Plantar Fasciitis

[jheaefs]

Hello I have PF and I have it nearly 2 years now. I have been seeing a PT the past 14 weeks and have shockwave therapy which has helped a little. I do all the exercises and stopped running - well jogging I stopped and I have had to reduce the km I walk. I feel so fed up with it and I have spent literally my kids college fund on runners as I can forget about wearing shoes. Has anyone had success with treating what seems Chronic PF? I have had an MRI to confirm this is what it is , although my GP now wants me to see a foot specialist and get an MRI on my back. Any tips outside of the frozen bottle, rolling, stretching etc , inserts, etc that may help. PT also noted that the drop in oestrogen at my 55 years of age isn't probably helping either . Thank you.

Hrt for sure. Loss of oestrogen is very much linked to poor body repair

do you eat plenty of protein? