To feel totally ground down by my painful feet!

[Scabbersley]

I have plantar fasciitis. It's really bad. I've had steroid injections which worked for a year. I've spent almost a grand on physio and insoles. Now the ligaments are tearing everytime I go on tiptoes, eg to reach something high.

The pain is constant. I have really supportive trainers that I wear everywhere and nothing helps.

The constant pain makes me a) so tired b) frown so I look 107 years old c) sometimes tearful.

The only thing that gave me relief was naproxen but the doc today said no and gave me some more fucking useless exercises.

I feel like an old old woman. I'm only 51! It's sapping all the joy out of life and it's not even something that sounds that bad!

I don't want to sound defeatist but I can promise you I've tried everything. Ice, rolling. I have compression socks on right now. My birkenstocks are comfy and I try to wear them all the time in the house.

I am sitting down now. I can't even touch my heels, they are so tender.

Scabbersley I rather thought you would have, tbh. It's not the kind of thing that has you going, "nah, I'll just put up with it and I won't bother following any recommendations" is it?

Fitflop trainers have been a revelation for me. I think partly because of the thick sole, so plenty of cushioning and the non-flat footbed relieved the pressure.

Pilates helped me. I’ve had sports massage suggested too.

I have it too it is awful. I am currently having the shockwave treatment on NHS, waited just over a year from first referral. Had two sessions then the machine broke so got my last one in two weeks.

The doc who scanned my foot (has to be a certain number for them to consider the shockwave) said they try not to do the steroid injections as it can thin the tendon out too much my foot is still killing me.....watch this space.

It is very painful I know OP, I have have this in the past.

I brought Skechers memory foam trainers, it made such a difference as they cushioned the very painful first steps.

I only wear Skechers these days as even though the PF has improved greatly, I still feel tender in that area and I have other health issues too.

I hope it clears up soon.

Have you tried night splints? These were what made the difference for me. They keep your feet at a 90 degree angle at night which keeps the tendons stretched so they don't tear every morning( agonising pain) after a while they heal.
I was advised also to wear supportive shoes( I wore fitflops) around the house and never go bare foot. I had PF for about a year but it did clear up eventually.

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Not sure if that will work. On phone.
But it is easy to find by googling.

Sorry. I cant do it on phone.

I haven't heard of night splints or shockwave. I'll be getting all three if mine comes back.

I tried most of the above treatments and none worked long term. Got one of these boots and wore it at all times in the house (even for sleeping) and it really helped and hasnt come back 7 years on. Hope it gets better soon op

www.firstaid4sport.co.uk/footcare-c29/plantar-fasciitis-c93/plantar-fasciitis-adjustable-night-splint-p670/s3213?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=plantar-fasciitis-adjustable-night-splint-size-large-r2fns03&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&gclid=CjwKCAiA78XTBRBiEiwAGv7EKsQylTjLJyu8_PtYHLkqw3SMfQzmNa1y5DtJi07vSzALl83YnTuo2xoCXE8QAvD_BwE

Sorry you're suffering OP. I had PF for a long time as a result of a toxic reaction to antibiotics (Cipro) which messed up my nerves and tendons. It felt like I was walking on razor blades for a good few months. What helped me was gentle foot rolling exercises (using a small wooden roller I found on Amazon) and continuing to walk through the pain. I found it more severe after rest, and especially first thing in the morning (trying to stand up but collapsing on the floor from the pain). I also drank tonnes of water to help detox (though if your PF has a different cause this might not be so useful). A very slight heeled shoe was more comfortable than totally flat, especially for inclines. Physio exercies didn't help much.

Oh, I forgot to say, shock absorbing gel heel cushions helped relieve some of the pain when walking, and orthotics helped a little bit.

I really feel for you. I had it for 12 months, and tried loads of things, and spent a lot of money. The only thing that helped were my Sons Crocs.
I ended looking on the Crocs website, and found some normal looking shoes, that still have the support I need.
Fingers crossed it will stay away.

Sympathy - it's a fucking horrible condition. Hotter shoes (the ones with soles like the "Whisper" ones) and Dr Scholl inserts are what I found helps. Also have you tried the duct tape round the foot thing? Basically tape round the instep of your foot to provide some external support to the bits inside.

I cried in the shoe shop over my first pair of Hotter boots.

Though they are shit now.

Hi I really have sympathy with you too, foot pain is so so painful. I have a problem that when the pain comes feels like someone is stabbing me in the ankle with a screwdriver.

My other half had pf the same as you. He tried different shoes, pain killers, all sorts. He then went for a sports massage which concentrated on the muscles in his calf. He only needed two sessions and the pain was so much better that he very rarely feels it now. Google sports massage, it's like a really deep tissue massage that might be able to alleviate the root cause of the pf rather than just dealing with the pain. I'm now trying it for my problem.

Another sufferer My work changing so I am not on my feet then entire day and a low heel shoe has made a huge difference. Not helped the Morton's neuroma but at least the agonizing pain is gone..

I had this as a child ... it really did hurt and made me run strangely and fall over A LOT.

Thankfully for me the insoles and excercises did work ( malleable children’s ligaments probably) it I so sympathise.

Feel similarly about the constant steroids for my eczema and no referral ... 15 years I’ve been using steroid creams to little avail

I have a pain ball for deep tissue massage on my insole and calves, night splints and I pop half insoles into my DM’s. Chiropodist told me to not wear whole foot insoles and the half ones are brilliant. My favourite exercise is hanging off the stairs on my toes to stretch out my calves.

Best trainers I’ve found are New Balance W680’s as they are really padded under the foot and so supportive.

Have you tried fit flop shoes? They sorted my PF out completely (eventually)but I had to wear them continuously. If I changed to normal shoes it came straight back. They have a cushioned heel and tip you slightly forward so that your foot rolls rather than the heel taking the hit with every step.

I have fitflop boots and they are comfy but I find the PF is much worse when I take them off! I think all boots aggravate it tbf.

I will look into those trainers, thank you. I'm going on holiday in April and I really, really want to be active and to do lots of walking

@tryingtobethebestican My other half had pf the same as you. He tried different shoes, pain killers, all sorts. He then went for a sports massage which concentrated on the muscles in his calf. He only needed two sessions and the pain was so much better that he very rarely feels it now. Google sports massage, it's like a really deep tissue massage that might be able to alleviate the root cause of the pf rather than just dealing with the pain. I'm now trying it for my problem.

I suggested this earlier on in the thread, but bumping your post to recommend it again. GPs tend to only offer pain relief and steroids, but proper sports massage (muscle stripping) can be life-changing for PF. Also again my rec for dry needling into the calf muscles.

Actually, the more I read about people being sent away with prescriptions, the more annoyed I get when in so many cases, hands-on physical therapy can cure the problem, not just dull the pain.

Surely nobody wants to be pumped full of pills and injected with steroids if avoidable?