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Original poster

Plantar Fasciitis - tried everything!

67 replies

themidwife · 26/06/2013 21:17

I've been suffering from Plantar Fasciitis since December & have tried EVERYTHING! Podiatrist appointments, custom built orthotics, strapping, massage, stretching, anti inflammatories, soldiering on!
Any advice gratefully received. Every day is a real drag now & in constant pain Sad
Any advice

OP posts:
FlightsOfWhimsy · 05/07/2013 21:32

I really feel for you. What fixed it for me in the end was wearing Merrill hiking boots and Merrill trainers. There was something about the support in those shoes that allowed it to heal properly. I think they have special support. Not cheap, but blessed, blessed relief.

Yes I looked a bit daft at times in a work suit and a pair of hiking boots, but frankly if it was that or pain I was hiking all the way.

bluesky · 05/07/2013 21:33

Definitely wearing birkenstocks helped me.

Ultrasound at the physio with a really intense foot massage.

Rest when you can, hard to find time, but you have to.

Feet in ice bath after a hard day on yr feet.

MadameJosephine · 05/07/2013 21:36

My steroid injection was very painful and didn't work Sad
Eventually the physio gave me ultrasound treatment which thankfully did the trick, 13 hour shifts on a labour ward are killer with PF!

hotbot · 05/07/2013 21:51

Acupuncture and Mbts .. Poor you tis awful.

mrswishywashy · 05/07/2013 21:51

I had PF after coming out of my cast for a ruptured Archillies Tendon.

For 2 years I could not walk bare foot (even around the house). The best shoes for me were hiking shoes and I got new ones every 8 - 12 weeks. I currently now wear sneakers which is much nicer in the summer heat and just as supportive although not as long lasting. I know when I need to buy new shoes as I feel twinges in my heal. I occaisionally wear Birkies now but can't walk in them as far as I used to be able too.

I've lost 30kgs which helps. And when at its most painful I made sure to take ibuprofen and have my leg raised in the evening.

cocolepew · 05/07/2013 21:55

Only thing that eased mine was wearing Birkinstocks, it eventually went after about a year.

paulapantsdown · 05/07/2013 21:58

You have lots of good advice here OP, and I would reiterate :

  • fitflops are your friend
  • NEVER go barefoot
bemybebe · 05/07/2013 22:02

My dh was advised to recall what was changed before he got the dreaded PF and actually he remembered he changed his worn, crappy and cheap trainers for some new state-of-the-art Nikes. So he replaced the cheapies... He does not have the pain any more, but it took some time of agony and the usual treatments. He suffered for many months before that

Frecklefoot · 05/07/2013 22:51

Obviously any profession advice I can give is limited as I haven't seen your feet or you walking but ...

Fit-flops may be exacerbating the Pf as your heel is in a negative position when it strikes the ground and therefore your plantar fascia (which is inflammed and probably has microtears) has to work harder to bring your heel off the ground.
It's not a cure, but shoes with good, thick cushioning sole and either a strap or laces across the bridge of your foot will put the plantar fascia under least stress.
A lot of the time the primary cause of Pf is tight calf muscles (and if you have been wearing fit-flops it's very likely you do have toned urgh-erm tight calf muscles) and therefore exercises to stretch this muscle will help...it just takes a lot of persistence and remembering to actually do them.

Google 'forward lunge calf stretch' this is one of the best and simplest and won't harm you should it turn out that your calf muscles aren't tight!

Steroid therapy certainly has it's uses for calming down inflammation, but bear in mind it won't address underlying causes such as calf muscle tightness, over pronation or footwear choices. Also always have a steroid injection under ultrasound guidance - steroids are powerful drugs and you want it to go where it is needed!

Wolfiefan · 05/07/2013 22:57

When I had PF Fitflops were about the only shoes I could tolerate.
Cold can of drink from the fridge rolled underfoot. Bliss!
It is very bloody painful isn't it?

princessnumber2 · 05/07/2013 23:28

I had this a few years ago and forgot what miserable agony it is. I had ultrasound, weird strapping by orthotist and anti-inflammatories but none of that helped. What did help was proper custom made orthotics (where they make you stick your foot in the foam stuff to get the shape) and super soft supportive trainers that I wore all the time. Literally as soon as I got out of bed I put trainers on - I couldn't even bear slippers. I did stretches and used ice when in pain and stretched each morning before putting my feet on the floor. It did go completely eventually but it took a while. I've heard that losing weight also helps. I didn't manage that bit tho...

