Talk to me about Plantar Fasciitis...

[BearSoFair]

I've skimmed through threads before thinking 'that sounds awful', now experiencing pain that seems to line up with PF (will try to get an appointment next week) and it bloody IS awful 😭

Worse first thing in the morning. Sharp 'deep' pain in the bottom of my heel and where the arch ends, tender to press on but not agonising. Eases after 20-odd minutes of being on my feet. I work on my feet, anything from 6-10 hours depending on my shift, generally wear Nike or Reebok trainers. Not really aware of pain during the work day but it returns when I've been sitting down in the evening. I've ordered a foam roller and have been using a cold water bottle under my foot in the meantime.

What else can I do? I've got two trips coming up (June and August) that will involve a LOT of walking and I'm starting to worry about them!

I had PF last summer. Omg, the pain!

What worked for me was never going without shoes, or slippers in the house. Even when I hobbled to the loo, naked, at night, I'd put on my crocs. I wore Fitflops trainers or flip flops exclusively all the time, and put some support insoles in the former as well.

Touch wood, it's not come back.

I agree about strengthening feet, mime lasted a few months and was cured by orthotics, stretches etc but I think one reason it has never really come back 6 years or so later is that I started doing yoga regularly, not specific foot exercise but it really helps. I never had flat feet, in fact I have very high arches and always have done but I only need my orthotics intermittently now, still wear Birkenstocks because I always did but can run in comfort, go barefoot, wear ballet flats for the odd day. I do get some piriformis pain occasionally and the orthotics help with that more than being necessary for my feet. I am much more aware now of how pain in one part of the body may be caused by an imbalance elsewhere.

Fit flop trainers worked amazingly for my friend when they suffered with PF.

Incredibly how varied the solutions are.

For me it was focussing on posture and walking barefoot as much as possible.

Not read all your thread but Bob and Brad physio’s on YouTube and Dr Rowe all have good PF video’s.
as most people say never never put your bare foot again to the floor. Always wear supportive footwear, which for me meant wearing trainers as soon as I got out of bed.
I always do an exercise where you trace the alphabet with your foot, I can do it dropping my foot off one side of the bed before I get up.
personally physio and footwear were the answer, took a good month for it to subside and then was niggly for about three months, just need to keep on doing the physio, probably took a good six months, then it’s important to keep doing the physio exercises now and again to keep the foot flexible.

Bare feet definitely easy to avoid for me, I can't bear being barefoot at the best of times!

I watched some Bob and Brad last night so nice to see them recommended. Do FitFlop/Oofos typically run true to size?

For me oofos were very large and I had to drop down 1½ from my normal size.

its a nightmare ive got it.

Had it 6 years ago it went off.

Came back with a vengeance 18 months ago. Podiatrists are expensive. NHS is a long wait. Just grinning and bearing it at the moment.

This time last year I could barely walk in the evening as soon as I rested the pain started and I had to literally crawl to bed. Had pain in bed also. Doctors would do nothing.

In the end I went to a private podiatrist who specialised in foot soles. This wasn't cheap around £280. But it transformed my life! She did a full assessment of how I walk, my posture where I put pressure on my sole of my feet. She then moulded a bespoke set of insoles which correct my issues. I also found out that one leg was a full cm longer than the other!

These insoles along with daily activities I've been told to do has changed my painful evenings. I honestly can't remember the last time I had to crawl to bed.

It was the best money I've spent!