Plantar Fasciitis= A Pain In My Foot--Literally

I started my running journey almost 2 years ago when I started training with the couch to 5k program (C25K).  I used this program all winter in preparation to run my first 5K which I ran in March of 2013.  My first run was the Color Me Rad in OKC! It was so much fun! As soon as we finished and returned to my brother's house, he signed us up for the Mud Factor in June of that year, another first for me! I survived the Mud Factor and I mean that literally! It was the hardest thing next to childbirth I think I've ever done--but it was so very fun, I mean, when do you get to play in the mud as a 29 year old?!  I expected to be sore after the mud factor but much to my surprise, the only soreness came from my feet.  I lived with sore feet from June until October.  Okay, so it was much more than just pain, it was like excruciating and knives being stuck into my heels.  At first it was just during my first steps in the morning, then it evolved to be the first steps after I would sit down at any given point during the day, regardless of if it was a 20 minute sit-down or a 20 second sit-down.  

After a while, it turned into constant pain, and this is when I realized I didn't just injure myself during the run.  Off to the doctor I went only to learn it was Plantar Fasciitis.  So apparently there is this ligament in your foot that connects your heel to your toes (plantar).  Well, this ligament is affected by many things--age, weight, arch support.  Your arch will collapse some as you get older (not what I wanted to hear as I was approaching the 30 mark, which I was fine with until my body started to go nutso on me).  Anyways, as your arch collapses, the ligament pulls and it is very painful and causes heel spurs (which the Dr. says isn't what hurts).  There are several steps of treatments for this Plantar, and I started with the first--shots in my feet! Sounds painful, and it is but not the worst ever! 

After my first shots, I felt like a new woman! I mean, W.O.W.!! I could walk like an almost 30 year old instead of someone much more mature than me! I felt fabulous. Much to my dismay, however, the pain returned and so did the shots for the next year and few months, which leads me to the present time! I ran a 5k at the beginning of Oct. and on the same day just a few hours later I ran a 1-mile fun run with Jacilayne and by that night, I couldn't walk.  I honestly thought I was going to have to crawl around my house.. It was TERRIBLE! A few days later I tweeted (yes, I tweet, but don't follow me, I'm very boring) about my pain and #plantarfasciitis and in return I got a a tweet from someone (idk who it is) and told me about stretches (which I do) and this Kinesiology tape and a video on how to tape for Plantar Fasciitis.  

This past Saturday, a very good friend of mine wanted to run a 5K, and I agreed, sore foot and all.  I taped my foot for the first time.  Now, normally when I finish running, I can barely walk and this time, my foot was sore even before I started.  When I finished, the pain was nothing more than what it was before I started.  By Sunday evening, the only time my foot hurts would be the "first step" syndrome (that's my name for it!).  

My point in this blog is to inform.  I feel like I could have been treated differently.  I don't think I needed as many shots as I received after I talked to others who are seeing the same doctor.  I have some custom orthodics coming my way in hopes of helping with the support on my arch! But for those who are looking for additional relief or relief without getting shots or spending tons of money.  Check out the kinesiology tape and the video to help you out! 

I found my tape at Academy in green! Pre-cut strips! They have more expensive then this and different colors and designs! I'm cheap! 

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/kt-tape-original-precut-elastic-athletic-tape-20-strip-pack/pid-674465?color=Lime+Green&N=652969652&Ntt=kt+tape&Ntk=All

http://rocktape.com/videos/feet-hands/plantar-fasciitis-2/