I was wondering if any teachers ever have this, I teach about 20+ hours a week(tap,jazz,ballet,acro,gymnastics,etc.) I wear pedini jazz shoes mostly or barefoot...and by friday my heels are in so much pain (the pain is at the bottom of my heel where the arch meets) i can barely walk, im not sure if its real pain but discomfort! Anyone else experience this or know what it is? Should I see a DR? Anyone suggest a supportive jazz shoe?
Thanks!

One of my girls has a major problem with her heels, I think it's a bone spur or something along those lines. The Dr wanted to do surgery, she won't hear of it, so she kind of suffers through class. She says it's actually worse with jazz shoes on. I would go see a dr if I were you, better safe than sorry, right?

Yes I have had that same heel pain. It's plantar faciitis. I probably should have gone to the podiatrist but instead I got some gel type orthotic heel pads and wear them when I teach. I don't have the pain anymore. I have also taught in my Crocs if I need the extra cushion. I would recommend seeing a doctor and getting a professional diagnosis but I do highly recommend those gel heel pads. Good luck! I hope you get relief soon!

Agreed with Terpsidance. Probably plantar fascitis, and the best remedy is to wear shoes with gel pads. They took my pain completely away. Good luck!

If it is plantar faciitis then also stretch, stretch, stretch, the soles of your feet and the achilles tendons, morning, noon, night and in between.

If it is Plantar Fascitis you must be careful to take care of it properly and promptly. This can become a serious and chronic issue.

Massage and stretching the arches and heels can help. Also make sure you are wearing supportive footwear as much as possible. You might want to pick up some inserts to put into your shoes for additional arch support.

To massage and stretch the foot, use a tennis ball and press your weight into the ball until you feel a stretch. Hold and repeat along the bottom of the foot. Then manually massage your heel, cupping the heel with your palm and curling your fingers around towards the ankle. Rock the heel back and forth, as if loosening the heel from the ankle/foot. Then using your thumb press along the base of the heel where it connects to the arch of your foot. Press in deeply and hold, then slide your thumb over and repeat.

After this, make a fist and press your knuckles against the arch just below the metatarsals, then continue pressing and slide your fist back towards your heel. Dig in to where the heel connects at the arch when you get to that point.

Finally flex and point and do some ankle circles. Then ice it really good. A great way to ice is to roll your arch over a can of frozen OJ.

I have plantar faciitis. Mine has been remedied almost 100%. I was diagnosed and had inserts made for my shoes. I wear my sneakers almost all of the time with the inserts.

It took almost 2 years to heal, but it did improve so much.

Go get it looked at by a reputable sports medicine doctor. It can be helped. But if you wait, it starts to compromise your knees and hips, etc.

I have the same thing. It started after my daughter was born and kept getting worse throughout our last production (42nd street) when I was tapping HARD 5 or 6 days a week! I did not go to the doctor because everything I saw on the internet said that they would just say to get some supportive shoes and inserts to see if that works. So I bought new shoes about 2 months ago, about 1 month ago I started wearing nothing but the new sneakers. I change into dance shes when I REALLY need to - ballet with my babies, and demonstrating turns. Otherwise the tennis shoes are on my feet. I keep forgetting to get the inserts, but my feet are SO much better. I also took some ibuprofen for the pain and inflammation early on. I haven't taken anything for about 2 weeks now.

I stretch daily and rest my feet when possible (with a 1 year old and a 3 year old, that's not much). I even went to the zoo last weekend with no pain! I am going to try to stay in the tennis shoes through the end of this school year, then I don't teach much dance in the summer. I am hoping that by the time fall classes are started I will be back in dance shoes.

I have this problem when I get NEW Pedini's. I guess it hits my heel a little different thant the last pair and it drives me nuts for a few weeks until the shoes are broke in.


But I would get it check by the doctor!

Good Luck!

Thank you all so much!

Sounds like plantar fasciitis...go to a podiatrist...NOT a PCP.

I lived through this hell in BOTH of my feet for about a year. My dr and I tried everything....ice, heat, wraps, inserts, orthapedic boots, 4 different anti-inflamitories, elevation, rest, pain killers, steroids...nothing worked until i finally sucked it up and got the cortizone shots. They are scarry and quite painful...but trust me, its worth it!

good luck!

I have the same issue with Pedini's. They make my heel hurt. I also now have achillies tendonitis and I think it is from wearing Pedini's that are too small