I mentioned my Plantar Fasciitis in a post I made on June 19th. https://saturdaywalks.wordpress.com/2021/06/19/plantar-fasciitis/
I still have the sore foot!
After two months of pain and religiously following the information and advice available for my condition on NHS site I was no better, so when I re-read the advice, I noticed that I had misread the ‘but see a GP if the pain does not improve within 2 weeks’ as 2 months!
After two months, it was much worse and I needed help.
However, what has happened to all the doctors? I was wary of calling the local practice because of all the comments I’d seen and heard about doctors (everywhere, not just local) hiding behind their telephones and not seeing anyone.
Since March last year, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an understanding that doctors (and nurses) have been at the forefront of the crisis. It’s thanks to them that the NHS has survived the crisis (so far). I’m not sure how close to the front-line family practitioners have been, but for most of this time it has been quite understandable that they have been cautious about when and how to see their patients.
Anyway, I rang. I was third in line but was answered in less than 10 minutes (some folks talk about being seventeenth in line and of being ‘held’ for much longer than that). The receptionist was polite and patient as I explained the problem and she asked if it was urgent. I told that it was urgent only in as much as I had already had the pain for two months and simply wanted to know what to do that would help me get better.
A doctor rang me back within about two hours.
We discussed the pain and the exercises I was doing – he decided that something stronger than ibuprofen would be better, given the lack of progress my current drug regime was having and prescribed Naproxen to be taken twice a day. To prevent the stomach problems that often accompany the use of this drug he also prescribed Lansoprazole, to be taken once a day. This intervention seems to be working well, as after two weeks the pain is much better. It’s still not right, but I guess the residual pains I still have are those associated with walking strangely for over two months.
Naproxen is Long Acting and Ibuprofen is Short Acting
One of the most important differences is the length of time they act for. Ibuprofen is considered a short-acting NSAID, with a relatively quick onset of action. It is better suited for the treatment of acute pain […] Naproxen is considered long-acting, and can be given twice daily. It has a slower onset of effect and is better suited for the treatment of chronic conditions.
From: https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/naproxen-ibuprofen-difference-3117722/
So, there you go. I’m getting better slowly, but the inability to go out on my 4-8 miles walks is driving me mad. Sitting around the house is boring (although I have borrowed a bicycle from a friend – which helps).
We move house next week, so look out for a fairly long rant about other professionals hiding behind Covid-19.
Picture from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_doctor_on_the_telephone_(which_is_linked_up_to_a_televisio_Wellcome_V0011546.jpg#filelinks – see CC licence there.
Saturday Walks 