Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

planta fascilitis

23 replies

carmen66 · 04/08/2014 15:52

Hi. I've just been diagnosed with Planta Fascilitis, which began last summer which I believe was from wearing flat ballet type shoes.. My Dr said that there isn't much that can be done but recommended M&S Foot Glove footwear which have cushioning on the heel.. I'm just wondering if anybody else suffers with this condition & how you treat it? Are there any insoles that work to ease the pain?

OP posts:
ProfYaffle · 04/08/2014 16:02

Ooh, yes, me! I've only just been diagnosed too after having it for the best part of a year. If you Google quite a few recommendations for treatment come up.

I've found gel heel inserts (cheapo ones from Ebay) are really helpful. If I'm standing for a longish time doing stuff like ironing and cooking I wear my shoes with them in.

If I have a long walk I use tape to strap my foot (again, Google for videos etc) and then use a self adhering bandage to cover the tape just to stop it peeling off. I've found this, together with the heels, an absolute Godsend. I've had 2 weekends away which involved lots of walking around and this method got me through it.

I've also got some ibuprofen gel which I use if I get sore and I massage and stretch the area too.

I've only started doing all this in the last couple of weeks or so and it's helped enormously. The pain is still there but much, much reduced.

ProfYaffle · 04/08/2014 16:02

Sorry, gel heels were amazon, not Ebay.

Needadvice5 · 04/08/2014 16:07

A bottle of frozen water used for rolling exercises under the foot - helped me loads google it...

Definitely inserts....

Avoid flat shoes....

I had steroid injections a few times but I know most GP'S are reluctant to do this.

Took me 2 years for mine to go. It's the most painful thing ever isn't it?

Good luck xx

mawinter · 04/08/2014 17:03

I had this from years of Ballet. Doctor ordered special shoe inserts that i had to wear for a year. The inserts had some indent at the middle of the heal section. After this I had another set of inserts that I wore for another year and now I am pain free. Not sure if you saw your regular doctor or an orthopedist, but I recommend visiting one as they take it a bit more seriously.

Original poster
carmen66 · 04/08/2014 19:53

Thankyou all so much for your advice ,it's really appreciated.. The pain is awful first thing in the morning I hobble around like an old lady for a few minutes.. Mawinter the locom Dr didn't take it seriously at the the end of the consultation she asked what I'd expected her to do today, to which I replied a diagnosis.. I will try the exercises that you have all kindly suggested , I was in Boots today & there are so many different shoe inserts that are very expensive I really don't want to waste money trying different ones.. Does anybody know if the gel ones are better?

OP posts:
ProfYaffle · 04/08/2014 20:03

these are the ones I got but I now wish I'd got full shoe sized ones as these can slip side to side.

Fatgirlnomore · 04/08/2014 20:04

I have this and sketchers go walk have been amazing.

MrsCosmopilite · 04/08/2014 20:04

I got some orthotic heel supports from a Scholl shop about three years ago. I wear them most days. They're quite hard plastic rather than gel but they have worked for me. I think they cost about £10. If I'm not wearing those I try to go barefoot as much as possible.

I started a thread about two weeks ago asking for ideas for summer footwear and both Fitflops and Birkenstocks have been recommended a lot.

Original poster
carmen66 · 05/08/2014 18:41

I think that I'll have to invest in some Birkinstocks the pain is so bad at the moment as I've been walking a lot... I also ordered some insoles from Amazon that had good reviews :)

OP posts:
headlesslambrini · 05/08/2014 18:50

Sketchers do a memory foam insole trainer - absolute heaven! Sports direct have them in stock, about £40

Fruityflapjack · 05/08/2014 18:52

I had this last year carmen, much the same symptoms as you describe.

I did the for exercises and wore nothing but Birkenstocks all summer. I bought a pair of M&S foxglove ballet type shoes and my normal good quality winter boots from DUO for the winter.

It's more or less sorted now. I occasionally get reminded of it if I've been silly and worn some fashionable shoes or heels for an evening.

This summer I've worn Capri IV crocs. They are sublime little shoes from heaven. Slightly less clunky than crock so look much better with summer skirts etc.

Sympathy, it's ever so painful and debilitating Thanks

ThrowAChickenInTheAir · 05/08/2014 19:01

Sympathies, awful isn't it?! Sad.

I appear to have developed it quite painfully over the last month or so in one foot for some strange reason.

Tbh I haven't gone to the doctor, have just tried to get ideas online. I do find rolling something round and hard under the foot helps, so I keep a tin of beans near me of an evening much to dh's Confused

I can't wait to wear insoles but it's hard this time of year with sandals so that'll be for the Autumn I think. Meanwhile I hobble about.

There are exercise on youtube to try which I've found helpful (good to do just before you get out of bed in the morning when it can be esp bad)

goodasitgets · 05/08/2014 19:08

I'm not sure whether I have this, I think I've just pulled something
Severe pain on the inner sole of my foot and arch, just one foot
Anyway I have some rock tape left over from a back injury, googled how to tape my foot and it feels a lot better and more supported. I think the tape is about a tenner off eBay so might be worth a go

Larkfields · 05/08/2014 19:11

Troostep insoles -google them . They worked wonders for me after months of struggling along just like yourself.

Larkfields · 05/08/2014 19:13

Also, I swear by Fitflop shoes - not just the flip flop Fitflops but all styles - not cheap but well worth the money , and the Troostep insoles work inside my wellies.

kateecass · 05/08/2014 19:18

I've had this before and got it again at the moment. It went away before by wearing Birkies and losing weight. I've managed to put the half stone back on I lost before which is why I think it's come back. Could that be a factor? I need to lose that half stone again!

Larkfields · 05/08/2014 19:22

Being overweight is a definite factor - mine began when I suddenly started walking lots with a new dog but weight is also an issue with me !!!

MerdeAlor · 05/08/2014 19:29

Pro advice?
Avoid going barefoot
Look up eccentric and concentric stretches plus calf stretches
Take anti inflammatories if able to for a couple of weeks
Orthotics
Cold can rolled on the bottom of the foot
Avoid very flat unsupportive shoes like flipflops or ballet pumps permanently.

MerdeAlor · 05/08/2014 19:30

Oh yes, rest and avoid hill walking and running for a while. Do other exercises instead, swimming, cycling and rowing.

BreezefromtheWest · 05/08/2014 19:35

I suffered from this too after flat ballets and sandals and the only thing that helped was Fitflops in the house and out, plus M & S Footglove. I really sympathise, it is so painful but it will go with supportive footwear.

dillie · 05/08/2014 22:14

I swear by my go walks!

Still get the odd spike if I am on my feet a lot at once, but these shoes are a godsend!

dillie · 05/08/2014 22:15

I swear by my go walks!

Still get the odd spike if I am on my feet a lot at once, but these shoes are a godsend!

QOD · 05/08/2014 22:18

Steroid jab and fit flops did the job!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page