Plantar fasciitis and walking

[WanderingWitches]

I've had plantar fasciitis for 3 months now. I haven't been the doctor yet but its definitely that. The symptoms started in one foot and have recently started in the other foot. I have the pain in the heel and it's worse first thing in the morning when I stand or if I've been sitting down.

I'm ringing the doctors in the morning because it isn't improved, its worsening. I'm now getting some calf pain on the right and the pain isn't disappearing when I rest, like it used to.

My issue is the school run. I have to walk 6 miles every day as the school is a mile and a half away. I have nobody else who can take them to school, we do not live near family and we do not drive. There is also no public transport that goes in the direction of school.

Will I need to spend time off my feet if they are ever going to heal?
I currently only wear either walking sandals with arch support or supportive trainers from Pavers.

I had it for a year. Best thing I did was do to a podiatry shop, foot Solutions, who did some fancy computerised analysis and looked my gait. I paid 300 pounds for custom insoles and am pretty much pain free now but wear insoles for walks of any proper length to avoid triggering it again. I vote Flip Flop footwear too

Following as also recently afflicted 😩

I had PF when I was pregnant and I also worked in hospitality at the time so was on my feet for 12+ hours a day. I got one of those foot rollers and skechers trainers and within a couple of days the pain stopped.

I had bad plantar fasciitis - could barely walk. The podiatrist thought I would have to have steroid injections, but I managed to get rid of it by:

1. Wearing trainers with good arch support all the time when standing up. I had a pair of Asics for in the house (to wear like slippers) and a pair for outdoors. I wore them with a suit for work, literally had to wear them all the time.
2. Wearing a night splint. Like the one in the photo. You gradually stretch your toes up more and more over time.

I now try to only ever wear shoes with insoles in, Birkenstocks or trainers. It has never come back.

You could try wearing OOfos at least at home. A friend recommended them and they really help. Definitely put the insoles in your shoes and Google exercises for your feet too.

Sorry to hear this. I'm also a long term sufferer. What is PRP please?

I had a PF flare-up recently, to the point where ai booked in with a podiatrist.
Apparently I have overpronation in my ankles which puts more pressure through several points.
I was given that tippy-toes exercise, but she said to do at the edge of a stair so my heel could drop below the stair edge on the stretch. I was also given some strengthening and balance exercises.
Taking ibuprofen for a two or three day stint helps whilst trying to get it under control.

I use Bio Advanced orthotics. They come in various densities, and full or part sole, with bits you can add to adjust them.

I was advised not to go barefoot at home, but wear firm soled slippers. I'm currently wearing flip flop style footwear from Backdoor shoes, as for me they give perfect arch support.

Had it for over a year, had 2 steroid injections having an ultrasound guided injection today.

Have had special insoles made (via NHS) I have very high arch's I can't remember not being in pain :(

Fingers crossed today sorts it out

Hi, thank you.

PRP is Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment. They take blood, spin it and inject the plasma into your foot. It's supposed to aid healing and inflammation.

Consultant said I've exhausted the conservative treatments xx

I got something the same as Ralphiesuarus above - Plantarcure - looks very similar. I was dubious too, but along with doing the calf stretching / tennis ball rolling exercises, after having suffered for many months the PF did go away. So I don't know if it was the gadget or the exercises or a mixture of both, but the combination did the trick.

I feel for you. Can you get some very padded trainers - Skechers are great - a size too big and wear them with very thick hiking socks for the school run.

I know loads of people will say their physio says Skechers are terrible for PF but they ease the pain, the flare ups reduce. Everyone I know who actually suffers swears by them.

I found massage flip flops from Amazon make a huge difference. if i wear them around the house, the flare ups die down. They are the only thing I've found that actually heals the pain rather than reducing it. And in cold weather, sheepskin slippers with hiking socks. As much padding as possible to ease the pain of the inflammation pressing on hard surfaces.

If it's not too hilly and you could afford it, would a bike with a trailer for Dc to ride in work better or are they too big now for that?

Crocs are the absolute worst thing for mine, they feel comfy in the short term but are guaranteed to set off a flare if I wear them too much.

Stretches, rolling a spiky physio ball underfoot, yoga (downward facing dog) calf massage and supportive inserts in trainers sorted mine out when I had it badly in both feet a few years ago and I start on all these again as soon as I feel a twinge now.

Before you invest time and money on PF cures, make sure it is PF. Lots of calf issues can present as PF, and treating it as PF won’t make it better.

Mine was a torn soleus, not PF, but I was only feeling the pain in my heel. As soon as I had my soleus treated, the pain went.

Birdie,yes,that is pretty much what I was saying, get a proper diagnosis, saved me money in the long run.

sorry to hijack but do you mind me asking where exactly you feel the pain? I'd describe mine as being at the back of my foot, at the bottom but not underneath the foot. Does that sound like pf?

(not looking for a diagnosis, rather trying to rule out symptoms of an ongoing problem)

Stretches and physio didn’t work for me but shock wave therapy was brilliant.

Please please try my PF stretch...
With trainers or similar on, stand on the bottom stair with only the balls of your feet and toes actually on the stair.
Let your body weight drop your heels to lower than your toes. No bouncing, just ease into the stretch. You should feel it down your calves. Start there for 2-3 mins.
Repeat 4 x a day.
Works a treat.

Hi!

Mine pain is heel, right down to big toe, back of heel, arch of foot, calves and ankles 😓The top of my feet hurt too.

I can't raise up on my tiptoes, I can't spread my toes open either.

x