My question has to do with my right foot. It has been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and with tibial tendonitis , and I have been told that several other muscles that come down my calf and join at my heel are involved. These problems have been ongoing for, guip, several years but have intensified over the past few months. I have worked with a podiatrist, a wellness doctor, a physical therapist, a deep muscle massage therapist, an acupuncturist (only once) and a yoga teacher/personal trainer. I now have very good orthodics and do a variety of stretching exercises as well as ice my foot several times a day. But…it still hurts. I love yoga classes but have recently refused to do balancing poses on the hurt foot. Moreover, I find that deep warriors where the hurt foot is turned on its side leads to pain after class. I have stopped doing wide, wide forward bends and have instead narrowed my stance. If my situation sounds familiar to anyone, I would appreciate any advice about poses, exercises, or anything else you might offer. I want to get back to a full yoga practice (iyengar, hatha, and anusara) and to taking walking/hiking trips with my husband. Thank you anyone who responds.
Dear Flashflood,
You have consulted so many experts, that it is unlikely that you will get your final answer over the internet. Much more information is needed and it really helps to see a student face to face. This being said, just a few pointers:
[ul]
[li]You state that you are doing the “icing” part of the RICE protocol. Please do not forget the R = rest part. Seriously, that means doing much, much less than you are mentioning. Of the standing poses, do only tadasana for the next six weeks. Seriously! You can do the sitting and lying poses, but only those that do not stress your foot.[/li][li]According to Mukunda Stiles, plantar fasciitis will respond either to the joint freeing series or to massage therapy.[/li][li]If you want to see a structural yoga therapistin Maine, may I suggest Mangala or Robert. They can teach you the joint freeing series and identify the muscles that need to be worked on in a personalized yoga program.[/li][/ul]Don’t worry, it’s quite possible that you will get back to hiking and a full yoga practice. Sometimes a few months of patience is required. Never forget that yoga is broader than its physical part, and that you can practice pranayama and meditation to your heart’s content in spite of your foot. Best wishes for your health.
Hello Mary,
It is apparent that you have approached the issue very thoroughly on the physical level. It is for that reason, along with others, that I believe you will have to address this on other levels. Since I don’t know you, nor are you my student, the walk here is delicate.
What I get from your post is that there is something within the foundation of your living that is not resolved. And, perhaps, that your “standing” in life is not as comfortable as it needs to be. The right foot also could represent interactions you’ve had with your father or paternal figure in your life. And this is for you to sit with, mull over, and decide what level of truth it has for you. A reply to it is not at all required.
My approach, over and above what I’ve outlined above, would be a course of nutrition to reduce inflammation, nourish the joints and connective tissue, and calm the nervous system. That would be added to work on the foot - with a wooden ball, marble, or reflexology device, and the calf - with a rod and some posture. Additionally it would be beneficial to apply maha vishgarbha oil to the souls of the feet and rub them with the knuckles in virasana. You can also use sunbreeze oil on them to bring additional healing energy there.
This is by no mens a complete program but should give one the gist of a therapeutic yoga approach.