This forum is a wonderful discovery and I am hoping someone can provide me with advice.

I'm a young 58 who developed plantar fasciitis last spring from overwalking on a trip. Rest was improving this greatly and then I used a shovel digging up weeds, alternating both feet for over an hour. The result: nerve damage from the trauma. Physical therapy was helping but after I tried some aggressive stretches, boom, I developed searing burning pain in my heels and entire soles. Ice made it worse and so does any PT. The doctors thought I had CRPS (Complex regional pain syndrome) and neuropathy, now they're not sure about the CRPS. My skin nerves (entire body) are hypersensitive, as well as my feet to clothing, socks, shoes, etc. Any lotion burns, even exposing my skin to the sun. The burning wakes me up in the morning and hurts all day long. I can only be on my feet for a few minutes and must walk otherwise with crutches. Pacing has helped but I used to be so active and this came on so suddenly. As the day goes on my feet get become fire-engine red and hot. The symptoms keep spreading over the sides of the feet and include some pitting edema. I do use epsom salt baths.

My treatment includes plenty of supplements, Fish oil, alpha lipoic acid, L-carnitine, super B with C, glucosamine chondroitin, calcium/D. I also take gabapentin but couldn't tolerate any other meds. Now I'm trying neurofeedback training to relax and hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Acupuncture left stinging in my nerves for 2 weeks.

Does anyone have any Reputable suggestions? Please give me hope that the progression can stop and actually heal.
THANK YOU!

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

I'd recommend magnesium (not oxide form) to help with increasing circulation to your feet. Some people with circulation problems can also benefit from 400IU natural Vit E.

Do you have any response to anti-inflammatories like aspirin?

The new R-lipoic acid (stabilized form) may be better for you than the old alpha type (which is only 1/2 active and poorly absorbed).
The Doctor's Best brand is the newest and very effective some of us have found.

Have you tried Lidoderm patches? Applied to the tops of the feet where the nerves are before they branch to the toes?
Also along the back of the ankle along the Achilles tendon, where the two main nerves branch down to each foot. 1/2 patch on each foot may help. Lidoderms need a bit of tweeking to see
the hot spot to intercepting the nerves. I don't think the bottoms of the feet work well with these patches.

An injury to the bottom of the feet takes a LONG time to heal.
I had plantar's once and it took almost a year! But it did heal up finally.

Feel free to come to our PN board:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html

Welcome aboard!

NT is such a great place for support and understanding.
Like you, I ended up with similar problems from overdoing what I 'thought' was supposed to be 'good' for me. What a reward for hard work. (not)

MrsD has already given you a taste of how great the information here is. I could've saved alot of $$ in Dr office consults if I had known even half of this stuff.
I was amazed at how many other people suffer with this. I hope to see you over on the PN forum.

It's great to have you!

Caring,
Rae

Hello and welcome, happy to see you have come to be with us, it a great place to be. As you can see we have a great number and caring fellow members here, we are a supportive and relaxing place. Have fun looking into the different forums. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene