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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To fear that plantar fasciitis pain is going to stay forever?

117 replies

whatishistory · 03/08/2016 11:50

I've been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis by my GP. It started a week ago completely out of the blue and I'm in so much pain that I can only hobble around the house. I didn't get any help, other than to take anti-inflammatories. She said it can be permanent. AIBU to really fear that this is going to be for ever? I'm hoping people on mumsnet may be able to offer a glimmer of hope.

OP posts:
BastardDailyMail · 03/08/2016 18:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coco1810 · 03/08/2016 20:12

I have it too. I still can't walk properly in the morning but it passes as the day goes on. I found rolling a tin under my foot so soothing! I mainly wear crocs and trainers, but wear scholl gel active insoles in my work shoes. I can't walk barefoot anymore and ballerina shoes = pain for a few days. It gets easier once you know your boundaries.

pointythings · 03/08/2016 20:27

I had it for about 18 months and for me the stretches/cushioned shoes/ice worked - you have my sympathy though, it's ridiculous amounts of pain.

Ilovemytwins · 03/08/2016 21:08

I had this a few years back, the thing that worked the best for me were shoes with a slight wedge. When my foot was slightly elevated the pain just went. I bought some cheap foam wedge flip flops off amazon. They are amazing, I wear them round the house or when ever I feel the pain. Now I have been pain free for 6 months! Hope it goes soon!!

spottedwoodpecker · 03/08/2016 21:42

I had this for a year and I sympathise as it really impacted on my quality of life. I had a night splint and rolled my foot over a tennis ball and golf ball. Ice helped and so to did wearign sensible shoes. I saw three different physios and had a cortisone injection which helped in the short term. In the end a chiropractor released a tight hip and that eased the pain enormously. I still have the odd twinge, but life is much improved now the pain has gone.

FoggyBottom · 03/08/2016 21:54

standing on the bottom stair on your toes and drop your heels down. Do that several times a day

You need to do it for more than just "several times a day." You should aim to build up to 3 x sets of 10, each on about 6 slow counts: 3 down, 3 up. If you go up on your tip toes, you'll develop strength as well as stretch, But if you're not used to controlled exercise in an aligned position, get a physio to show you first.

Get your alignment sorted out first, so your skeleton is in proper alignment, supported by muscles etc. Most people have terrible posture - slumping into the hips, weight too far back in the heels, head poking forward - it's the way we live nowadays. So tightness & imbalanced is transferred to areas of pre-existing biomechanical weakness.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 03/08/2016 22:09

Don't walk barefoot while you have PF! It will really hurt.

But if you want to stop it coming back you need to do lots of stretching, and gradually strengthen your feet by gradually reducing their reliance on support from shoes, and yes, eventually you want to be barefoot as much as possible, best way to properly strengthen your feet.

If you sprain your ankle you don't keep it in a cast forever do you? You gradually work on rehabbing the area until it is properly strong, same with PF....

Usernamegone · 03/08/2016 22:12

I had this and it was agony every morning. My advice -

Put a can of coke in the fridge - you can then use this to massage your foot. I also massaged my foot with a golf ball by standing on it gently and then rolling in around to a massage my foot. I also did a weird foot tappy thing (keep heels on the floor and repeatedly tap you toes up and down) whilst sat on the toilet.

user1466196257 · 03/08/2016 22:46

I have pf, had it since just before Christmas. It needs a weird combination of rest and exercise. I have tried to rest but it is difficult as I have a fairly active job. When I exercise it feels fine but can suddenly feel painful out of nowhere. I find fitflops help the most. Certainly not bare feet. Couldn't do that at all.

SabineUndine · 03/08/2016 22:48

I've had this. It did take about 4 months to improve. I found flexing my foot before I got up in the morning helped.

MaddyHatter · 03/08/2016 22:58

i walk around barefoot a lot, it was a pair of stupid gladiator sandals that did for me!

the toe-post birkies are good because they actually dont flipflop, the placement of the foot strap actually holds the shoe to your foot!

Ladybirdbookworm · 03/08/2016 23:52

Yes yes to stretches
My physio warned me off ugg boots and anything totally flat and no bare feet
But acupuncture worked fantastic for me
I had only 4 sessions with my physio and the first one felt like the needle was letting out the pressure in my heel
It felt like a gigantic spot being squeezed - it was lovely
Shock

BeaLola · 04/08/2016 01:15

I feel your pain.

I had this a couple of years back. What really worked in the end was cortisone injection.

Original poster
whatishistory · 04/08/2016 09:53

I just wanted to provide and update and thanks for the further suggestions.

