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Plantar Fasciitis, anyone?

96 replies

MoreProseccoNow · 31/08/2019 07:18

I think I've developed this; due to walking about on holiday in bare feet. I've always had quite flat feet & tend to wear heels, plus I run 5K 2-3 x a week.

I've had a couple of weeks off running, switched to soft soles/flat shoes etc but still have pain sometimes (especially if I over do the walking).

Should it be better now?

Anything else I can do?

OP posts:
JuniperBeer · 31/08/2019 10:25

Oh and rolling your feet, from toes to heel slowly over a really cold can of Coke or even a deodorant bottle is amazing.

MitziK · 31/08/2019 10:53

Decent orthotics and replace your running shoes - it's likely you need motion control ones, so a trip to somewhere like Decathlon, where they can perform gait analysis should help. But running before it's fully healed would be a very bad idea.

Mine wouldn't resolve despite multiple injections and all the recommendations here - I suspect there were just too many tears; I had an ultrasound a couple of years later for rheumatology, as they were planning to do a joint steroid injection - the first thing the radiologist said was 'you've had plantar fasciitis really badly, haven't you?' because he could apparently see masses of scarring.

What finally let it heal was wearing the air cast boot I'd been given for a previous severe ankle sprain/ligament rupture every day for two months and wearing those ugly rocker sketchers (remember them?) once it was only painful to stand rather than agony.

I did do the toe raises/heel lift things each day, but in that two months, it was the only time I was barefoot, other than in the bath.

I binned every pair of little pumps, heels and anything that didn't provide total support - I had a pair of hush puppies that were a similar shape to the shoes posted upthread and I think Clarks do something similar now.

I also switched to rowing and swimming, rather than running.

Trying to power through it as quickly as possible with painkillers was the worst thing I did, as that increased both the number and size of tears - what actually made me take such drastic action in the end was getting up one morning and feeling the inside of my arch collapse so that it was touching the floor.

It's fine now, relatively speaking - the arch is OK and I can do the heel raises/tiptoe without any pain, although there is some shortening that means two toes tend to try to curl under - but I can't stress strongly enough that stopping to deal with it properly first time is the way to prevent it getting that bad in the first place.

Sarcelle · 31/08/2019 11:22

I had this over a long period of time. Tried exercises etc. I eventually went to GP and she told me to take ibuprofen - 2 tablets 3 times a day for 3 weeks. She said a steroid injection would be next if ibuprofen did not work. Ibuprofen worked.

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quirkychick · 31/08/2019 14:29

Even better than the heel raises are calf stretches where you stand on a rolled towel under the ball of your foot. Practice putting one foot in front as if you were going to step forward, it stretches more than the heel/calf raises for me. You can gradually increase this. It's true that it can affect other joints etc. I had some hamstring and lower back issues too, that's why I was keen to resolve it, I will recommend Katy Bowman again as she's a biomechanic and has lots of movements that are good for your body. I think she has some YouTube videos.

Enko · 31/08/2019 14:36

I had this badly. Flats made it worse and I struggled to find shoes that didnt activate this and also a mortons neuroma. Then I found a old articke6about orthopedic shoes and now only wear Allegria shoes (in uk only stockists is cheerful soles in Skipton) however they have solved all my issues. I do miss shoe shopping but my feet feel good.

lazylinguist · 31/08/2019 14:43

I had it for months and months in one foot, then the other. Insoles helped a bit, plus wearing crocs around the house and doing stretches and foot mobility exercises, but what really sorted it out (after 18 months of not being able to run Sad) was a short post-run yoga routine, which I do religiously after every run or long walk. No further problems!

billy1966 · 31/08/2019 14:50

Fantastic advice above.
Do not walk barefoot.
The stair exercise is great.
Wearing a very supportive runner with an orthopaedic arch built in, instead of slippers was the best tip I got from the Consultant medical specialist I attended. I have the specially made orthotics too.
Tennis ball is a great exercise as is the frozen bottle to cool it down.

GoodwithRocksandGems · 31/08/2019 14:57

I have this - also from running. Will try some of the above advice.

lljkk · 31/08/2019 14:58

See, walking barefoot is great for mine.

While Calf stretches makes it worse.
Mine is tied up with achilles tendonitis, too.
Every cured person I speak to has a completely different story how they got better.

gavisconismyfriend · 31/08/2019 15:02

Shoes from Vionic www.vionicshoes.co.uk have made a huge difference to me.

lazylinguist · 31/08/2019 15:03

If anyone's interested in the yoga stretch, it's on YouTube - Post-run yoga with Adriene. I don't know why it worked so much better for me than the standard exercises recommended for PF, but it did!

