Plantar fasciitis

[bizzy1234]

I'm just wondering if any of you out there have or had this?
I've had it since May and I am in a considerable amount of pain... excruciating after rest and limping about during my day.
I used to walk miles and now can barely walk 5000 steps.
I have had an ultrasound about 2 months ago ago and the plantar fascias was 7 cm??
It's worse since then..
I have tried ...all stretching exercises
Rolling on an cold jar
Rolling on a ball
Acupuncture
Ibuprofen
Paracetamol
Insoles
Compression socks
Tens machine
Night splint
Physiotherapy
I wear sensible shoes/boots and never walk in wellies flip flops or bare feet.
I have now been prescribed Naproxen which is making me feel drowsy but offering very little pain relief.
I am on a waiting list for exctacorporeal shockwave therapy but due to COVID it's been postponed again... I'm so desperate and running out of ideas ... anyone got any new ones before????
Feel so fed up with this as it's just so painful.
Any pain relief and cures other than above will be hugely appreciated!

Have you tried losing weight? That's what I had to do. I know the agony of it...it's dreadful. I wasn't even carrying that much extra weight....maybe half a stone. Once I lost it, the plantar fascitis went away.

It can be a weird symptom of the menopause if you are the right age?

My husband has been suffering from this for about the same period - he used to run but can’t any more.

He definitely doesn’t need to lose weight (could do with gaining a couple of stone!).

Walkfit custom orthotics have made a vast difference and he’s now at least able to walk (average 10,000 steps per day) as long as he uses them. If he goes even a short distance without them he’s in trouble again.

They take a bit of getting used to but might be worth a try.

www.boots.com/walkfit-platinum-size-6-10238107

Btw had no idea they could measure plantar fascias!

I've never looked back since switching all my shoes including slippers to Skechers. I swear by them

Yes, I've had this. How on earth did you get an ultrasound??? I've had it over 2yrs and no xrays/scans or anything! Saw podiatrist, osteo, changed shoes & gait assessment all at my own expense. I did get some NHS physio, but this amounted to 4 session online over 6mths!!! Despite the fact I'd already paid for weekly physio myself for several months! Nothing helped.

I lost 10kg, and during covid put it all back on, yet saw no difference in pain at all when i was lighter. I did all the stretches and exercises recommended, only wore specific trainers all the time, night splint, insoles etc etc.

I was awaiting a specialist, phone appointment and woke up pain free one day!!! The only difference is that I stopped doing the physio exercises daily a few weeks beforehand. No idea if its related, but I cannot think of anything else that changed.

I'm still awaiting the consultant appointment, but was advised that shock therapy or a steroid injection might be the next steps.

Have you seen a specialist or awaiting an appointment with one?

I suffered with it for over a year. A night splint that held my foot up at 90 degrees overnight basically cured it. It was gone the next day. Very weird but a good result.

Mine was due in part to overweight, and partly (I think) to striding along on pavements with too much foot force. I changed my walking style and walked on grass where possible.

Took a long time to heal though.

I used to walk miles but PF stopped that. Stretching exercises and insoles seemed to have saved me. I don’t go anywhere without a decent heel, insoles and stretch when I’ve done anything over 2 miles,

Tedious but no longer in agony

Ugh it's horrible you poor thing. Mine was just getting worse and worse to the crying out with pain stage. So I -

• bought skechers, plus gel heel inserts plus arch support, and stopped wearing any other shoes

• just stopped walking. For a couple of months, I walked as little as I possibly could. For exercise, I went for bike rides.

The pain subsided bit by bit and I started walking again gradually with loads of calf stretches etc.

It's still better three years on - lots of hill walking etc. Sometimes I feel a bit of the stiffness coming back, but caught early it's easily dealt with with stretching and rolling on a ball.
I really hope you find something that works for you.

I also think I got mine from wearing those very flat ballet style shoes.

You have my sympathy I had in left foot for two years and then my right. I tried everything too. My right one has been better with some new asics trainers will try and find the correct link.
I work in a community rehab job so can get away with wearing them to work.

This was the name
Asics Gel-Quantum 90 - Men Shoes

I had the night splints that would keep your feet at a minty degree angle. They were great for keeping me pain free the following day but it would shortly return.

I went to a sports masseuse who did some blading on my very tight calf muscles.

Basically if you lay down your feet shouldn't point like a ballet dancers. They should stick up like you are stood on the ground. If they lay flat is could be your calf muscles pulling them tight. And your back could be having an effect on your calf muscles (posture, weight)

Blading is done by them running a thin stone over your muscles and removing knots. It can be painful the next day but after three sessions it's gone.

www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflets/physiotherapy%20foot%20plantar%20fasciitis%20advice-and-exercises

This is a pretty detailed hospital advice leaflet in case there’s any ideas/info you have yet to try.

Many of my colleagues (me included) are sufferers due to 13hours shifts on our feet all day (HCP).

I am suffering from it op and fitflop shoes relieve it slightly but I sympathise as it’s so painful. I am on my feet all day and I think it’s a combination of that and weight.

I did most of the things you said with some improvement but it didn't go away. What has made it mostly go is wearing supportive lace-up shoes all the time indoors as well as for walking. I still do calf stretches and wear a compression sock at night.

I ve had it since I was a child, sketchers go walks help my feet and I have physio on and off, I m trying to shift the weight gain from my pregnancy as being as low healthy weight range as possible makes a bit of a difference.

Thank you all... it sounds like we've all tried most things!!
The ASICS or Sketchers trainers sound like they help people - i have sketchers slip on ones and fit flop and shropody ones (too old fashioned but I don't care!!) but wouldn't mind something a bit more fashionable for the spring?? Any suggestions...
I really appreciate all your comments... there's so many PF sufferers out there but it's one of those illnesses that aren't deemed serious...but I think it affects every part of your day if you have it.

I suffered with it for almost 3 years. Tried everything. Eventually, I paid for shockwave therapy which finally got rid of it. I still have to be very careful and wear my Skechers and orthotics most of the time but I'm not in agony anymore.

I started couch to 5k on Sunday. One run and the pain is back. I'm hoping it won't properly flare up again. I can't bear the thought of going through this again

Try these. No other insoles work for me

www.amazon.co.uk/Orthotic-Insole-Support-Plantar-Fasciitis/dp/B00MV5O6NE?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I think Skechers caused mine. They were far too soft. Fitflops on the other hand have really helped.

ASICS were also good for mine.

Fitflops have been a real saver for mine.

Put on lace up shoes even when getting up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night. Never go without lace up shoes no matter what you are doing. Forget the ballet pumps, Converse, slippers, flip flops and any shoes that do not support your feet.

Before you get up in the morning loop a dressing gown cord around a foot at a time and slowly pull on it, stretching the muscles.

Contact your NHS Podiatry Service, they will discuss things over the phone and follow up with a sheet of exercises and the type of insoles to be worn.

Alternate between paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Never go barefoot either.