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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:
Basecamp65 · 13/09/2018 10:41

I had this for a while - it got so bad I struggled to get to the toilet first thing in the morning.

I was booked in for steroid injection and physio. I saw a pair of orthopaedic flip flops on Amazon for £15. Completely cured me in a couple of weeks.

I wear them all the time at home and can wear what I like when out.

But do not walk barefoot ever

thismumismad · 13/09/2018 10:44

No no no don't go barefoot when in a flare up its the worst thing you can do. Your arch needs supporting and you need to streeeeeeeetch the tendons. First thing in morning is worst because the tendon sheath can adhere to the tendon and it rips as soon as you put weight on it. Put a glass bottle of water in the fridge and use this to roll your foot on. Stand on the edge of a stair and hold the banister for support and let your heel go down as far as you can and hold for 15 to 20 seconds. I wear mainly fitflop footwear and I have supporting compression socks. I suffered from 2009 until this Christmas with pf in both feet during that time. Since I was bought the socks I've had no pain even after doing 25 to 28k steps per day over a week. I really hope this helps you. There are pf groups on Facebook that have more advice.

daughterofanarchy · 13/09/2018 11:12

OP, try acupuncture for planter fasciitis, I suffered for two Years before going to the doctor and it was at his suggestion. Had three treatments and it did help get rid of my pain.

RB68 · 13/09/2018 11:28

Another sufferer

I would say it comes back more easily if you are on feet or walking/running alot. But all the barefooters - this isn't great - no foot support and not addressing root of problem

I found some of mine was related to back issue so not walking properly - so I would go and see a physio and check posture etc but also do do stretching exercises and icing to get inflamation down. Mine is pretty much in remission unless I do a full day on my feet or walking - I just pay the next two or three days so plan any trips etc so I can rest the next few days etc

LellyM · 13/09/2018 11:43

This is something both me and DH have had. Originally mine would be so painful I could hardly walk. I got a foot roller (a wooden thing a bit like a ribbed wooden bog roll centre) and rolled it under the sole of my foot and eventually I woke up one day and it didn't hurt. Literally changed overnight. Then had a couple of years pain free. Now it has started to come back a bit so I will be dusting off the roller again.

Blobby10 · 13/09/2018 11:46

I had this when I used the calf raise machine at the gym and couldn't be bothered to take off the weights - oops they were a bit heavy for me! Strained my calf and two days later got the most agonising pain in my heel. Took ibuprofen for the first couple of days, stretched out calf muscles, did research on internet, got £10 insoles from local chemist, stopped using ballet flats (!), and massaged heel by rolling tennis ball around the floor under my desk!

it took about 4 months to clear up completely but it was easy to deal with as I knew how it started! My dad had it and did what I did but its taken much longer to get better.

MulticolourMophead · 14/09/2018 11:31

I'm currently suffering this, it began when I walk about times the usual in a weekend away.

I've begun the toe curls, which are helping, have switched from flat sandals to more supportive ones (and it's good timing that I won a pair of fitflops in the MN competition).

I love walking barefoot, but will look for a supportive pair of shoes for the house, And try other exercises. It doesn't help that I have put on some weight do will aim to lose that and more.

MulticolourMophead · 14/09/2018 11:32

That should be walked about 3 times the usual ....

MrsStrowman · 14/09/2018 11:58

I've had it! Thought I'd never walk again, roll frozen bottles of water under your arches, stop wearing flip flops, flat ballet pumps etc, you need proper arch support, I have flat feet which apparently make me more likely to get it. I got PF insoles for my flat shoes and a very well supported pair of hush puppies for work, and good trainers for the gym, I did my exercises including the bottom step one described by a PP, and it did go away, do not walk barefoot this makes it worse. I get the odd twinge now if I've slipped back into bad habits such as wearing flip flops for weeks on end but can stop a full blown relapse by getting back on track with the above.

beanaseireann · 14/09/2018 18:16

How do you pronounce it please.