MiniMum97 · 31/08/2019 15:05

I have this too. I wear arch supports or supportive insoles in all my shoes and oofos in the house and as flip flops in the summer. I rarely have any pain just from doing this.

Never walk about in bare feet of course.

Stretching can help but strengthening exercises are meant to be most effective. Get a towel in a smooth floor and put your foot in one corner and scrunch the towel up until it's all scrunched. Then do other foot.

Knitclubchatter · 31/08/2019 15:06

3 years. Just as quickly as it started one day I woke up and it was gone. Did the ice, ibuprophen, exercises, physio, new shoes etc.

FinallyHere · 31/08/2019 16:53

Different things seem to work for different people.

this helped me the most

Most people do find that their feet are most painful first thing in the morning, after their feet have been relaxed. Walking puts our feet at a right angle to our legs which is quite a stretch, especially if you are used to wearing heels

A few simple point and stretch foot exercised before getting out of bed can really help a lot.

MrsRufusdog789 · 31/08/2019 17:14

A podiatrist explained to me that as we age ( her words! ) we lose the fatty pads from under the ball of the foot . Ironic as it’s the only fat I seem to have lost lately Confused
Then what happens is the arch descends and you have the discomfort of the bones directly below each toe having more weight on them . She fixed the problem for me with prescription insoles . Worth it .

BendydickCuminsnatch · 31/08/2019 17:24

Had this for over a year now am seen various people.

For me a lot of calf stretching and foam rolling, and only orthotic type shoes are all that works.

I do pilates videos from my instructor, focussing on stretching calves, hamstrings etc but also stabilising pelvis etc. Foam rolling is a godsend.

I wear Hoka shoes and Oofos flip flops around the house 100% of the time unfortunately!! Summer has been a struggle, managed with either trainers or Sanuk you mar sandals but they didn’t last long.

BalloonSlayer · 31/08/2019 17:59

I got it from wearing a very hard, very flat, cheap pair of flip flops every day one summer.

I finally in desperation went to Hotter (yes I know! Grin ) and, owing to what I can only call a miracle, at the time they were selling a lace up heeled boot that was not dissimilar to the ones in normal shops, ie sort of fashionanle. They were the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned and I wore them every day. The heel threw my weight onto the balls of my feet and before long one foot was fine. The other foot took longer to stop hurting but I was so cheered up that one foot was ok (so it made me know that PF could go away) I didn't mind this.

Now both feet are fine but I NEVER wear cheap hard thin shoes any more. Everything has to have a bit of bounce in it.

However I have never seen anything in Hotter since that isn't completely ghastly.

timshelthechoice · 31/08/2019 18:04

Prescription, custom insoles from the podiatrist, the only thing that worked for me. I still do yoga for my feet (on YouTube), loads of stretches, calf raises, foam roller, ball roller for my foot, night splint and ice when it gets bad. Mine's from having a slightly crooked spine so one leg hangs lower than the other. I also have FitFlop slippers for Winter and shoes for Summer. FitFlops are amazing for plantar fasciitis. Definitely wearing heels helps, too.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 31/08/2019 20:44

*yoga mat sandals, not ‘you mar’

MythicalBiologicalFennel · 31/08/2019 20:49

Make sure all your shoes provide good support. Do you get new trainers often?

Also do stretching exercises for the whole leg - ballet, yoga and pilates all good. I managed to overcome this without medication or physio.

Good luck!

thenightsky · 31/08/2019 20:52

Its a bastard of a condition, but me, and everyone I know in my running club, woke up one morning and it suddenly wasn't there anymore. I hope you find the same.

MandSReadyMealForOne · 31/08/2019 20:52

I have it as a result of yoga Sad. Basically, I have overstretched, too much downward dog. I now can’t get my left heel on the floor in dwd having been able to do it no problem before. I went to see a physio and was given the standard set of exercises (painful but worth it) and I wear supportive shoes. Sympathies OP. PF is awful.

PF physio advice from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists is here

EverTheConundrum · 31/08/2019 20:56

I'm currently wheelchair bound due to severe Plantar Fasciitis. It's horrific

Footspas help a lot. Also crocs are great for PF

Fstar · 31/08/2019 20:56

Unfortunately everyone is different when it comes to this, insoles, supports, special socks, hotter shoes etc made mine worse. Too painful for golfball or frozen water bottle to massage. Only thing that worked was flat nike studio trainers, no support in them but they worked for me and use almost every day now. It took a while to go away, few months and now and again it flares up.

ExpletiveDelighted · 31/08/2019 21:13

So true about everyone being different. Crocs are the fastest way to make mine flare up again.

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