Shall a just be done with it and cut off my foot?

[TokyoSushi]

I have severe plantar fasciitis in one foot. I've had it for about 10 weeks. It is beyond painful and quite frankly every step makes me feel sick.

I have:

• been to the GP, 'it's plantar fasciitis, nothing you can do, hang your heels off a step a couple of times a day and eventually it'll go, could take up to 6 months though. Ooh it is painful isn't it, look you can hardly walk on that foot, hey ho, crack on with it... 🙄'
• taken ibuprofen, didn't do much, stopped
• done the exercise where you hang your heels off the back of a step
• done calf stretches, heel stretches, foot stretches, all the stretches
• rolled my foot on a frozen water bottle
• rolled my foot on a golf ball
• rolled my foot on a special spiky massage ball
• bought expensive recovery sliders and worn those without fail around the house
• worn Birkenstocks around the house
• worn trainers around the house
• gone to yoga
• completely rested, elevated and iced it for days
• carried on as normal
• done stretches before getting out of bed in the morning
• placed my foot very carefully on the floor when getting out of bed

NOTHING WORKS, it is hurting all the time and I can't bear it anymore. DS(13) says the way I walk looks like I have my foot in a bear trap!

Please help me!!!

Steroid injections?
Surely your own GP can do these for you?
That's what mine does..( not to me but people/ family l know).

google electroshock theraphy... painful at first but mine was gone in 6 sessions.

injecting into the plantar is a tricky business and not something a GP can do unless they are specifically trained to do so. you also risk causing more damge to the ligament too.

it is said to be the sinlge most painful injection you will ever have. I've had 3! they go straight up the heel.. no pain relief.. its agony!

You think it will never end. It's agony. I feel for you.

Keep doing all the treatments you have listed.

I also 'wrote' out the alphabet with my feet, lying on bed before I go to sleep and before I got out of bed in the mornings.

Then one day, it had gone. Just like that. Took 14 weeks mind.

Bear up. It will end one day. So sorry for you.

I know somebody who had it for about a year and then suddenly it went. Although that's a long time, at least you can live in hope that this probably won't last forever.

You have my sympathy though. I live in fear of this because my dog is very important to me and there's nobody else who could walk him if I got it.

Well done on your weight loss! Remind yourself that your PF would have been ever worse than it is now if you were heavier.

I’m same as you and have been for 8 weeks now. I e literally tried everything and am concluding now that it’s all about the footwear.

I eventually went to a running shop got a gait analysis and a second mortgage for new trainers and oofos sliders, they are helping.

yesterday I was in London and did 15000 steps and could not have done that 3 weeks ago. The pf is still there but the footwear means I can cope.

bloody horrible condition

I wore shoes with a thick sole around the house 100 percent of the time, that cured mine in a couple of weeks. crocs by the bed and put them on as soon as I woke up.

It's hideous. I've had it twice and it lasted for a few months. What helped was orthotic inserts and to this day, I use them in all my shoes. I used to keep Fitflops by my bed so my feet went straight in them in the morning. Never walked around barefoot. Spiky ball (a lot). Both times it just disappeared overnight. I really feel for you, it's utterly shite.

Well this is depressing! It seems like I'm only at the beginning of the glorious PF journey, I feel like I have already had it for an eternity!

I do wear the recovery sliders for pretty much every single step indoors so no barefoot walking, as I fully WFH this is the vast majority of the time.

Thanks for all the solidarity, it's nice just to have it acknowledged that it really is awful and I'm not just harping on!

I don't think I can bear the thought of the heel injection, so maybe it's not bad enough, yet!

For me the key is arch support and plenty of room for my toes. I wear Birkenstock all the time at home, and Vionics trainers when out. They are expensive but usually have some models in the sale. I never go barefoot and have chucked some flat narrow trainers (Converse type) so they don't tempt me. Avoid shoes that are too soft like Skechers, they don't have enough support. Six months on mine is almost better, but I feel the odd twinge if I am not sensible.

I have it in both feet, had an Xray made and the calcium underneath are indeed very visible. It was described as very severe by the doctor. The only thing that really helped me were cortisol injections in my feet and only wearing skechers, so slippers once I stepped out of bed. Within a few weeks I could get out of bed and walk painless. I have had all other methods, including a splint but this is the only thing that helped

I would be interested to see what the biomechanics of your foot/feet are, along with your whole lower body to see where you have energy leakage and from this devise you with a program and other steps you can take.

is there anyone local to you who can offer this service?

I feel your pain, it’s absolutely awful 😫 I developed it when pregnant and accidentally found a cure after trying everything.

Crocs.

Just the flip flops if you can’t bring yourself to wear the clogs. Absolute game changer for me,

fitflop trainers as soon as i got out of bed (cheaper to buy on vinted) and hot/ cold therapy, (alternate very hot and very cold foot baths twice a day )

Oh I would be interested in this too!

Could you try Botox on your foot?

Do you need to lose weight?

I manage mine by keeping my weight down and having in steps in all my shoes !

I also have a electric foot massager which is lovely

Don't need to lose weight, this has only happened since I lost 2.5st!

I would not be surprised. I mostly avoid sugar and seed oils and whenever I fall off the wagon I seem to have a flare up of unexplained hip joint pain.

You basically need to wear good arch support shoes/socks all day (inside and outside home). This is on top of your stretches.

Try getting an "arch support sleeve" for your feet and wear that. Best to have a professional orthopaedic insole professionally fitted. You can't just wear regular running shoes. You need special arch support shoes for it like Ascent Footwear.

Go and see a good physio. Mine was great, taping, acupuncture, insoles and a splint at night sorted mine out.
And throw out all those super-comfy shoes you've been wearing for years, which do r provide any support whatsoever anymore - that's what most likely caused mine in the first place

7 years here...

I bought some Scholl insoles specifically for pf and they have helped immensely.
Ibuprofen at bedtime also has helped along with Voltarol gel (not at the same time).

Like you OP I had this for 2 years. did everything that was advised, podiatrist didn't help. I was referred by my GP to a NHS sport & musculoskeletal clinic, based at a local general hospital where I was offered steroid injections or extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). I researched the options & chose ESWT, had 3 sessions & it's gone 🎉

I've had PF in my left foot for about 18 months. I used to work at an airport so was on my feet all day.
I left that job in June last year and for a few months after I couldn't walk properly at all. I just limped around.

My husband bought me some knock off crocs and they have helped a lot.

It still hurts first thing in the morning for a little while and also if I've been in my feet all day doing house chores, but at least I can put my foot down now.

I'm not in UK and would have to see a private Dr which I can't afford. I have to wear smart shoes for work and can't afford the fugly special shoes that seem to help other folks.