Plantar Fibromatosis

Question: Any one suffering from plantar fibromatosis? or having a painful lump in the sole of your feet. Need advice and remedies.

Answer: Yes, I do. I have had this connective tissue disease for many years. I have painful nodules on the soles of both feet, which were preceded by a frozen right shoulder. I also have a "knuckle pad" on my left ring finger. These are all "related diseases" to P.F. At this point there is basically no successful treatment. I would caution you not to try surgery unless you absolutely can not walk. In a few years there is a possible enzyme injection which looks promising but must undergo FDA approval. P.F. is often hereditary. My dad has it in his hand (known as Dupuytren's contracture) which is why I have P.F. There is also a very expensive and somewhat successful treatment in a topical 15% veprimal gel, but this should only be purchased with your doctors prescription by one place in Texas, called PD Labs. Beware of counterfeits online- check with your doc about this. Yahoo has a group on this which you can join using the link from the page I site below. Wishing you the best of luck.

Question: Treatment for Plantar Fibromatosis? Ive had symptoms for over a year. started a LONG time ago with a lump in the middle of the bottom of my foot. It eventually disappeard and thats when I started having heel pain. Over a year ago, I started getting cortizone shots, first one lasted nearly 9 mos, the second only about 3 mos, and my last one (they wont give anymore than that) only lasted 2 weeks. Since then, my specialist has given me, new inserts for my shoes, a brace to wear on my foot, and a hard boot to try to stretch my tendon... so far, none of these have worked. I currently have some heel pain, but mainly the discomfort is in the middle of the bottom of my foot, the tendon is still very much swollen, and it hurts from my heel to the bottom of the pads of my toes. Ive also been experiencing numbness on the left side of my foot (of my left foot), my three toes are numb, and Im getting shooting pain on the left side of my heel. Here is why im writing all this... and leads me to my actual question. Doc says he could do surgery, but they would have to filet my foot clear open to try to fix the problem, or (what he would rather do) apply a topical gel that is supposed to work its way in, and break down the tissue. The gel treatment can take up to 3 weeks for sign of relief, and the prescription would be for a year... at a total of 300 a month, for a year, which insurance does not cover. I've made an appt for a second opinion, and told the new doc i want a more aggressive treatment then the gel. Is there anyone out there who has and input regarding this situation? Does the gel really work? or would surgery be best? I'm at the end of my rope with the pain and discomfort, and dont really think I can wait up to a month for some relief, if any. Help!

Answer: get a prescription for physical therapy from your MD. Go to a PT that deals with foot disorders. Your PT will likely use an ultrasound machine to heat the tendons to reduce the inflammation. Also, take an anti-inflammatory medicine like Naprosin, Motrin, Ibuprofen (ask your MD if your stomach can handle it) 4 times a day until the inflammation is gone. Stay off from walking a lot or putting a lot of pressure on your feet. You can also put ice on your sole for 20 minutes 4 times a day... Also, ask your PT if he can do contrast bath for you to shock the inflammation. Your PT will also do a deep pressure technique as well as stretching to relieve the inflammation. Good luck

Question: Plantar Fascitis... or not?? Please Help me figure it out!? Yesterday, out of nowhere - my heel started hurting like a MOTHER every time I stood up to walk around. From what I remember, I havent injured it. The longer I would walk, the pain would spread up into my ankle and up my leg. I went to the doctor (I went to ER bc I dont have a family doc.) and they took x-rays and didn't find any breaks. The doctor said I have Plantar Facial Fibromatosis? I looked this up on the internet, and apparently he was wrong because I do not have lumps on the bottom of my foot. I looked up the Plantar Fascitis thinking a typo on the paperwork was probably what happened. My symptoms kind of match those of plantar fascitis but not really. I mean my heel hurts, and its more when I walk. But after sleeping lastnight - I woke up with NO pain in my foot at all. Only after walking around (barefoot too) for over an hour did it begin to hurt again. Can anyone give me any ideas about what else it could be because I think I got a quack at the ER

Answer: Your symptoms are probably due to plantar fasciitis, or possibly a heel spur. Plantar Fasciitis is a painful inflammatory condition causing heel pain and in some people, heel spurs. It can also result in arch pain. Plantar Fasciitis is often caused by abnormal pronation of the foot and improper arch support. Contributing factors are weight gain, intense physical activity, jobs that require a lot of walking or standing on hard surfaces, or shoes with poor arch support. A heel spur is a bony growth on the heel bone (calcaneus). Heel spurs can cause sharp foot pain at the bottom or front of the heel bone. Heel spurs and heel pain can be caused by plantar fasciitis. Continuous pulling of the fascia at the heel bone eventually leads to the development of this painful bony growth on the heel. Research has found that a combination of proper exercises and arch support by wearing orthotic insoles can provide effective relief for plantar fasciitis. An explanation of the importance that proper arch support plays in controlling over-pronation, and how orthotic insoles can help your condition are explained at the links below.