Question
I'll try to keep this short.  My foot pain started about 2-3 years ago.  I had sharp pain in the right ball of the foot, at times I could barely make it home or to a place where I could remove the shoe and massage the area. I noticed the second to last toe on that foot was starting to curl slight inwards. The pain seemed to get worse and worse as the months went by.  Later that year (2 years ago exactly) while in Venice I developed extreme foot pain in the heels of both feet.  I had all the symptoms of plantar fasciitis and forgot about the toe. I stopped running, applied ice regularly, stretched, wore ugly shoes. Then about 4 months later I broke my tibia in 2 places, had surgery and a leg brace for a month and forgot about the plantar fasciitis.

As I recovered the plantar fasciitis came back. After further attention and many months it abated for a month (last December). During that time the toe pain came back. Then so did the plantar fasciitis.

I live in Italy and can't find decent podiatrists. I had orthotics made but they were terrible and expensive - a complete ripoff. During a trip to the states this past summer I bought some ready-made inserts which according to the podiatrist on site (it was a podiatrist run shoe shop) were ok for both problems.  I'm able to run (as much as the recovering broken leg allows) without pain to the feet. But I'm in pain in most any other shoe (the inserts only fit in my sneakers).

One question I have is - are the problems related?  The possible morton's neuroma and the plantar fasciitis and the curled toe?  Will focusing on one help the others?  Which should I address first?  Have you heard of acuscope myopulse being used successfully for either?  I've heard great things about it.

Because taking pressure of the heel (for the plantar fasciitis) means putting pressure on the ball, I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.  

Also, massaging the ball of the foot relieves the toe pain - but if it's an inflammation, am I causing further damage?

Finally, I bought a toe separator in the states and it seems to help with that curling toe pain.  I have to wear it day and night; if it's removed after a shower, within 1/2 an hour I have pain.  What are the options for treating that toe?  Is it possible the toe is at the root of everything?  That maybe I don't even have morton's neuroma?  I've self-diagnosed it because of the location of the pain (between the 3rd and 4th metatarsals and because being knocked kneed I'm a pronator.  Also I have the "click" when I rub in that area.  However if I just grab all the metatarsals together and squeeze there isn't much pain.  And as I palpate the joints I seem to feel most pain on the TOP of the joint.

I just don't understand how all of these are related.  I know I need a good doctor, but I haven't been able to find one here.  They're light years behind over here.  

Thank you for your attention.  

Answer
This Chicago Podiatrist says......

BonJourno

Forget the Myopulse, and send me the difference of what you save................only kidding!

If you want to try something for both heel & ball of foot and is very cost effective-try ultrasound therapy-which is administered by a physical therapist. The therapist can help with stretches also-see below.

The 4th R curling toe puts retrograde plantar pressure on the metatarsal head. In other words puts more downward pressure on the joint.This causes the symptoms of pain you are experiencing. See metarsalgia and plantarflexed metatarsal under our website AnkleNfoot.com

http://www.anklenfoot.com/ThinkFeettradeOurLearningLibrary/ThinkFeettradeYourFee...

That's why it doesn't click-it's not a neuroma
The plantar fasciitis and pain in the ball of the foot are related.
You probably have a tight calf. That is the main mechanical cause of the above symptoms.
Start doing calf and plantar fascia stretches 5-6 x week for 20 minutes a day.
Avoid flats and wear something with a little bit of a heel-but try to balance it with the pain in the ball of the foot. The higher the heel -the less heel pain , but more pain in the ball of the foot.
Check out our online store website for an example of a night splint and wear it for a few hours a day - don't overstretch. Wear it for about 4-6 weeks.
The rubbing does not hurt and encouraged on both the joint and plantar fascia-make it a massage for benefits and can use ice when painful. The toe separator indirectly takes pressure of the joint.
A good orthotic for you would have a heel lift and a pad just behind the ball of the foot-to relieve pressure on the inflamed joint.
Try to find a sports orthopedist.
Sometimes surgical correction can help these conditions.
We do second opinions and are experts in these kinds of procedures

Good Luck My Friend!

Dr George Tsatsos & Svetlana Zats
Podiatrist Chicago 60618 & Elmhurst 60126 Podiatrists
Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery & Orthopedics
New South Loop Location-Chicago 60661
AnkleNFoot.com
Runnersdoc.com
BabyFootDoc.com

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