Robyn.Bowles.es

I’ve been experiencing a lot of foot pain recently and it’s really frustrating. I’m 99% sure that the problem is plantar fasciitis – a common problem that causes sharp pain in the heel and sometimes the arch of the foot.

I’m sure it is because of all of the walking I do here on hard, often uneven ground. Strange thing is that as a read about the condition I realize that I don’t really fit the usual criteria for those who develop this problem: I don’t have flat feet or unusually high arches, I’m not overweight, I don’t run greater than 30 miles/week (or 3 miles, for that matter!), and my feet don’t pronate (turn in) when I walk, but actually do the opposite – they supinate (turn out).

It’s been an annoyance for months, but recently it’s become a great frustration. About a month ago I went for a 30-minute run. It was a beautiful day, and I ran through the streets and Retiro Park. After a few minutes of getting warmed up, my foot didn’t hurt at all. But later that night and for the next two weeks, I experienced A LOT of pain – and was limping all over Madrid.

Last week I played tennis with a friend, and I knew I’d be in trouble. I was right. The pain was quite severe the next couple of days.

It’s making me quite sad actually. It’s discouraging to not be able to run, jump, and play. In the past week I’ve had to decline requests to play tennis, paddle ball and do aerobics. I’ve been tempted to do it anyway because the pain usually subsides while I’m doing the activity. But I know that I shouldn’t. I know that the doctor’s advice would be to stay off the foot as much as possible until it heals (that’s what they say on the numerous websites I’ve read about the subject).

So, I’ve started a regimen of icing, stretching, resting, treating it with Ibuprofen, wearing orthotics and heel pads, and praying for recovery. I’m sure that a couple of pairs of new shoes would help too. . .

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