Does anyone have any recommendations/protocols to follow for heel spurs?  Here's a little background as to how my spur has acted up again:

About 5 months ago I got a very bad cold and went to my doctor's office.  While I was there I asked the doctor to take a blood/urine sample because I wanted to check for diabetes (over the course of 4 years have gained 70 pounds from all the fertility medications I've taken and the stress of the process).  Turns out my blood sugar levels are fine, but I had a urinary tract infection (didn't feel any symptoms so didn't know anything was wrong).  So I went to my husband's urologist who prescribed me a 15 day course of Macrodantin.  Took that, went back to doctor, had a urinalysis, and still had bacteria in my urine.  So doctor then prescribed 15 days of Levaquin.  Did that, urinalysis again, still bacteria.  Did another 15 days of Levaquin.  The process has been spread out over the last 4 months as it takes time to get urinalysis report.  I should be getting the results any day now about whether the UTI is cleared up and if not I absolutely refuse to take any more antibiotics!  I saw a protocol somewhere for good urinary tract health on the website here and shall follow that.

I go to an acupuncturist about every 2-3 weeks and she has helped in terms of alleviating the pain in my heel somewhat and she told me certain types of antibiotics can affect the tendons and that the antibiotics I was taking is probably what stirred up the spur.

I don't want to go back to a podiatrist because they will probably want to give me a shot of cortisone which I don't want to take as I'm going back to my fertility specialist in a couple of months and want my body to be clear of any toxins - one of the main reasons for starting this diet in the first place.

I have incorporated walking/jogging as an exercise routine and I stretch my foot muscles but most days now I am limping from the pain  

Any suggestions to alleviate the pain would be appreciated. Thanks.

goro1, I'm sorry I have no recommendations for you, but I wanted to wish you a warm welcome to BTD and the forums.
Hope you find some relief soon!!

get your secretor status tested, so you can fine tune your food choices and avoid unnecessary lectins and thus inflammation.

Lola thanks - I'm going to get the secretor test done.  I'm in New York but will be visiting my sister in Virginia next month so will probably do it then as it seems a bit of a hassle to do from New York.

I was reading another thread about Melissa_J and pneumonia and someone mentioned tendonitis.  Now I'm wondering if that is what I have as opposed to heel spur inflammation (or they could be same.  Anyways thinking may go to the podiatrist to confirm that it is that as tendonitis can be helped by physical therapy and I think for insurance purposes need to go to the podiatrist in order to be able to see a physical therapist.

Hello goro1, nice to meet you

I have heel spurs as well, absolutely massive ones in both heels. Since following the BTD in 2004, they have given me much less trouble, to the point that now I forget they're there most of the time. When they do bother me, taking natural anti-inflammatories like bromelain and quercetin help quite a bit.

Hope you are able to get this problem resolved. Welcome to the board, I look forward to your posts

goro1...welcome...Diana & I are from NJ... probably not too far from you.

Hi Brighid45 and Rex.  I ended up going to the podiatrist and turns out I don't have a heel spur but plantar facsitis.  I caved and took a smaller dosage cortisone shot which my doc assures me will be out of my system in a week.  I had been limping for over a month so I'm somewhat over my guilt of doing it.  My doctor ordered orthotics (thank god my insurance covers  ) for me and gave me instructions on some stretches to do.  My foot feels so much better now and am happy because I want to go back on my treadmill tonight.  I've come to realize that I must exercise at least 4-5 times a week to feel better and lose weight.

Rex - I'm in Queens, NY so yes we are neighbours per se.  Don't really venture out of NY that often as I work long hours during the week, then come home and cook, so my free time is limited to mostly Sundays (do house chores on Saturdays) but maybe some time in the future we could visit.  Always welcome making new friends.

There are some modalities to try before cortizone .

Stretching the effected area and Ice after activity before stiffness and pain set in.
Another would be frankincense (boswella)( I think?)

All mentioned Bromalain and quercitin good additions.

There is a way to strap the foot in a flex position to reliever pain overnight to eliminate morning episodes.

More to come as I recall.
I'll Be back

How did the doctor test for the bacteria in your urine?
A stick test or a culture of the urine? did you wipe with a something then pee in the cup?

Hi goro1, I am on Long Island right next door.

O's and joint inflammation.. have you looked at the arthritis book. You may find something specific for O's.
Are you wheat free at this point?
Deflect may help.
Crocs may help too! Peppermint Twist has a whole thread about them.

UncommonO - I'll look into the frankincense and quercitin.  My insurance covered orthotics (last insurance I had didn't and cost me $400!!) so my podiatrist ordered them and I've been wearing for about a week.  They have been helping.  And I also have stretch exercises to do as well - but haven't been as vigilant about them  .  I have noticed that my foot is definitely affected by the weather.  There were some warm days here in NY and it didn't hurt at all.  This morning was a tad colder and my foot hurt  .

Andrea AWsec - I did pee in a cup but they didn't say anything about wiping before.  I still haven't been back to my doctor - his work hours don't work too well with my schedule.  I will try to get to him next week as I'll be away for the rest of this one.  I have however been doing the urinary health protocol of bromelain, bearberry, horsetail and vitamin A.  And I've also been taking probiotics.  I have to ck my calendar - I think I have one more week to go taking these.

I am wheat free - with the exception of two times in the past 2 months and I paid dearly for them with horrible gas, diarrhea and stomach pain so I think I've learned my lesson.  I will look into Deflect.

Crocs are just not my thing, but to each his own.  I wear Dansko shoes and I think they are pretty good in support.

