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Planar Fasciitis? Keeping me on the Ground

I just read today that sitting down - just the mere act of sitting on your bum - causes the enzymes that burn fat to actually shut down. Breaking research that the way our society keeps us sitting down is contributing to the obesity crisis. So not only are we not exercising, but we also have little chance of burning fat. Like most people, I have no choice but to sit often. At work, I write and research while outside, the snow falls.

And it looks like now I will have less of a chance to move around as I should. Over the past month or so, I’ve periodically experienced a tinge of pain in my left heel. It would always pass after a while, so I thought it was nothing. But now, in my time of yoga and a certain desperation to run again, the pain has gotten so strong that I am practically limping around. It’s not searing pain, but it’s uncomfortable to put weight on that left heel. And so I don’t, usually, causing an imbalance, a limp in my gait. I can’t stand the thought that there’s something physically wrong with me. I practically never get sick, and now I have some kind of heel issue that’s out of my control. A simple Google search terrifies me… do I have plantar fasciitis? This means I will have to rest my foot.  Despite the fact that they’re ugly, I’m going to wear my running shoes to work since they have a lot of support. And I may need to take a break from yoga. It’s terrible, though, since I am desperate to go running again.  Maybe I can sneak in a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.

In other news, a funny site: Quit Facebook.com.

I am longing to find that old part of myself that was lost so many years ago. The girl who didn’t need to worry about television, or distractions, or what others thought of her. The one who thrived on every word she encountered, following the spidery lines of text as they carried her away into the stories that held her captive. Is it possible that the voice is still inside me? The poet?

I was looking up my website, swankyveg.com and saw you linked us, then I saw Plantar Fasciitis. I’ve had it for 3 months now. And from one active veggie to another, take it seriously. I didn’t at first and made it ten times worse. Stretch all the time (but don’t pull the fascia too hard). Massage your feet to manually stretch the fascia. And go to the doc. They will send you to physical therapy which will help a lot.

Anyway, thanks for linking to swankyveg, and if you have any questions about plantar fasciitis and my personal experience with it, feel free to email me. For someone that loves sports and physical movement, it’s very difficult. Walk as little as possible, and a cane might help. It’s helped me just to take some extra pressure off it. A wear your sneakers at all times. Don’t walk barefoot even to the bathroom. It stinks but will help.

Wow - thanks Ali. I really appreciate your advice. I wore running shoes all day today and noticed that it really did help me by supporting my feet. I will definitely email you if I have questions; it helps to know someone who has the same condition.

By the way I’m really enjoying your blog! The combination of vegan/animal friendly and low cost is a great one; it can only increase in popularity as people find it!