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Original poster

Anyone had plantar fasciitis?

44 replies

BrandyandBabycham · 21/04/2020 09:33

I have bad pain in my heel which I think is likely to be plantar fasciitis. Had it for a few weeks but it seems to be getting worse. It’s tricky with the surgery at the moment, although I guess I could use “ e consult” or just chat to my GP over the phone. Does anyone have any advice for easing it? I think it’s supposed to go away on it’s own

OP posts:
Lightsabre · 21/04/2020 09:38

Yes, I've had it for a while now after wearing very flat sandals in the summer and it's so painful. I was just about to attend my first muscular skeletal appointment when lockdown happened so everything has been postponed.

Stretches seem to help - look on you tube but don't overdo it. Ibuprofen also helps to reduce inflammation. Also worth getting some orthotics designed for PF and look up Strasbourg Sock for wearing in bed.

Unremarkable · 21/04/2020 09:41

I've had it for quite a few weeks, it can be really painful. I haven't gone to the GP ('my foot hurts' doesn't seem to be a great reason to bother them just now) so I've tried a foot support (elasticated sock with extra strapping), gel-heel pads and icing it with a frozen water bottle. All of them ease it but actually just keeping off my feet and NEVER going bare foot seems to work best. I've found birkenstocks offer really good support so have been using them as slippers. There are some stretching exercises on youtube that help too. Good luck. Flowers

Beerincomechampagnetastes · 21/04/2020 09:45

I had it for ages and it was so bad it would wake me up at night. I finally did something about it and have had no trouble for months.

I stopped walking anywhere in the house without slippers or big socks. I made sure all my socks for sports were thick and supportive. I did exercises every day on my stairs - you tube is your friend. I bought a foot massager from amazon. I froze a water bottle and used it to roll under my feet and I don’t go out in the garden anymore without shoes!

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GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 21/04/2020 09:47

Posted about this elsewhere recently.
i had it some years ago, could hardly walk.

I self diagnosed via google, bought some arch support insoles (Scholl) from Boots and wore them continuously for several weeks. They made a massive difference, eventually it was apparently cured and I’ve never had it since.

2 BiLs who also had it (officially diagnosed) paid ££££ for specially made insoles, with no better results.

Notwatchingtvtoday · 21/04/2020 09:51

I’ve had it the best thing I found was wearing Fit Flop slippers, sandals, shoes and buying new very good trainers. I never go bare foot in house etc.
My friend has also had it and she said Fit Flop sandals helped hers too

Sansastark45 · 21/04/2020 09:51

I currently have this - went to the Doctor a few months ago about it and they gave me some stretches - i just wear supportive sandals - but i didn't know about the not being barefoot thing ! I might try this.

Sometimes when i have been sat down for a while and i go to stand up its agony ! I literally cant bare any weight on it :(

Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons · 21/04/2020 09:54

Never going barefoot (Sad) and calf massage with a roller (so painful!!) are what keeps mine at bay.

vinoelle · 21/04/2020 09:54

It’s all about footwear - you need to make sure you are ALWAYS wearing something supportive - even inside. Normal flip flops, slip on shoes and slippers are the worst. Stop these immediately.

Get something with medial arch support to wear at all times, either insoles or an indoor shoe. Stretches as Pp said daily, massage (roll foot over tennis ball or similar) and stand on one leg. These are the best things to sort it. Takes a few weeks but if you do it should settle

RoLaren · 21/04/2020 09:59

Second all the previous advice and just to add one more - however tempting, don't walk on tiptoes to ease the pain, it exacerbates it in the long term.

Mine was caused by being very overweight for years but also walking non-stop too. I've lost the weight now but the damage has been done. It's so painful, you have my sympathy.

Stuffofawesome · 21/04/2020 09:59

I used this overnight for a while plus fitflops during the day and it went quickly

Anyone had plantar fasciitis?
Wotrewelookinat · 21/04/2020 10:01

I’ve had it for nearly 4 years. It has been really severe and stopped me from walking far. Tried everything, all the different gel padding things, stretching exercises etc etc.

It is only now getting better because:

  • I always use orthotics for arch support which were made to measure from the NHS Clinic my GP referred me to.
  • I never walk around barefoot in the house or garden, always wear Crocs.
  • stretch feet every morning before trying to walk
  • most important things - lost 1.5stone and this has helped the most.
WotnoPasta · 21/04/2020 10:02

Mine was horrendous but I fixed it myself. I wore trainers and took ibuprofen and walked and walked, and then started doing lots of exercise. I would also ice it in the evenings.
If you read up about it the issue is in your calf not your foot.
One year on and it doesn’t bother me at all.

Jdabbers · 21/04/2020 10:07

Hi
I get this as a PT and fitness instructor, too many lunges too much running!!

I find roiling my foot on a massage roller or tennis ball helps. To ease the inflammation in the tendon freeze a water bottle and roll your foot on that. If you have a Ribena one or one with nobly bits on the bottle design even better

Hope it eases soon I know it can be painful 😣

mamasiz · 21/04/2020 10:11

Yes - brought on by walking miles in unsupportive shoes to and from work. I haven’t had it for a few years now. I never walk around barefoot, and now wear a lot of Birkenstock type footwear to support my arches. They even do trainers and shoes rather than sandals, which I didn’t realise before I had PF. I also got a foot roller (can’t remember the exact name, apologies) from a podiatrist, but they’ve very cheap online. If you can’t get hold of one, friends recommended rolling a tennis ball under your foot from toes to heel a few times a day. I also lost some weight which helped, but that was a bit of a slow process as I couldn’t really walk very far for a while. Good luck!