DarthLipgloss · 14/09/2018 18:24

I had it for two years..it made me sad.
I tried everything, all the exercises and advice, i did it all (am physio).
Eventually bought Dr. Scholl insoles and they cured it in two weeks! Best £23 ever.

bruffin · 14/09/2018 18:28

Mine was cured by maximum dose of Ibuprofen (800mg 4 times a day) and icepack 2 x 10 minutes a day for 2 weeks.

mabelgoodrich · 18/04/2020 03:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ghostyslovesheets · 18/04/2020 03:29

Go away spambot

LakieLady · 18/04/2020 07:12

It is astonishingly painful. I had it for about a year, then a few months later got it in the other foot.

I found these

www.boots.com/health-pharmacy/medicines-treatments/footcare/insoles-cushioning/boots-pharmaceuticals-advanced-footcare-gel-heel-cushions-small-10238101p

in my shoes helped a lot. The biggest difference was changing the shoes I wore though. A summer in toe-post Fit Flops sorted it for good, but I also found Birkenstocks good, and wearing Crocs for gardening.

If you can afford it, a trip to a podiatrist who does "gait analysis" and a custom orthotic insole has totally sorted my friend's, and improved her back knee pain into the bargain.

I'm saving up.

hesgotit · 18/04/2020 07:16

my DH had it years ago and had a cortisone injection..... magic!

cinnabarmoth · 18/04/2020 07:27

My mum had it for several years but it eventually went and she hasn't had it since. She had special inserts made for her shoes.
I had it for the best part of a year. I bought some gel inserts from Boots which helped a bit, but calf and sole stretching exercises helped most, and massage. I also identified a couple of pairs of shoes which were making it worse and probably caused the problem in the first place and stopped wearing them.

LellyMcKelly · 18/04/2020 07:29

I had this - I bought Flyflot mules and wore them all the time. They’re as ugly as sin, but so comfortable and they got rid of it.

mrsBtheparker · 18/04/2020 07:30

Gel insoles and Naproxen were my life savers, the first time I had it it lasted about three months, more recently it's been a couple of weeks.

HowManyToes · 18/04/2020 07:30

No, it probably won't last forever. I had it for about 18 months in one foot, I bought lots of stuff to help from Amazon - a foot roller, insoles with arch support and the L-shaped split someone mentioned above. The splint was excellent. My GP showed me stretches to do which helped a bit. I got really fed up with it, I can't take anti-inflammatory meds because of my IBS but I found massaging my arch with voltarol gel at night before bed really helped. Did this for about a week and it magically went away (and had stayed away for nearly a year!)

Howaboutanewname · 18/04/2020 07:31

Another one who’s had it and recovered. It finally went for me when I got off my feet for a few weeks - I am a teacher so had 2 weeks over Xmas doing nothing very much at all other than kitchen, living room, bedroom and it healed. I would say stay off your feet as much as is humanly possible, do the exercises mentioned here and ask to see a physio. It is slow going but will disappear.

Sertchgi123 · 18/04/2020 07:50

The very best treatment for me is rolling my foot over a tennis ball. Do this 50 times, making sure you massage a good area of the sole of your foot. Do it as many times as you can every day. It takes time but it does work.

cptartapp · 18/04/2020 08:05

Do not walk barefoot. Terrible advice.
I lived in a pair of wedge sandals that just cushioned the arch of my foot perfectly. Topical anti inflammatory. Stretching exercises. Still lasted several months on and off. Bin the flat footwear.

Klj29 · 18/04/2020 09:28

I had it for well over a year and the pain was awful! I tried various things but nothing helped until I went to see a podiatrist and was fitted with custom made insoles. We were going to Disneyland Paris shortly after I had received them, and they’re worked a treat! I wore the insoles in all my shoes for around 8-10 months and now only wear them if I am walking long distances etc.
Also bought ‘fit flop’ boots and slippers which helped significantly, and avoid certain types of shoes now.

Marylou62 · 18/04/2020 10:51

Nearly 2 years in now and sometimes agonizing..Eventually went to Dr (just before lockdown) had physio over phone..have already been doing exercises..She suggested steroid injection..Shudder!
She said its now called Plantar Facsiopathy..
Will try Ibugel ..
Has anyone bought and tried the Heelease electronic pulse machine? about £35? willing to try anything now!!

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