Plantar fascitits. Treatments needed please

[Rjae]

DH has suffered on and off with this for a year and it's getting worse. He hasn't done anything to treat it although he is now waiting for some steroid injections.

He is on his feet most of the day at work and has no option for most of the time, although occupational health have advised him he should not stand so much, unfortunately his bosses aren't listening.

I'm thinking shoe inserts, exercises or anything that helps ease the pain. He's getting quite down with it now.

I only had it very briefly and it cleared up quite wuickly, but remember being told to roll my foot over a frozen bottle of water. It was heavenly.

My mum has found shoe inserts and decently supportive shoes (Nike Air Max were recommended to her) to help as well.

I was prescribed codeine, though there are issues with long term usage so definitely need proper medical advice on that one!

Hi. My GP suggested injections, when I had the same, but I started seeing an osteopath who said that's a last resort.
Osteopath was brilliant and tried different techniques and acupuncture worked the best. As PF is an inflammation and this 'brings the heat out'.
Now, pain has almost completely gone.
Shoe inserts and exercises were also recommended and definitely helped between osteopath sessions.
Hope this helps.

Many thanks. Did you get shoes inserts from the dr or do you just buy them?

DH has codeine but even they dont always work.

The bottle sounds good. Will freeze today!

I had PF and used Scholl Orthaheel inserts, also wore trainers around the house as physio advised that going barefoot didn't help it. Cleared up after I started using the inserts.

I was referred to a specialist to get inserts. They did make a difference. I also had steroid injections into my heels. That was extremely painful and didn't seem to help at all. Other people I know who have had the injections have stressed that you need them delivered by someone very experienced.

Now I wear Birkenstocks all the time and that helps, but I have heard others say they made it feel worse. I think they help me because my weight is distributed across the whole of the sole of my foot and not concentrated in the heel as it was before.

I went to a podiatrist for specialist orthotics - they were brilliant and solved the problem within days

Fabulous. I will look at the scholl inserts for now. DH is seeing the 'foot doctor' so not sure if this is a podiatrist!

DH has to wear safety shoes at work unfortunately but can manage Birkenstocks at home.

I think my DM was given shoe inserts via the physio, though her feet problems were causing knee/back issues, so not sure if that's a general route.

DH has had some shoe inserts ordered by his foot doctor and given some exercises. Also his boss has taken on board what the occy health people have said (at last!) and given him a couple of free days off to rest his feet.

DH in less pain today thank goodness.

Tell him to beware that when he goes back to work, it may be even more painful. That's always what happens to me after having time off.

I have special gel insoles that really help.

Insoles, plus exercises and rolling feet over stuff. I found the downward facing dog yoga pose very good for stretching out the muscles.

also, I am currently massaging arnica in, which helps the healing process and as I do it, massaging the calf muscle, if you feel up from the ankle, any painful pressure points and massage those, it really helps.

I can't believe he hasn't tried anything in that year though, I've been doing all sorts as I am always on my feet most of the day. At times I just have to sit though or I'll fall. It is agony at times.

Plantar Fascitis concernes the fascia that's attached to bones at each end of the base of the foot. standing all day is one of the worst things for it. Is it not possible for him to take a stool in to workto use, even if just for a few minutes at a time?

Overnight, as with all things there is healing of the damaged tissues going on, so getting out of bed in the morning is one of the things he needs to be really careful about, to minimalise the risk of undoing that.

Instead of leaping out and getting straight on with doing things, it would be better if he first put his feet to the floor and wait a little. Then carefully transfer his weight to them as he stands up.

Everything else said insole supports, cool bottle rolling, etc up thread is also good.

I needed good fitted shoes, and I did get a self referral form for podiatry. It may be worth seeing if he can self refer. Putting a cold can of juice under the foot and rolling can be good.

Calf stretches, good supportive shoes, timberland do work shoes and they are comfortable and supportive, icing it all the time, orthotics in the shoes, osteopathy, massaging foot, calf, heel. mine is on the wane after 15 months of all of this. I wear fit flop clogs in the house, and never ever go barefoot.

DH hasn't done anything for a year because he's a man!

Thanks this is all very useful. I'll get some inserts as it'll be a month for the foot doctors insoles to arrive apparently!

DH is someone who doesn't have the self discipline to do stretches etc but I think the pain is changing his mind! Hopefully now his boss is on the case he can do more sitting at work. It does improve then has a hard day at work on his feet and it flares up.

its about doing exercises on the fly, dipping your heels down on the kerb of a pavement, on a step or stretching against a wall - any wall, feeling the tightness and then stretching before it feels any worse, once you start stretching its easier to keep it up as you start to feel it working - i know people who have had success with sock splints, which you wear at night and stretch out your foot whilst you sleep.

I've had plantar fascitits for years on and off, until I found that fitflop footwear really reduce the pain. This winter is the longest I have been pain free, since I bought a pair of leather boots and have been wearing them every single day since - I walk a lot, I'm a child minder. I have fitflop sandals for when we are indoors. It's not a treatment, it doesn't cure anything but it has greatly reduced the pain and I am now pain free! They have men's shoes as well!

An orthopaedic consultant did an MRI scan and diagnosed mine,
I've had custom made orthotics
A sleep boot thats supposed to stretch your fascia (I think) very clumsy to wear
Steroid injections in both feet(really painful never again! Never worked)
Stock wave therapy(machine that makes a hammering effect)
Another pair of insoles by nhs podiatrist and also built up insole on right foot 1cm leg discrepancy
Tens machine
Acupuncture
Podiatrist also that pain was being referred from my back x-Rays done degenerative disc decease(age related)
I now do yoga and Pilates

I've had this in my feet most days for 14 years! And nothing so far what I've tried as helped mine!!
I wear Nike Pegasus trainers(good trainer) and Clarks boots
Been Trafford centre today for couple hours and they are humming now!!!
Lay with feet up!!

Always wear supportive footwear .no going barefoot at all for a couple of months to maintain arch and prevent tears and inflammation. Before getting out of bed lie on back and stretch toes towards shins to stretch before weight bearing .arch support s good too.

Going to have to stress this prevention thing with DH more as he is such a man with this type of thing. That's awful mini. DH wants an operation as he thinks it's the answer to his problems as in quick fix

I have this - it comes and goes but the only thing I found that helps is physio (it can be caused/aggravated by tight calves/hips apparently). When the physio set about my calves I just about went through the ceiling they were so tender (no idea why I hadn't noticed).The doc might be able to refer your dh for physio on the NHS but round out way the waiting list was over a year so I ended up paying. However it was worth every penny - I was getting to the point where I could barely walk to the end of the street. If the physio isn't an option he could check out some stretches/ways of relieving calf tension. I also used the big boot things when I was sitting down/sleeping and that helped too. Good luck, it's horrible!