Plantar facilitis

[Soubriquet]

Please, has anyone got any cures!

I had it kick off in December, and a weeks worth of rest, plenty of painkillers and then the insoles you can get for your shoes and it was done. My foot was fine

It’s kicked off again, started nearly 2 weeks ago.

I’ve had my usual weeks worth of rest, painkillers, still use the insoles and so far nothing. It hurts so much and I walk alot in my job.

I really don’t know what else to do. I’ve done everything recommended. I’ve rested it, I’ve iced it, I’ve elevated it, I’ve wrapped it, I’ve bathed it in heat, I’ve used Epsom salts. Literally there is nothing else I can do.

The only thing that worked for me was:

Steroid injections = short term relief for about 6 months per injection.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy = 95% cured after that with odd flare ups if I wore daft shoes.

Sorry OP. It’s shite.

Do your shoes have a slight heel? That takes the pressure off a bit.

What shoes are you wearing particularly at work?

I found flats became impossible to wear

Calf stretches every day really help and I only every wear support shoes (Birkenstocks, Vionic, or Brooks trainers)

@terracottapot

Do your shoes have a slight heel? That takes the pressure off a bit.

That’s what the soles are for.

They raise the heel slightly

Thanks everyone..not much else I can then unless I see a doctor I guess

I had the injection three years ago which worked until about four months ago when it started glaring up again.
I bought some trainers with a thick sole, started daily yoga and some sliders to stop my barefoot habit which had crept back in again. Touch wood it's eased right off again.

Freeze a water bottle and roll your foot over it every morning and night. Do try and get a steroid injection as well.

I had this for years and still suffer from foot problems. It seems to come and go with no rhyme nor reason imo.

I know I need better quality trainers but I just can’t afford them

Sorry to say, I'm 6 years in to mine. I've had steroids, the shock wave treatment, numerous orthopaedic insoles. Nothing works.
The only think that works is basically not using my feet - which is no solution so I'm just in pain every day.

I appreciate that wasn't very helpful. Sorry.

As Lizzie said above frozen water bottle to roll under your foot, or tennis ball, also google exercises for PF, these stretches really do help, also see podiatrist if you haven’t already to be measured for insoles. My podiatrist said trainers were best to wear for support with insoles inside. It’s so painful I know, I hope it improves soon OP

I already wear trainers at work so that’s a start

I guess I will have to try various treatments and maybe see a podiatrist.

Thank you. Sorry you all suffer too

This exercise really works: www.nytimes.com/guides/well/activity/treat-plantar-fasciitis

Bizarely walking up steep hills helps me, maybe similar to a calf stretch. Hope you feel better soon.

I’ll give that a go Sophia thanks

I get my DP to give me a very firm foot rub whenever he’s here (3-4 times a week!) and use an electric foot massager in between times. I live in FitFlops over the summer as they support my arches.

I’ve found it so much more painful since I changed my thyroid medication, along with more back pain etc so it could be a symptom of something else being awry rather than an issue on its own? Worth checking if you have any other notable symptoms anyway.

@Soubriquet

I know I need better quality trainers but I just can’t afford them

It's more about the fit and the support they give than the cost. The ones I wear around the house (I can't wear slippers) are £8 memory foam ones and they do the job.

See your Dr though. The difference between the insoles I got from the physio and the ones I bought was unreal.

I was told by two physios that I had that. A third told me I had dormant glutes which were making my calves overwork and causing problems in my ankles and foot. Basically cured through daily standing kick backs and donkey kick backs.

I know I need better quality trainers but I just can’t afford them

Obviously I don't know your budget so apologies if this is no help at all but mine are really nothing special. I got them in the M&S sale for £13.50, my DD got some from everything£5.com. Try searching platform or flatform trainers.

Yep... Fitflops are brilliant - I buy cheaper ones on ebay! I had the shockwave therapy twice which didn't work, but then thankfully the steroid injection did. That was over a year ago and it's just starting to come back, so I'm living in my Fitflops - no walking in bare feet!

Hanging my heels off a stair really helps - stretching the calf as much as you can stand for as long as you can stand it.

I'd ask for a podiatry referral and see where you go from there.