Belly Dance Forums - View Single Post - Painful Feet - What's normal for a person dancing a lot?

Tammy · 12-07-2007, 02:29 PM

Hi,
Sounds like plantar fasciitis to me also. I'm suffering from it also on my left heel for almost the last 2 years. Because of it I developed a bone spur. A lot of dancers, athletes, overweight people and people on their feet all day might get it. If it is severe, you do need to see a doctor, they can prescibe strong motrin (to bring down the inflammation) and be off the feet a couple of weeks. Mine was pretty severe (a lot of tearing from my walking).
I'm still not completely recovered, I have my good days and bad days. I might have to get surgery, but I'm giving it more time before it resorts to that. What has helped me the most is: icing my left heel daily for 15 minutes (I do it for 20 minutes), this is really painful at first. Stretching exercises before my feet hit the floor in the morning (this is really important, so you don't keep retearing the fibers in your feet). Search online on plantar fasciitis and you will get great stretching exercises and tips how to deal with this condition. Wearing tennis shoes all the time, if I don't my foot stiffens, I hate that more then the pain, it also cushions your heel. I wear the sneaker New Balance #627, which is recommended by some. No barefeet, except for shower. I'm now starting to dance again and I bought bloch dance sneakers, which really help. I don't have to worry about messing up my foot while dancing by wearing the bloch sneakers, they cushion the heel. I also stretch my feet before going to bed, so my heel doesn't stiffen during the night.
Hopefully you catch your problem in time before it gets as severe as mine is/ was. Take care of the feet and see a foot specialist if you have to. Just don't let the problem go, or it can & will get worse.
Tammy

12-07-2007, 02:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tammy Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 28	Hi, Sounds like plantar fasciitis to me also. I'm suffering from it also on my left heel for almost the last 2 years. Because of it I developed a bone spur. A lot of dancers, athletes, overweight people and people on their feet all day might get it. If it is severe, you do need to see a doctor, they can prescibe strong motrin (to bring down the inflammation) and be off the feet a couple of weeks. Mine was pretty severe (a lot of tearing from my walking). I'm still not completely recovered, I have my good days and bad days. I might have to get surgery, but I'm giving it more time before it resorts to that. What has helped me the most is: icing my left heel daily for 15 minutes (I do it for 20 minutes), this is really painful at first. Stretching exercises before my feet hit the floor in the morning (this is really important, so you don't keep retearing the fibers in your feet). Search online on plantar fasciitis and you will get great stretching exercises and tips how to deal with this condition. Wearing tennis shoes all the time, if I don't my foot stiffens, I hate that more then the pain, it also cushions your heel. I wear the sneaker New Balance #627, which is recommended by some. No barefeet, except for shower. I'm now starting to dance again and I bought bloch dance sneakers, which really help. I don't have to worry about messing up my foot while dancing by wearing the bloch sneakers, they cushion the heel. I also stretch my feet before going to bed, so my heel doesn't stiffen during the night. Hopefully you catch your problem in time before it gets as severe as mine is/ was. Take care of the feet and see a foot specialist if you have to. Just don't let the problem go, or it can & will get worse. Tammy Last edited by Tammy; 12-07-2007 at 02:40 PM.