Plantar Faciitis

[RosesandPumpkins]

Help me please!

I’ve tried everything. Straps, insoles, heel pads, physio, massage, stretching, yoga, laying off the running and doing swimming and cycling instead.

But it still hurts. I’m at my wits end!!!

I’ve done 3 yoga classes this week and I’m still in pain ffs.

What is wrong with me?!

Sketchers didn't do it for me I can wear fitflops for some of the time and Birkenstocks do not aggravate it but I can't wear them all the time

The only thing that saved me was Allegria shoes they are not cheap but once I started wearing them the pain eased off and these days as long as I wear them 90% of the time I am ok not in pain.. Helps my work situation has changed to and I am no longer standing up 7 hours a day

FitFlops cured mine. I wear the flip flops around the house and have the ballet flats for going out. I still also wear regular trainers from time to time.

I had this for about 6 months. We went away to a hotel for three days and I swam every day. My PF disappeared in a few days. Could have been coincidence but I'll try it again if it comes back.

I got it years ago, I bought crocs and fit flops at the same time. Within a few weeks it had gone, after suffering for many months. Not sure which got rid of it, but I now always wear crocs flip flops around the house, never go bare feet or wear slippers.

Had mine for over a year and asics trainers helped me. It is so painful.
Have you tried ice?

Fit flop Freya trainers.

@Sotiredandhangry are the laceup fitflops true to size? I'm looking at the Rally, as a workshoe

I had terrible PF for about 12 months. I tried insoles, night splints, rolling my foot over a tennis ball every night to no avail. I paid for physio every week and some of the things they used to do were to massage my calf muscles which are really tight and tape my feet. The taping of my feet was surprisingly effective but I never quite mastered the art of being able to do it myself.
Then just one day it disappeared. I have flat feet though so my foot, knee and hip mechanics aren't the best.
I now wear sketchers almost all the time. Not the prettiest but I'll take the comfort over the way they look.
I hope you manage to get yours sorted OP. You have my sympathy.

I suffered terribly with PF, I tried the rolling with a tennis ball, iced bottle but nothing worked. Saw a podiatrist and he gave me some stretching exercises and I had customised insoles made. Not cheap at all but worth every penny! Also advised not to go bare foot or wear flats. I wore the insoles for around a year and it’s totally gone now. I am more conscious of what footwear I wear now though, fit flop and next ‘forever comfort’ seem to be the best fit for me.

I had the steroid injection 3 years ago and no problems since

@Rosebud21
I have the rally, they are so comfortable and my feet feel well supported. And yes they are true to size.
Incidentally if you are NHS you can get 15% off at the moment.

If it’s your first order you get 20%discount by giving them your email address. Once you get your shoes, unsubscribe to emails!

@RosesandPumpkins

I’ve had it for 15 months now. I am over weight although I have lost some since it started.

I have been wearing asics or sketchers or one pair of boots with gel heel inserts. I don’t wear anything else. Ever.
I’m never barefoot.

The physio wondered if it was fat pad inflammation rather than PF because the pain is 100% in my heels only and never goes towards my plantar or arch.

It’s one specific point on my heel but my fuck is it sore.
My feet hurt even when I’m wearing sketchers, they just hurt slightly less.

I do the rolling with a ball thing and I’ve been taking ibuprofen too.

Next step at physio is a foot scan to see what’s actually going on which I will do but I really wanted to cure it myself!!

My pain was only ever in my heel. On the inside, about 2/3rds of the heel pad from the back. Felt like a god awful bride of I pressed on it. Never went to my arch or moved. Just bloody painful to walk on and caused me to devour the outside of my feet which has had a knock on with my ankles and hips.

*favour not devour!!!

It does take months I’m afraid. I developed it during my first pregnancy and it didn’t disappear until he was maybe 8/9 months old. I had to wear shoes all of the time, even just popping out of bed to the loo. I had some house Birkenstocks so they weren’t dirty and they provided proper support. When I was out and about I could only wear running shoes everywhere because everything else killed.

@Sotiredandhangry brilliant, I've just checked, it's 25% at the moment! Thank you

How many poster actually have taken anti -inflamataries,nsaids?
Mine was really bad one summer, it got worse and worse so i could barely walk 10 minutes, it was half way up my calf.
I finally ent to chiropodist
As i said above she told me to

take max dose ibuprofen

2 x ice 10 minutes a day
No barefeet
Soft sole shoes

It went within 2 weeks not months and never came back

I hate to say it, but it can take years. I'm about 3 years into mine and it is soooo much better now, but not gone.

