Plantar faciltis

[LoudSnoringDog]

Without seeing a GP ( because I cannot get an appointment) I believe that I have PF. Extremely painful and can't weight bear on my foot.
I don't even know where to start with trying to alleviate symptoms, from what I am reading on the internet, it appears to not just resolve itself quickly?

So frustrating as I have a 10 mile race on April 3rd and half marathon on may 1st so imagine I won't be able to realistically participate in these now.

Any tips for pain mgt and resolving?

Any tips for pain mgt and resolving?

I'm 100% convinced that treatment is totally individual.
Most ppl can trace it to tight calves, with me it's due to tight hamstrings, and related to achilles tendonitis.

Heel lifts helped me a lot.
Look at youtube for home physio exercises.

My DM had a steroid injection for hers last week after suffering for almost a year.
Instant relief - and not the excrutiating pain she was told to expect either. It doesn't work for everyone though.
DP had ultrasound therapy for his which worked after one treatment which might be worth checking out.

I suddenly developed FP just before covid lockdown hit. I saw a podiatrist who gave me exercises but nothing more. Saw GP and finally got some physio- via video call. I bought one of those socks that pulls your toes up in bed and couldn't stand it. Did exercises, spiky balls, stretches, got a gait assessment done and new trainers.

I go against all the advice reading it now. I was barefoot in socks at home every evening. Lost weight and it made no difference to the pain- put weight back on and then one day realised there was no pain!!! That was 18mths after it started, and 6mths since I'd finished the physio session. I hadn't been doing regular stretching then either.

I do wonder if the physio exacerbated the issue, as does seem strange that it just suddenly stopped. So glad it has though, so hopefully yours will go too.

PF is inflamation of the tendon running along the base of the foot . You need to get the inflamation down down . Ibuprofen worked for me but would have thought any NSAID would help.

Forgot to say, I had got to the stage of could barely walk 10 minutes down the road

I stopped exercising for two weeks, took anti inflammatory, stretched calves by holding hands against the wall and pushing through heels. I always push my heels down before getting out of bed but mostly I push my toes up. I often flip on my stomach in bed and bend my toes against the mattress. Also never barefoot.

Most ppl can trace it to tight calves, with me it's due to tight hamstrings, and related to achilles tendonitis.

That's why I'm surprised I got it. I very much don't have tight hamstrings and calves - I can put my hands flat on the floor with my legs straight and bend my elbows!

I think for me it was just over-use and high impact without stretching afterwards, plus walking around on hard floors barefoot. PIL bought me lovely sheepskin slippers for Christmas. They were so nice that I ditched my Crocs for a while. A week in, one of my heels started hurting. Until then, I hadn't had any PF problems for several years. Lesson learned - back to the Crocs!

I had it for years and tried everything - nothing worked. Good insoles helped a bit but didn't get rid of it. Then I was given shockwave therapy and it sorted it out completely in 4 sessions.

@Fairislefandango

Most ppl can trace it to tight calves, with me it's due to tight hamstrings, and related to achilles tendonitis.

That's why I'm surprised I got it. I very much don't have tight hamstrings and calves - I can put my hands flat on the floor with my legs straight and bend my elbows!

I think for me it was just over-use and high impact without stretching afterwards, plus walking around on hard floors barefoot. PIL bought me lovely sheepskin slippers for Christmas. They were so nice that I ditched my Crocs for a while. A week in, one of my heels started hurting. Until then, I hadn't had any PF problems for several years. Lesson learned - back to the Crocs!

I have just bought some Sketcher's slippers, the are really comfortable

I would personally get checked out by a sports physio. There are a few other conditions that can present similarly but have different causes so need different resolution.

In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt to see if a nighttime specialist “sock” that pp mentions helps.

Oh it's awful OP I really sympathise!
I have had it for months, my job is just lots of walking and I don't have a car so have to walk everywhere and it's been hell. I felt like I was walking on tiptoes all day for the first few weeks.
I've tried every suggestion I've found on the Internet but really taking ibuprofen is the only thing that makes mine bearable.
I just want to be able to walk normally again without it hurting.

I've had so many musculo-skeletal problems ... sadly no physio/doctor ever fixed them, so I've given up on that expense. Do keep trying different ideas on youtube, from friends, social media etc. though. All of my issues got better, just never because of advice any professional personally gave me.

Ouch I feel your pain, I now always wear something on my feet. I live in vionic shoes & slippers / fitflop sliders & Archies thong sandals. Mens new balance 850 have a good strong arch support & are wide, saying that I still have to use the shoe stretcher before they are wide enough. It takes a while for improvement I could hardly walk in the morning & the sexy, furry, velcro Vionic slippers were lifesaver- 🤣 (a tad pricey)

My DSis is a podiatrist. I suffered for 18mnths. She made me an insert (I have one leg longer than the other) which helped. She recommended healed shoes, about an inch high, and fitflops for summer or around the house.
It took a winter of wearing boots continuously, but it worked.
She also gave me exercises to do.

I found some fitflop lace ups solved mine. I wore them every day for a very long time until they weren't fit to be seen in public and it's never come back!