Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group heel pain

I have had ongoing heel problems for the last 8 months, started out as what Ive felt was planter fasciitis in my left foot then It spread into my right foot, now the back of both heels are going numb. Anyone experienced this? My Rheumy wasn't much help with this at all

I'm a fan of reflexology, which gives alternative answers. I've also been a reflexologist for years, and I can tell what is going on inside a person's body just by their feet. (I once even predicted a gallbladder problem, and 1.5 months later, my client had emergency gallbladder surgery. So, yeah, it's that effective as a diagnostic tool.) Hard for me to evaluate, though, without palpating, myself. Maybe find an advanced reflexologist to help?

Have had the heel pain.

Things that have helped:

1. I started wearing rubber flip flops (the really cheap kind) in the shower. I now do that as a preventative measure; seems to help. Haven't had the heel pain in a long time.

2. You could try the good heel cups, like these. They flared my Plantar fasciitis, but my stepfather with crohn's and enthesitis swears by them:

http://www.amazon.com/Tulis-Heavy-Regula...words=heel+cups

3. Shoes with good cushioning under the heels.

4. sleeping with something just under the lower part of the legs to raise the heels off the bed so the pressure from the bed doesn't aggravate the problem.

I'm looking for something to help too besides Prednisone. The enthesitis is so bad there. My Rheumatologist has me go up on my Prednisone from 7 mg.s to 10 mg.s for a week. This helps but only for so long. I know it's just my feet are starting to fuse.

Yep, plantar fasciitis and inflamed Achilles tendons since way before AS diagnosis. Long, gentle stretches after either cooling or warming (which ever you tend to do better with - heat for me). I feel for you, it's horrible hobbling around.