MistyB · 06/07/2013 06:45

I've just been to see an acupuncturist / Chinese medical practitioner. Among my list of ailments were a couple of tendon / ligament injuries. She said that low iron can weaken these and then prevent them from healing properly.

givemeaboost · 06/07/2013 07:10

I had this after the birth of dc3, it lasted nearly a year and only went when I lost 2st in weight. hasn't returned again although I got super worried after stepping on lego and having pain in foot for 2 weeks, luckily it healed itself and didn't end up as pf.

Original poster
themidwife · 06/07/2013 09:04

Thanks guys - lots of advice (some conflicting!) Fit Flops are the only shoes I can wear at the mo but I take your point about my heel therefore being in an incorrect position. How are Birkenstocks better? I'll wear my trainers & custom orthotics more (they were made for me by a well known biomechanics podiatrist) as that plus strapping worked brilliantly to start with. So did the acupuncture. But I just can afford £50 a go to see people privately week after week to keep it at bay.

OP posts:
Original poster
themidwife · 06/07/2013 09:21

Freckle foot - can you recommend any particular type of shoes I can wear my orthotic with other than trainers?

OP posts:
BigW · 06/07/2013 10:24

Anything with a slight heel and strong support around the top I think. I found clarke's to be the best, but fit flop trainers and DM's are also a good shape.

Personally, I wouldn't go anywhere near flip flops or ballet pumps.

I can't emphasise enough how brilliant the marigold clinic was. I don't know how to link, but a quick Google should do it. Seriously, two weeks and no pain at all. Just need to carry on with the exercises.

ChippingInGoAndyGo · 06/07/2013 10:41

I have suffered with it for years - it comes and goes. I have it at the moment :(

I find that wearing either trainers with gel heels and gel heel inserts, or crocs helps. The crocs I only tend to wear around the house but I put them on as soon as I get out of bed and try to remember not to walk around barefoot.

I wear Asics running shoes - they seem the best for me.

I haven't found anything that's cooler to wear (and not crocs) that really helps, so it's a bit of a bugger in the summer and always a bastard if I have to wear 'proper' shoes. Occasionally I just think 'bugger it' and wear my crocs to the supermarket or the park or whatever, but I feel like such a nob :(

Original poster
themidwife · 07/07/2013 09:09

I will ask GP to refer me to Marigold clinic when I see him Thursday. Worth a trip to London to get it sorted!

OP posts:
MummytoMog · 07/07/2013 09:20

I got PF after buying a new, wildly expensive pair of fencing shoes. It was agonising. Once I made the connection, I ditched the shoes, and went back to thick soled trainers (much to the disgust of my coach). This helped a bit, as did lots of ibuprofen, but the inflammation took about six months to go down and I still struggle to walk downstairs some mornings. Always gets better after I've been up for a while, but I'm not a leap out of bed kind of gal any more. I live in my Birkies.

BigW · 08/07/2013 11:40

Do let me know how you get on. I think I had 3 visits over two weeks.

My Dsis went there for painful bunions, it worked for about 8 months I think, then it came back.

Original poster
themidwife · 08/07/2013 15:34

Hmm I couldn't manage more than one visit now & then - I live 150 miles from London!! Shame that! I've been on the Simply Feet website (Dr Pixie McKenna resident expert) which is good. Have ordered shoes, freeze spray, gel pads etc. Have also been religiously doing calf stretches & icing. I am determined to beat this!!!

OP posts:
Theas18 · 08/07/2013 15:40

Fitflops and crocs here. Keeps it at bay.

Had mine for about a year. stretches, physio, injections (they hurt but not as much as the bastard deep acupuncture, that made my palms sweat and made me almost phobic of my physio, I'd start to get anxiety and sweaty hands on the train there!).

Actually stopped the treatment apart from the footwear and stretches as a " break for my hols" and didn't go back as ir hurt so much. Pain eventually went.

Wore crocs a lot of the time ( yes even to work) till I discovered fitflops.

Original poster
themidwife · 08/07/2013 15:56

It's weird, the fit flops are good because they're spongey so bearable but I accept they do not correct my gait as diagnosed by a really good biodynamic podiatrist who made my orthotics. Trouble is this time of year I can't wear trainers all the time so the Dr Comfort Sandals have the orthotic built in to a soft thick sole so fingers crossed!! Injections Thursday. The deep acupuncture was AGONY too so dreading it but GP told me they can freeze my feet first which helps alot.

OP posts:
RememberingMyPFEs · 08/07/2013 16:09

I got PF after walking a marathon in shit trainers. Tennis ball rolling and Birkenstock did the job for me but it took a good 4 weeks. Good luck Thanks

MistyB · 08/07/2013 16:15

Check your iron levels!