Imagine you have a new annoying health condition that affects your quality of life

[lljkk]

Advice online, including in physiotherapist videos, is fairly contradictory. Some say "Always do X!" others say "Never do X, X will make it worse!" The most honest info seems to say "Lots of things can cause this problem and so there isn't one solution that works for everyone, it's usually lots of trial and error before gets better." There is a huge number of things to try, even though Scientific research = best prognosis, modest improvements are sometimes possible from the popular treatments.

omg, how do you decide what to do, where to start in the trial and error?
Cheapest first? Most conventional first? Most appealing?

ps: It's Plantar Fasciitis ... maybe. Although it really could be 3 or 4 other foot problems that mimic PF. Pfffffttttt

I’d start with the stuff that can’t harm- stretches and foot massage.
Although insoles really helped my pf. And always wearing something shoe-like. Pf is really common so there’s a good chance it’s that. Stretches and ibuprofen.
What are they saying not to do?

according to some sources

... stretches can easily be overdone so make the underlying tendonintis worse, while bad massage can inflame already inflamed/injured areas.

...best thing is go barefoot as much as possible to get the toes spread out properly, this realigns the foot muscles over time.

...Insoles perpetuate the wrong foot position that causes the problem so only treat symptoms not cause

Basically, every bit of advice I find, there is someone who says to do opposite. I wasn't looking for criticisms of the conventional advice, honest. I presume so much contradiction coz basically, nothing actually works consistently.

I guess I'll avoid the things that I feel most confident are linked to how my PF happened (sob, that means no running unless I want to try barefoot shoes to stay entirely on ball of my foot, poncy things, I don't want to waste my money, and some sources say BF shoes have caused huge increase in PF, too). And go with (gentle) massage or stretches plus foam roller to loosen any tight muscles. I imagine months before I can run again, sigh.

ps: thanks for reply, don't mean to discount it, that's why it doesn't matter what my condition is. The problem is so much contradiction, not what I've specifically got.

I knew you were going to say PF!!
Time, what ever brings you relief (rolling your foot on a frozen bottle) what ever is cheapest (orthotics covered by a medical plan) or physiotherapist.
Positive thoughts...it’s rather dreadful

Sorry to be a pain but your title needs amendment as this is just going to be about pf despite your best intentions.

I guess I'll hide it then, it's not going to help me to keep reading contradictory stuff.

I feel your pain, as I have had a bad bout of PF which took a long time to clear up.

Having read a lot around the seemingly contradictory advice, I have a model which makes sense to me and integrates the contradictory advice, well it worked for me. The differences are for me explained by the difference between things which might help relieve an acute attack and things which in the very long term will make things better.

Heel raises and calf stretches straddle both these and help in any case.

After lots and lots of exercises, https://nutritiousmovement.com/feet-and-shoes/ is a good place to start, your feet will be strong, your calf muscles more pliable and all will be well in your world, and barefoot will indeed be the way forward. Especially first thing in the morning, some gentle stretches before you put your feet to the floor (after then have been relaxed all night) helped me a lot.

In the short term, however, some cushioning in your shoes, even a slight heel can allow your shortened calf muscles some relief. They are temporary measures, which mask the real problem, so the key is to find the balance between short and long term measures that works for you.

Another complicating factor is that very, very few health care professionals have any truck with the barefoot approach. Why would they, when it would ultimately put them all out of business? There are a few, but they are few and far between. It is not easy to ignore what they suggest about steroid injections and deadening nerves and keep on with your calf stretches.

All the best, I hope you find what you need...

Hi

I’m a lady of 53 maybe a bit old for here but I am a mum and I love mumsnet so I dared to reach out for advice.

Over the last year I have had infrequent episodes where I will suddenly smell the most foul stench of something rotten - like something has died and been left to rot or the smelliest feet that haven’t been washed for 6 months.

It’s not fishy or metallic or rotten eggs.

And it only lasts 10 seconds then it has gone.

At first it was infrequent but now it may be every couple of days. It’s like a bag of gas has been opened then when the smell has been dispersed you would not know anything had happened.

At first I thought it was someone taking their shoes off and letting out this ungodly smell. But it’s happened when I am in different places and even on my own so .... is it me? And how is it me?

I have good personal hygiene and once this stink has passed I can’t locate it anywhere on me. And believe me I have poked and prodded and swabbed every orifice. But it all seems normal for me and nothing like the short term stench.

I have read about Bv but it doesn’t seem to match. This is a one off smell and then nothing more.

I went to a gum clinic recently to have the threads of my Mirena coil cut shorter and I dared to ask if everything smelled ok down there and the lady said she hadn’t noticed anything. And I would imagine that the gum clinic nurses would have plenty of experience in that department.

I don’t feel I can go to the doctors because there are no immediate symptoms to show them.

So I was wondering if any of you wonderful ladies might have any insights. I am starting to worry this might happen in work.

Thanks I’m advance