I saw a Physio yesterday. She said it doesn't sound like classic PF as it doesn't hurt more in the morning--evenings are far worse. I told her that I get pain in my right mow every now and then. And I also get quite a lot of stiffness and pain in my right hip. They don't come together so I've never been sure that they are caused by the same problem. I saw a rheumatologist about my hip a while back and he didn't seem to take me seriously. He said it was probably a side effect of a medication I take and that if I didn't want to come off it (I can't, it's potentially fatal to me if I did), there's nothing he can so.

Anyway, after half of hour with the Physio, she told me I have very leg weak muscles on my right hand side, which is causing me to over-pronate and the foot/knee/ hip pain is all related. She's given me some exercises to help the foot pain and strengthen my muscles over my hip. The best £40 I've ever spent. I have a bit more hope that this can go. It already feels a bit better since I've done some exercises. And if it gets rid of my knee and hip pain I'll be delighted Smile

And the ballerinas are in the bin!

OP posts:
Original poster
whatishistory · 04/08/2016 09:54

Right knee. Not mow! Stupid auto correct.

OP posts:
FoggyBottom · 04/08/2016 10:02

In my experience with severe pain, physiotherapists are the angels that walk this earth. Glad you've got a diagnosis & plan! Flowers

Eviecat83 · 06/08/2016 09:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gingerboy1912 · 06/08/2016 09:42

I have it although it a lot better than it used to be I find its not just one thing that elevates it but several things used together, insoles haven my biggest saviour scholls medium half insoles. Ditch the flats and flip flops and slippers. Don't walk barefoot. Do the exercises. If you're overweight like me loose weight of you can. Wear crocs in the house instead of slippers.

I know it's a shock at the moment op, when I went to my gp with this mysterious but horrendous pain in my heel I came out of the surgery in tears as I got very little support from the gp and like you felt frightened that I was stuck with this forever but it does pass, be proactive and you will notice an improvement quite quickly.

BalloonSlayer · 06/08/2016 09:44

I had this. I thought I was stuck with it then it went from one foot and that gave me hope.

I went to the old lady shoe shop Hotter and bought myself a pair of ankle boots with heels which actually I love. They are the most comfy shoes I have ever worn in my life. I wore them just about every day during the winter and the pain has totally gone. (I am not a person who likes lots of different pairs of shoes so this was fine for me.) I was a bit worried it would come back over the summer as all Hotter's summer stuff is gross but luckily I have a pair of Clarkes flip flops which seem to be OK.

Never again will I wear cheapo completely flat stiff-as-a-board fashion flip flops. They were like being hit on the sole of the foot with a board every time I walked and IMO were the cause of the problem.

gingerboy1912 · 06/08/2016 09:45

Ah just saw that you went to Physio glad you got some help op.

Bumblefeet · 06/08/2016 15:07

Hi OP,
Just to sympathise, I'm currently suffering with this too, and can echo all of the advice above. Never walk barefoot, do your calf stretches, and roll the golf ball/dogs ball/bottle of ice/whatever works for you, every night.

I'm having shockwave therapy for mine, I've had two sessions now, and it has eased a bit. 6 more to go, so time will tell, but I'm nursing mine like mad, because I'm a bit of a fitness bunny, and want to get back to my boot camp! Take it a day at a time, and do the treatment that works for you.

But, NEVER walk barefoot!

Original poster
whatishistory · 06/08/2016 22:37

I've just caught up with the recent posts. I've been doing the exercises since Wednesday and I can already feel an improvement. I got some compression socks from Amazon and they've really helped, too.

It seems that my foot problems have affected my entire skeleton. My back, all up my spine, is aching really badly. I have a sports massage booked next week so I'm hoping it will help with my sore back and hips.

I've also got some fairly nice ballerina-style shoes that have a padded sole and heel to them & are smart enough for work. I'm waiting for an insole from Amazon to be delivered. I think I might have a ceremonial burning of the evil ballerinas tomorrow Wink

OP posts:
Mirtansa · 13/09/2018 09:59

Lately I meet on forums discussing about the fast plantar fasciitis cure book. I read good reviews and real arguments.
And of course I want to read this book and to be treated this way. I found an interesting article here link stepadrom.com/fast-plantar-fasciitis-cure-ebook/. I understand that there is nothing difficult. And a result you can feel after a short time.
Someone read this book? what can you say about it?

crochetmonkey74 · 13/09/2018 10:30

I had this 4 years ago very badly- I was exercising constantly with a foot roller and tin can under my desk, then exercising on steps during my breaks. I also bought low wedge slip ons to wear at work and round the house, I couldn't walk flat for about 6 months. I was really scared it was permanent but it slowly started to improve. Insoles didn't work for me, the exercising was painful but it did really work

bigKiteFlying · 13/09/2018 10:40

It seems that my foot problems have affected my entire skeleton.

I have family member with this - few investigations and they think they have start of arthritis in their hip and that's possible the cause of their plantar fasciitis though they’ve had back issues going on 20 + years.

They were hoping on the cortisol injections though it's gone with time anyway.

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