DottyDotAgain · 21/04/2020 10:11

Yes I had it for nearly two years - had loads of treatment via my GP referring me to a local service - the only thing that worked in the end was a steroid injection, which sorted it out immediately.

6 months later, it's coming back a tiny bit though...

I wear fitflops and slippers with proper support - never go bare footed. Stretches help but didn't fix it for me.

SlipperyLizard · 21/04/2020 10:16

I’ve had it quite mildly for over a year. Look online for stretches and exercises for your calf muscles and feet. Small foam roller/ball for rolling under your foot, and a full size foam roller to roll your calves - very painful (try it with your foot pointed!) but I found it effective. Insoles for all shoes, even “sensible” ones. I also got a compression sock from Amazon which I wear all the time.

Nothing has made it go totally except rest, it did stop niggling when I didn’t run over Xmas, but it came back straight away at the slightest exertion. But for me it is at least a minor issue - it has never got worse or stopped me from running. Physio said keep running as long as pain is max 3 out of 10.

ellanwood · 21/04/2020 10:21

I've had it since December.
Things I find help most:
Never go barefoot. Even in the house wear padded-sole slippers or the kind of flip flops that massage your feet, with thick soles. Fitflops or similar.
Wear different shoes each day but make sure they all have really soft padded soles - air trainers or foot glove wedges.

Massage your feet in the bath, especially the instep.
Do very gentle stretches of the kind where you stand on the edge of a step and then lower your heels to feel the stretch right through your calves.

The only painkiller I found that touches the pain on really bad days is Co-codamol which I don't really recommend because it's addictive and has unpleasant side effects. People suggest ibuprofen but I don't find it makes any difference and it is also not recommended if you have Covid.

@WotnoPasta - I didn't know the issue was in your calves - I thought it was in the instep. I'm going to do a lot more calf stretches.

TroysMammy · 21/04/2020 10:23

I had it last year. I contacted the hospital podiatry department by phone, they had a chat and posted me an exercise sheet and recommended insoles and to wear lace up shoes everywhere including when getting up at night to go to the toilet. I also took ibuprofen and paracetamol and after about 6 weeks it went. I reckon it was caused after a weekend of gardening using slip on gardening clogs. I only use them for quick trips to the outside bin and I wear trainers with insoles otherwise.

FinallyHere · 21/04/2020 10:27

The only thing that worked for me was Katy Bowman's Simple Steps to Foot Pain Relief: The New Science of Healthy Feet

There are things that will provide relief when you are in the acute stage, like wearing shoes with a small heel. It's important to understand that these provide immediate relief, but are covering up the symptoms. The only way to get rid of PF forever, is to making your feet strong and flexible, the way they are 'designed' to be.

The link below is to the author's own website, the books are widely available

www.nutritiousmovement.com/product/simple-steps-to-foot-pain-relief-e-book/

billy1966 · 21/04/2020 10:37

Wearing a good arch support in a good pair of trainers, as a house slipper, lightly tied so you could slip in and out of them easily solved the problem here.

Stretching up and down on your toes, raising your heel, and holding really helps.

Giving your calve a good stretch helps too.

Definitely good supportive trainers with insoles are transformative.

lyralalala · 21/04/2020 12:05

A lot of people will be getting it due to lots more time at home. Unsupportive slippers are the worse thing for it imo. Barefoot is also bad for it so being home a lot is just ripe for it.

I have a pair of trainers that are my slippers. Light and supportive. Keeps it at bay

EsmeShelby · 21/04/2020 12:11

Yes, did all the stretches, had it taped by podiatrist, iced it, supportive shoes all the time, and acupuncture. Took about six months to go away.

IDefinitelyHaveFriends · 21/04/2020 12:14

Burn your Converse and ballet flats. Wear something supporting around the house (isotoner sandals will do).

WhenYouveAFirstInEnglish · 21/04/2020 12:18

I have it horrendously. I am a nurse running a specialist service and at the moment and have just been living with it since last summer but the idea of perhaps having to go back to 12 hour shifts in my feet has me petrified.

Any exercise, even a gentle walk, ruins me for the rest of the day. I could do with losing some weight and had lost 1.5 stone before lockdown but no difference. I’ve had it on and off my whole life but this is the worst it’s been.

I have just bought some Vionic slippers to wear round the house which have given me immediate relief. Also doing the stretches. I need to see a podiatrist really,

Beerincomechampagnetastes · 21/04/2020 12:31

Don’t just put up with it when - you sound just like I was, I just got in with it but I suffered way more than I should have tolerated and it impacted my life negatively.
I used to run with just vanity socks on - now I only ever run with cushioned support socks. I have bed socks now because I won’t even risk walking to the loo in the night barefoot. I’ve been symptom free for months by following all the fairly easy to do things listed on this thread and wow am I relieved!!