diligent, I'd say my feet are
about 90% back to normal. When I'm not,
my feet tell me. This week I'm on the
hunt for silver dress sandals for the
wedding I'm in this September. If I stay
the course, I can get cute-n-sexy little
numbers. If I don't, I will pass “Go” and
head straight to the “Everyone loves my
potato salad” Mother-in-Law section. I'll
let you now how I did in the next
installment.

In Memory of Glen Coyle, my brother, best friend
and editor. Nov. 21, 1964 - July 26, 2014

Christine Jelley, a longtime FI member,

was once told by an elderly Hanes
salesman that she has “good legs for
hosiery.”