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Original poster

Plantar Fasciitis. Ouch!

61 replies

FannythePinkFlamingo · 23/04/2023 19:59

Any tips to ease it? I have Fiflop lace up trainers which I wear a lot. I've been rolling my foot on a spiky ball. A month now and it's not easing at all. What worked for you?

OP posts:
WarningToTheCurious · 23/04/2023 22:13

Bob and Brad on YouTube - lots of great advice on stretching. Works for me every time it flares up.

I also got into the habit of stretching my feet in the shower every morning.

PretzelKnot · 23/04/2023 22:14

Never go barefoot. Stretch your calves. Don’t bother so much with foot stuff. It’s all in stretching the calves.

Shylo · 23/04/2023 22:19

Hi @bizzey - not slippers at all but I wore tiki girl flip flops all the time indoors and the relief was amazing. They are like £25 or so on amazon and I found them much better than Birkenstocks (which just made mine worse) or fitflop slippers (which did nothing)

MyCousinDaphne · 23/04/2023 22:20

Vionic shoes- boots at first and then their insoles in everything else. It has pretty much gone now.

Hohofortherobbers · 23/04/2023 22:22

A night sock from amazon, it holds your toes up so your tendons don't get chance to contract overnight, I'll find a picture......

Queenshandbag · 23/04/2023 22:24

Have you been diagnosed by a podiatrist? If not, it might be worth paying to see one of you can. We thought my husband had plantar fasciitis but a podiatrist told him he had flat feet and bone spurs. She had some inserts made for him to wear in his shoes and the pain is now a lot better. When it was really bad he had to use crutches.

MujeresLibres · 23/04/2023 22:25

I've had it for 2 years now. It's mostly settled but I wear supportive running trainers with heel inserts around the house and use the heel inserts with other shoes too. It doesn't seem to matter whether I walk or run, but if I go over about 3 miles of footfall in a day, it starts to hurt.

Kaylisa · 23/04/2023 22:29

I had this for about 2 years in both feet. Was so awful, I really feel for you.
my husband gave me foot massages daily each evening (they absolutely killed) but they felt better after.
I only ever wear sketchers now and don’t have any pain.

PaddingtonBunny · 23/04/2023 22:29

For stretching the band that is problematic, I found that if I bent my toes back at the same time as the calf stretch it really helped. You need to put your foot against the riser of the bottom stair with your toes bent upwards and then push your leg forward to stretch the calf at the same time.
I also bought a ‘Foot Rocker’ from Amazon which gives a great stretch - you can get one that also stretches toes at the same time.
And Birkenstocks for indoors.

DrHousecuredme · 23/04/2023 22:35

I completely cured mine by doing very regular (throughout the day) deep stretches of the calf muscle.
You can't be half-arsed and have to really stretch until it burns but it cured it gradually over a few months and now is rarely a problem.

Cas112 · 23/04/2023 22:39

Nothing helped me except wearing crocs for a few months.. not had it back in about 8 months now

Danikm151 · 23/04/2023 22:39

The injection didn’t work for me…. Was bloody painful as well.

never go bare foot… do ankle strengthening exercises and calve stretches. It will ease.
don’t wear flat shoes. Needs to have arch support

CC4712 · 23/04/2023 22:41

Hohofortherobbers · 23/04/2023 22:26

I found that sock thing the most uncomfortable thing I've ever tried! Too tight and it was painful, too loose and it fell off in the night. I saw a more structured boot style which looked better in hindsight.

In addition to that sock, I also tried:

  • Private podiatrist
  • Walking analysis showed my ankles roll in, so bought trainers to help correct that
  • Didnt wear heels for 2yrs and only wore non-trainers when I went to a funeral
  • Saw GP and finally had physio
  • Rolled foot in spiky balls and frozen things
  • Stretches
  • Private osteopath
  • Lost 10kg

None of the above made any difference at all! I'd been waiting for an appointment for shock treatment on it, when I woke one day and it was gone! It lasted 2yrs and coincided with me stopping the stretches and physio about a month beforehand. That was 5yrs ago.

Its worth trying some of the above, because some things do work for some people. Best of luck and I hope it goes away soon x

Gruf · 23/04/2023 22:42

orthopaedic arch support in shoes

HelloVeritas · 23/04/2023 22:44

Crocs offer very little arch support!

Calf stretches before you get out of bed then 'write' the alphabet in the air with each foot before getting up.

Anti inflammatory tabs or gel, frozen water bottle as a foot roller and orthopaedic arch supports.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 23/04/2023 22:46

Shockwave therapy really helped me along with the exercises and stretches.

I can't bring myself to wear Sketches but do live in trainers as anything with a hard sole aggravates it.

Gruf · 23/04/2023 22:47

Birkenstocks also helped

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 23/04/2023 22:48

I had three sessions of electric shock therapy which helped a lot. It was super painful and expensive, and I think a second course of three would probably have cured it. I’ve not been running since it kicked off.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 23/04/2023 22:49

I also wear Birkenstock clogs as slippers, and never ever go barefoot. The physio said I must never wear flip flops again!

SH23B · 23/04/2023 22:53

I had it about 18 months ago and my mother in law gave me a pair of these:
https://www.bjorgk.com/collections/cloud-slides
I do not move around my house without these on my feet anymore and haven't had any issues since. The ones I have are a size too big so I've just ordered two pairs in my size so I can wear them outside as well. The website looks so dodgy but don't let the put you off.

Cloud Slides

Cloud Slides

Meet our Cloud Slides for a colourful, modern, and comfortable look! Match your Sliders to all your outfits thanks to the different colours available

https://www.bjorgk.com/collections/cloud-slides

nex18 · 23/04/2023 23:14

I saw a sports therapist, had deep tissue and rock blade massage along with wearing the very glamorous sock posted above at night. I suffered for about 2 years, saw the GP, physio, podiatrist, had analgesics, exercises, ultrasound therapy, custom made insoles with no effect. 4 sessions of this and it was completely cured, I can wear any shoes without issues even Primark £1 flip flops.

Franticbutterfly · 23/04/2023 23:16

Massage your calves. Especially the outside. I got a Renpho massager from Amazon for about £35 and it sorts it out. Also, change your shoes, I have a pair of Adidas ultra boost that cause it to flare up.

ExtremelyDetermined · 23/04/2023 23:20

Skechers and crocs both made mine worse and even after it had gone I can only wear them for short spells before I get a twinge again. Orthotic inserts, Birkenstocks, calf and achilles stretches, spiky ball or frozen bottle rolling under the feet, yoga (downward facing dog). For slippers I wear boot types with orthotic inserts, or Birkies in summer. I can go barefoot again now (5 years later) though I tend not to for too long, just got out of the habit.