Is this PF please help! (repost from other section)

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Barefooters
Jan 20, 2016
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I did a fair amount of barefoot running last summer. I'm not someone who had been running a whole lot prior to this, barefoot or otherwise so I'm skeptical that I transitioned to barefoot running too quickly. I ramped up fairly slowly mostly doing two-mile runs at first, then three and four. Finally one day I ran an entire five miles. Later that afternoon I noticed a little bit of pain in my right arch while I was riding my bike, but didn't think much of it. The next day I did a two-mile run and noticed a persistent dull pain in the arch. This was back in late August or early Sept. and it is still a problem. A couple days ago I was standing around quite a bit in minimalist shoes and noticed more dull pain in the arch then normal. It's not extremely painful, but running seems out of the question right now. I had about decided it was plantar fasciitis, but some people on the barefooters.org list didn't seem to think so because plantar fasciitis usually starts at the heel, whereas this has been consistently in the middle of the arch.

So a couple questions. Firstly does this sound like plantar fasciitis? If not what else could it be? What self treatments can I do about it. I tried rolling the arch over a tennis ball and honestly it seemed to make it worse. Lastly if I end up going to a podiatrist, how can I find one who is barefoot running friendly? I'm in the Denver, CO area so if I could find someone around here that would be ideal, but I could travel in a pinch as well. I'm certainly not yet resined to custom orthotics or whatever yet.
 
Without knowing how you are built, severe overpronator, supinator, mild overpronator, it is alittle difficulty to diagnose this or give you self treatment, however, one of the most common problems is understanding what your symptoms actually mean.

Usually, with plantar fasciitis, there is a tightness in the calf, and the legs and problems in the core as well. Looking at the feet only, it is difficult to diagnose the problem. Orthotics may help but without knowing or understanding your gait, it is difficult to give you are concise answer.

I may recommend finding a good sports chiropractor who understands runners, and perhaps is trained in myofascial release, art, graston or some other soft tissue regimen that can help. The reason I suggest this is because a full body evaluation, rather than a foot evaluation is likely to be more helpful to you.

Hope that helps

Dr C
 
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Read my book Cheating Mother Nature,available through Amazon as a soft cover or in kindle format. It can help. Also this graphic is a good representation of overpronation
 

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Ok, went to buy your book as a download on my Kindle iPad app but it appears to only be avilible if I have the unlimited reading subscription. Do you know if there is any way to buy it as an individual title?
 
Dr. Charschan,

I read your book, ended up going to a local office that provides both chiropractic and massage therapy. We have made progress on my general body alignment between treatment and doing stretches I've been able to pretty much get rid of a lower back problem. As to the foot I've been taped up and had that thing where they scrape a blade on the sole of the foot (forget the name), even had an untra-sound machine on the foot a couple times. I've been stretching the sole, and rolling it on a spiked rubber ball designed for plantar fasciitis, but the pace of progress is very slow, seems to manage symptoms more then solve the problem.

Over the last week I've kinda overdone it during a vacation, walking in flop flops and riding a bike quite a bit. As a result there is a lot of sharp tingly pain in the arch right now. I've been elevating the foot and icing it, but I think I may have just undon months of slow progress. I've been wearing a compression sock and arch support like four months now, which for someone who hates wearing shoes to being with is very unpleasant. The weather is getting nice, and I want to do stuff, but this condition is holding me back, it's so frustrating. What course of action would you recommend at this point? I'm kinda at my wits end. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
The other thing that has me confused is everything I read about plantar fasciitis takes about pain near the heel, mine is mostly in the arch, do I even have the correct diognosis?
 
Get an MRI and rule out a stress fracture
 
It is within the realm of possibility. Can be a stress reaction that will show up on an MRI and not on a plain film.
 
Stop running for 6 weeks. Regarding MRI, there are many facilities. If you tell them you are paying cash, it is not unheard of to get an MRI done for 400 dls. It just shows you how screwed up we are. In network 800, cash 400. The insurance companies need to learn how to negotiate :).
 
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I haven't run in over 8 months. Been using superfeet arch supports up until recently, compression sock. Been to podiatrist, massage therapist, chiropractor. I've had the graston technique done multiple times, as well as ultrasound. I've been doing ball rolls, stretches icing, psoas stretches. Nothing seems to be working, I'm at my wits end. This is a serious obstacle to my quality of life and ability to lead an active lifestyle. I have airline travel benefits, would consider flying out to your practice if I felt that you had treatment options not available here.
 
I would suggest the MRI first. With all that treatment, what is everyone missing? MRI and I would be happy to review the findings with you. In my experience, when everything is done to the foot with no relief, it is time we look at your gait. Why dont you do a treadmill video on your phone and post it.

Cost effective but can be quite telling. Lets start there
 
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