Diana - I have no idea how to move a thread or does an Administrator do so?

Thanks guys for the info/suggestions.

Yes, Lloyd or Lola, or one of the mods needs to move it.

Did they send the specimen to a lab? or just do a dip stick test for bacteria in the office?
  As women we always have contaminated urine due to our body parts being so close together, so you would get a false positive. Wiping with something antibacterial (we use betadine in the hospital) first will assure that you get only the bacteria in the urine not the stray bacteria that is hanging around.

Now I know you say no to the crocs but.. I hope you reconsider

http://www.dadamo.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1218516873/s-16/#num16

http://www.footpaincenter.com/shopping/heel-spurs/overview.php

how about
Lifestyle  ›  Fit Right 4 Your Type  ›  Heel Spur Pain

Heel spur pain has nothing to do with fitness or exercise.  

it has so much to do with a change of lifestyle.....
http://www.dadamo.com/forum/archive4/config.pl?read=1161
http://www.dadamo.com/forum/archivea/config.pl?read=84660

Quoted Text

my heel hasn't been bothering me over the past few days. I am a runner, so it's an "issue" with me. Well, okay, so the pain has been completely, COMPLETELY gone. The only change that has been made in this time period is a lack of caffeine.
I forgot the pain was not there...until I drank this diet Pepsi... I noticed the pain returning in my heel AND in my wrist, and in my knee as well!

Quoted from Lola

it has so much to do with a change of lifestyle.....
http://www.dadamo.com/forum/archive4/config.pl?read=1161
http://www.dadamo.com/forum/archivea/config.pl?read=84660

Ooook. You're the boss.

Quoted from goro1

Hi Brighid45 and Rex.  I ended up going to the podiatrist and turns out I don't have a heel spur but plantar facsitis.

Five words:  Crocs brand Cayman style shoes.*

Quoted Text

My doctor ordered orthotics (thank god my insurance covers  ) for me and gave me instructions on some stretches to do.  My foot feels so much better now and am happy because I want to go back on my treadmill tonight.  I've come to realize that I must exercise at least 4-5 times a week to feel better and lose weight.

Wear the orthotics in shoes such as sneakers and shoes for the workplace and any other shoes you wear in which they fit properly, but for around the house, instead of going barefoot, try the Crocs.  CROCS!  Did I mention Crocs?

http://www.amazon.com/crocs-Cayman-Sandal/dp/B0014BYKI2

* edited to add:  oooops, now that it is the day after I posted this, I see you had another post after your first one, in which you said Crocs aren't your thing.  Sorry, I didn't see that before posting this.  Anyway, they have helped many of us on this board with plantar fasciitis.  They totally fixed my case of it.  Miracle alert!  Dat's why I love 'em.

P.S.  Speaking of Crocs, I was on the floor over this one:  check out minute 1:36 in this video scene from "How I Met Your Mother"...you may wish to start from a bit ahead of 1:36 to get the full flavor...what the heck, view the whole thing, but have your ears pricked up at 1:36 in the going:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wPZ7NmbZ5E

Magnesium?

I had plantar fasciitis a couple of years ago.  Definitely painful!  I had been exercising with a videotape that included an exercise called "skis," jumping back and forth sideways with both feet together.  Needless to say, I quit exercising with that videotape, and I have never gone back to it.  

Eventually it worked itself out and just went away.  But it took a long time, can't remember how long, but I'd say a couple of months.  Here's one webpage with some "Lifestyle and Home Remedies," which may help, though most of them have been mentioned already on here.  
http://www.mayoclinic.com/heal.....nd%2Dhome%2Dremedies
If the cold bothers your foot, wear thick socks and warm shoes!  Sad to say, one of the best things you can do is just not use the foot as much as possible, give it a chance to heal.

I had plantar fasciitis too, years ago.  Back before my energy came crashing totally down, I jogged regularly, and overdid it.  Having a slightly shorter (3/8") right leg made it worse, too, because I would put more weight on my right foot when walking OR standing!

Quoted from Peppermint Twist

but for around the house, instead of going barefoot, try the Crocs.  CROCS!  Did I mention Crocs?

Yeah, that way, nobody will see you in the hideous things.

Quoted from Peppermint Me

...for around the house, instead of going barefoot, try the Crocs.

Quoted from TJ

Yeah, that way, nobody will see you in the hideous things.

Hideously WONDERFUL, you mean!

CROCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!     

I think we scared goro1..

Andrea AWsec.  Didn't scare me.  (I think the only person that could potentially scare me is Lola - I'd just do whatever she told me to do).  Just been visiting my sisters out in Northern Virginia and haven't had access to a computer until last night.  It is so very nice and green (the foliage) here but it makes me realize how much a city person I am.  I totally miss New York even though I don't live in Manhattan (I'm in Queens), I need the buzz!!  I would go nuts living in suburbia.

I agree that lifestyle and diet can make a change.  For the most part don't have caffeine other than my cup of green tea in the morning.  But now I tried Yerba mate and am totally addicted to it.  Must totally adhere to drinking it in moderation.

My foot hasn't been too bad in the past couple of days even though it got a little chilly here.  I only wear sneakers and one pair of shoes at work which I put the orthotics in.  When I'm at home I do wear socks or go barefoot (especially in the winter b/c my heating is in my floors and my feet feel nice and toasty).

Laughed at the youtube post but unfortunately pretty set in my mind about the crocs.  But I appreciate the input, nonetheless.

don t you dare wean yourself off of yerba mate!!!
there! did I scare you???