Anyone had severe heel pain/plantar fasciitis?

[hellomylovely]

Had this for a week. I've read it could be plantar fasciitis, not sure why I have it as most of xmas been chilling and not walked much. Anyway I'm in agony. Anyone know how long it takes to get better? Even when I rest it's hurting.

I have and it was due to being on my feet 9-10 hours a day and to some extent my gait.
I would be surprised if that's what your problem is; due to sudden onset and the fact you say you haven't been very active.
Could you have injured your heel some how?

I don't think I have injured feet. Husband thinks it has creeped up on me from wearing flat shoes for years. Did your come on suddenly?

Have you put on weight recently? (Sorry - an insensitive question but relevant). Mine flares up when I've put on weight and eases off when I've lost a bit. Never completely disappears but does get better when I'm lighter. Mine only developed after being pregnant with DS2.

I used to work at a podiatry clinic. We saw loads of patients for plantar fasciitis. It does often come on after sudden activity, lots of walking, or seen in people who are on their feet all day. It can also be caused when you've been crouched in a strange position for a time, with your foot flexed (maybe crouched on the floor painting skirting board or similar). There is a link to weight too, being heavier will put more strain on the foot. Also unsupportive footwear will exacerbate the problem.
Main treatment is to reduce inflammation (ibuprofen gel, ice the area) and insoles to spread the pressure evenly across the foot.

Might be something else though so best see someone if it doesn't go away.

...also there are some calf stretches you can try, go on YouTube and search calf stretches for plantar fasciitis. But go slowly and carefully, especially if you've not done much exercise for a while.

Hope it goes away soon!!

Thanks! My shoes are all unsuitable with no support, so it's not surprising. Can you advise what shoes are best for in the house? We have laminate and I'm a stay at home mum and usually don't wear anything on my feet at home.

Yes I've put on about 4 pounds since Xmas

Also should I wear just heel inserts or full insoles like school ones? I was in agony all night with this agh

I have had it, wearing trainers with arch support (or arch support insoles in my normal shoes helped)

Also ice, rest and ibuprofen.

I had to wear crocs round the house and bought skechers trainers. Mine took a long time to go. Ballet flats and converse didn't do my feet much good.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3444065-Plantar-Fasciitis-nightmare

This thread is fairly recent, shoes were mentioned here but as you can see, what works for one doesn't work for someone else! Personally bare feet is best and my PF is much better and I always know if I've worn shoes (good or not so good shoes!) for more than a couple of hours or so. But it will be experimenting to find your best footware.

Stretching muscles so flexing your foot, using a step to stretch the calve muscles or using a tennis ball and rolling it under your foot helps. I try and do exercises throughout the day so going up the stairs, I'll stop and stretch; making a cup of tea, I'll use the tennis ball; watching tv on an evening, I'll flex my feet etc.

Worth giving the exercises a go while you wait to see the GP to double check the cause.

Also reading an above post, I was told off for wearing crocs but other people find them really helpful! 😁

I sympathise - it's agony especially at night and first thing in the morning. Mine came from nowhere and took six months to heal. Sketchers memory foam are your best friend! Never walk bare foot on hard floors as it makes it worse - put insoles in your slippers too!

That grimace was a sorry!

Acupuncture can work wonders. Some good clinical evidence on it. I looked into it for my Dsis. Helped her after a few sessions.

I've had it on and off for years. I'm very flat footed which causes my foot to roll inwards and places pressure on my heel.
I'm also overweight which doesn't help.
Like you I always used to wear ballet shoes and other unsupportive footwear. I now live in sketchers when out and about. At work I wear a pair of sketchers shoes and trainers when out and about which keeps it at bay.
At home I have fit flops and crocs to make sure my feet are comfortable.
Due to my flat feet, I also have tight calf muscles which places strain on my feet. You can look up on the internet specific exercises which help relieve the tension.
You can also but insoles to help cushion your feet which can provide some much needed comfort.
Whenever I have a flare up I tend to book myself into a physio who work on my calves and bind my feet with tape to alter my feet which provides surprising relief!
Rolling a tennis ball under your foot can also help.
You have my sympathies OP as the pain really is awful. I hope it passes soon.

When mine flares up I ice my feet for about 15 minutes each day with a pack a bit like this (sadly mine isn't paw patrol though )
and live in bouncy trainers. Crocs help as slippers too.

I found bare feet at home really painful. I bought a pair of clogs from Fit Flop sale and wore those. Or trainers when going out.

Podiatrist recommended Calf stretching exercises regularly for 3 months to see if inserts were needed. I still have to stretch regularly but my feet are so much better now.

Oh and ice and ibuprofen

Sympathies to you!

It is different for everyone but flat shoes (as in totally flat like ballet pumps) and gait were my problems. I got a massage and exercise recommendations from a sports physio and it cleared up over time - now I just stretch by calf / flex my foot a lot whenlying down.

I got some fitflop sandals for round the house, but it has stopped hurting so don’t wear them and just go barefoot again. I wear fly London boots with v slightly raised wedge heel outside.

Are you supposed to exercise the toes/heel I.e stretch them back as much as possible? Ive seen loads of you tube videos saying yo do this, this confuses me though as I know over flexing the toes can be a reason for causing the problem and surely your putting stress in the PF that stretches from heel to toe? Anyone understand why they recommend to do this? X

I had this and as you & found DM’s and fitflop shoes the answer.

As well as physio and finding the right shoes, hydration and looking at tips for foods that fit inflammation (mostly avoid sugar!!) can help.

That should say.. fight inflammation...

I had it from doing a lot of walking on hard pavements wearing Chelsea style boots. I swapped for a low block heel (about an inch) and it sorted it out within a few weeks.

Sketchers memory foam are your best friend - two podiatrists have specifically told me to avoid these, I used to have some and they definitely didn't support my feet enough. I wear slipper boots with orthotucs around the house in winter, Birkenstocks (tightly strapped on) in summer.