Plantar fasciitis - footwear advice?

[NameChange30]

Hi

I have plantar fasciitis: pain in the heel/sole of my right foot which is worse in the mornings. I recently started jogging to train for a 5k Race for Life, and I guess I didn't do enough stretching :(

I've looked up advice online and it seems like supportive footwear should help. Has anyone else had plantar fasciitis, and if so can you advise on suitable footwear that isn't hideous?!

I have Birkenstocks which I love, but they're not very smart for work or practical if it rains. So I've bought some insoles (Orthaheel Gel Heel Pain Reliever) which I thought I'd try putting in my regular shoes. Any other suggestions?

Thanks
Emma

PS I am also following the other advice i.e. stretching, rolling a tennis ball under my foot, etc.

I ended up with PF after wearing Birkenstocks over the course of one summer.

I now wear Skechers Shape Ups and they've really helped. I also have some custom orthotics which I wear with them.

Also try stretching out your hamstrings and calf muscles.

A steroid injection cured mine a few years ago.

It was done privately, was guided in by ultrasound and pain relief was massaged in so i didn't feel a thing.
A previous one at the GP's didn't work and was painful as they didn't have time to wait for the anaesthetic to work.

Before that, I found mine was better when I wore winter boots with a 1-1 1/2 inch heel. Summer was difficult. Soft shoes with a strap at the back worked best,

Thanks everyone for your replies!
I remembered that my Mum got some FitFlops and has been raving about them ever since... Just been looking on the website and there's loads of choice, some of the shoes are pretty stylish. Shame they're so expensive! Might treat myself to one pair...

I've got this too and find shoes with a bit of a heel help - which is a right pain (literally!) because I hate wearing heels and am also going to the gym quite a bit and my heel is not liking my trainers at all...

Flat sandals are no good but my work shoes with heels are great, as are my M&S slippers, bizarrely - I think because they've got a bit of support in them.

Fitflops are good for pain in some people but don't work for everyone. My Dsis is a podiatrist and when I first started wearing then 4 yrs ago she was dubious about them as they were new at the time. Now she recommends them after seeing so many patients benefit.
I have worn a pair throughout the last 4 summers and have boots for winter. This year I haven't worn any and I am suffering.

Fit flops seemed to make mine worse! But thinking about it, they were old and had stretched so were quite hard to keep on my feet.

Certainly a slight heel and arch support helped me. I've bought some instep things to put in pumps and that helps.

I saw an osteopath (about something else) and he gave me some stretches which seem to have sorted it - mainly hamstring.

I'm currently pain free but still stretch daily and also try not to wear the same shoes every day. Oh and Asda do their own version of fit flops for about £12-£15

Thanks everyone! I've ordered some FitFlop sandals and M&S slippers. Also wore the heel cushions in my pumps today, which did seem to help.

I've been stretching my calves and hamstrings religiously, also rolling a small bottle of frozen water under my foot, which is not exactly pleasant but does feel as if it's doing some good!

I get the impression there's no quick fix and I'll have to be patient. How long did it take you ladies to get over the worst of it?

Try Skechers. They're supremely comfortable, and the only shoes I can wear without my orthotic insoles without pain (achilles tendonitis, not pf, though similar symptoms). They're very cushioned and give some bounce that I lack naturally.

Sorry, but it took a while (6 months?..). Also sorry to say, I don't think footwear really makes a difference. The injury itself is a tear which just needs time to heal. On the bright side, it never came back once healed IYKWIM.

I suffered terribly from this and Sketchers Go Walk were brilliant.

Fitflops helped me. I found a can of cold drink from the fridge rolled under my foot really helped. (Frozen water may be too cold?) The shape of the can gave a good massage.
If you do any running in the future then think about visiting a running shop to get advice on footwear.

I am over 18 months in with mine and have had NHS insoles and wear fit flops etc. However I have just had a private podiatry appointment which was far more high tech than the NHS one and am awaiting new insoles. Fit flops are definitely better than flats.

I was offered steroid injections but wanted to steer clear as they can have nasty side effects

I reckon mine took 12mths to clear. I think it was caused by me living in Ugg type Celtic Sheepskin boots all winter last year (I walk a lot).

I have been pain free for I reckon 3-4mths but am keeping up with the stretches, inserts and alternating footwear as a preventative measure.

Just remembered that the chemist recommended voltarol(?) if the pain was really bad.

It took 3 years for mine to resolve itself, and it disappeared almost overnight (3 months ago - HALLELUIIA!) after steroid injections, insoles, horrendously expensive MBT trainers etc. So probably no constructive advice here .

I used to find stretching my feet every morning (pulling toes back towards insteps) before getting out of bed, was the only thing that helped. And wearing gel insoles in EVERYTHING. Don't ever wear flats with no inner supports or walk around without shoes. I used to wear gel insoles even in my slippers!

I used to do long hours as a chef and gothis when pg and wearing cheap pumps walking around uptown in summer, what a fool i was!
I got Asics, they are expensive but I recently saw podiatrist through the nhs-got orthotics fromher and exrercises and she said the asics were very good-but get the ones designed forunning, i got gel kayanos 16 and then later the 18 and each pair lasted me about a year!
I can't deal with the massage-of thr under-sole,too painful to do!

My 2p worth.

1. Wear nice bouncy trainers as much as you can, even in the house or at a pinch something like crocs at home.

2. Go to the gp and get referred to the podiatrist. They will be able to give you exercises and orthotics if necessary.

3. Ice your feet with soft icepacks for 15 mins each day I use boo boo buddies that are sold for children. Like these.