For me it's been:

• Stretching the calf - every 90 minutes, every day, stretching it
• Rolling the foot on a ball or a spikey ball
• Physio ultrasound
• Cortisone injection in my foot
• Custom orthotics
• Gel heel pads in hard shoes (if I'm not wearing the orthotics)
• Stop wearing flip-flops
• Getting a stretch board so I get a really good calf stretch every AM and PM while I brush my teeth
• Wearing a boot in bed every night for I forget how long - 6-12 months maybe, which stretches everything as you sleep

And lots and lots of patience

And weirdly I took up running during lockdown which should've made it all worse but really helped.

At one stage I sat in my car sobbing and my husband had to come and half carry me into the house because the pain was so bad. Now I'm running, walking 5k, generally untroubled, although I know it's there and t hurts.

I do, however, go barefoot and don't wear the orthotics much. There are 2 schools of thought - one which says support the feet, the other says strengthen the feet and orthotics make them weaker. I wear the orthotics for running and long walks only.

My pain was also only really in my heel in a specific point. The physio could pinpoint it easily, so I suspect that's quite common. I also saw a consultant (who arranged the injection).

I wore a brace at night - it was really uncomfortable, and I often had to take it off half way through the night, but it helped. Also physio and acupuncture.

And I radically replaced al those super-comfy shoes I'd been wearing for years and which I believe caused it in the first place.

Oh, and invest in some good insoles!

I had this for nearly 2 years. Very very bad and one foot and bad on the other. I used to dread standing up. I would have to hobble , literally hobble, when I first stood up and moved. Stretching exercises helped. Mine was on the outside of my feet as well as the heel. Whenever you sit down put your feet up to rest. Every time. I had an extended holiday one summer and mine disappeared. In my job I am standing and walking around all day, continuously on my feet so 4 weeks of not doing much and sitting around gave them time to heal. And GET GOOD SHOES. Shoes with support. I always wear Birkenstocks and fitflops . I am also a huge fan of Moshulu .A small company who I think are in Devon?? They have a shop in my local town but you can order online.
They do slippers with support, flip flops and sandles and boots. Note they are a bit tight when you first get them but give a lot.
NEVER EVER walk around barefoot or in shoes with no support.

Some good tips on here. It's the pits, my dh would massage my feet every night, they were so sore.

Also never barefoot here-fitflops all the way. I struggle with other insoles in DMs etc in winter, think my feet are no longer used to being closed in & they feel tight. I've been better for a while now but always aware of it. The socks look like a good idea-my feet definitely drop in bed

It helped me to distinguish between treatment for the acute pain and then making sure I wouldn't get it again.

The thick tendon along the slow of your foot needs to stretch more than it can cope with. In the short term, ibuprofen, comfortable shoes and ice/rest/elevation can help.

It's usually worse first thing in the morning because putting your feet on the floor means a right angle between your feet and your calf muscles, pretty much the most amount of stretch your feet and calves can do after your feet have been relaxed and more in line with your legs all night

Stretches, gentle point and flex each foot, before you get up each morning made a big difference for me.

Some people stop there once the pain goes, finding that insoles or even a small heel lift in shoes can help by removing some of the stretch necessary to put your feet flat on the floor.

The bones in your feet are an engineering miracle. Your feet only need arch support etc if the feet have big been used so that the muscles don't work at all or properly.

The real long term solution is to allow your feet to do the job they are supposed to do. Lots of help is available for a long term solution. I started with Katy Bowman's work

https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/product/simple-steps-to-foot-pain-relief/

I was told never to go barefoot anywhere, not even at home. Calf stretch exercise helped along with (and I know everyone hates these) Crocs, that you see nurses wearing sometimes. Both helped me.

@bruffin

How many poster actually have taken anti -inflamataries,nsaids? Mine was really bad one summer, it got worse and worse so i could barely walk 10 minutes, it was half way up my calf. I finally ent to chiropodist As i said above she told me to

take max dose ibuprofen

2 x ice 10 minutes a day
No barefeet
Soft sole shoes

It went within 2 weeks not months and never came back

I took max dose for weeks. Dampened it but never cured it and was worrying about long term use.