Plantar Fasciitis 

If you’re an avid runner or hiker,  chances are you’ve experienced some amount of pesky heel pain that just won’t quit.  Durango seems to be home to an unusual amount of foot issues, from Mortons Neuromas to bunions, but by far plantar fasciitis seems to be the foot issue most popular among the cool kids in Durango.  

Why does my heel hurt so much?  

Plantar fasciitis is a result of inflammation or injury of the thick band of fascia that runs along the bottom of your foot from heel to toes, resulting in a build-up of calcium deposits which form painful bony protrusions.   This issue can be a real downer for those who love to run, hike or even walk as it can severely limit your ability to get around.  

How your heel can get its mojo back with Acupuncture…

About 7 years ago, while taking a yoga teacher training in Santa Fe, I discovered the magic of the myofascial trains, (as detailed in my blog post “Where in the world is my myofascial?”) lines of fascia that follow roughly the same course as the meridians all over the body.  The back myofascial line runs from the base of the skull to the heel of the foot and is the holy grail when it comes to treating plantar fasciitis.  

Rarely, if ever is heel pain not also accompanied by some other snag along the back myofascial line such as hip, knee, SI joint or sacrum pain.  That’s because these muscle groups are all held together by the same fascia train which means that by treating trigger points found in the gastrocnemius, glutes and sacrum I can often pin down the culprit of your heel pain woes and get you back on your feet again.  So if the idea of getting a needle in your heel makes you woozy, don’t worry, I often only use Moxibustion (a Chinese Herbal heat therapy) on the sole of the foot and heel to stimulate the points and soften spurs. Moxa feels amazing and works incredibly well when it comes to warming the tendons and ligaments and increasing blood flow to excelerate healing.

“After just one treatment, I felt immediate relief from the heel pain I’d been experiencing for over a year, the pain stayed away for good after a course of 4 treatments and Megan was able to significantly reduce my hip pain as well.” -S.C

5 Heel Healing Tips to make your heel feel healed…

1. Lose the flats: If you’re walking on a thin strip of leather with zero support, your heels will hate you for it.  Opt for running shoes or slip some insoles in your cute shoes to give your feet a bit of cushion.

2. Avoid Tiles:  Going barefoot on cold/hard surfaces like tiles can be torture for heels, wear socks to keep them warm.

3. Soak those puppies:  Slip your feet into a nice hot epsom salt foot bath every night if you can to help break down those calcium deposits.

4. Roll:  Gently stretch the fascia by rolling the hips, glutes, and calves on a foam roller, then work the sole of the foot with a lacrosse or tennis ball. 

5. Slather:  Give your calves and heels a good rub throughout the day with the incredibly strong CBD salve I carry at the office or Zeng Gu Shui (a potent Chinese liniment) which I also have in stock. 

Most importantly:

Give it a minute!  Patients often feel so good after their treatments that they go right back to doing the things that got their heels in trouble in the first place.  Long term results require a few weeks of commitment to treatments, self care and most of all; hammock time!

Feeling triggered?  Acupuncture can solve your Trigger Finger

If you’ve ever had your finger get stuck in a bent position and then snap straight you’ve experienced first hand, the annoying and painful condition known as Trigger finger.  

What is Trigger Finger?

When inflammation narrows the space within the sheath that surrounds the tendon of an affected finger it can result in the locking of that finger in a permanent or semi-permanently bent position.  Repetitive gripping actions through work or hobbies are often the culprit and this condition is seen more often in women or those with diabetes.

Symptoms

• Finger stiffness, especially first thing in the morning

• Popping or clicking with movement

• Tenderness or nodules in the palm at the base of the finger

• Finger catching or locking in bent position

• Finger locked in bent position and unable to straighten

Western Treatment

Your MD may recommend NSAIDs, splints, steroid injections or surgery.  All of which can further complicate the issue.   

Get Trigger Happy with Acupuncture

Acupuncture works surprisingly well for trigger finger, in fact, I’ve helped dozens of patients reduce or even resolve their issue completely.  By needling points around the affected area we are able to gently release the constriction or stagnation that’s blocking the smooth motion of the tendon.  Additionally, by injecting homeopathic Traumeel into the affected area, we can reduce inflammation and pain while promoting healing.  Moxibustion, a form of herbal heat therapy can be applied to the hand and finger as well to help increase blood flow and warm away arthritis. 

Five steps you can take right now to reduce your trigger finger:

1. Schedule an Acupuncture treatment

2. Start taking vitamin B6. B6 Pyridoxine has been shown in studies to significantly reduce trigger finger in many adults, especially those with swollen hands. Take the P-5-P version of B6 to avoid toxicity at 25-50 mgs daily.

3. Take magnesium: magnesium not only amplifies the effects of B6, but also encourages muscle relaxation and calms the nervous system.

4. Try some stretches; check out a few here.

5. Self massage the palm and any nodules along the finger joint.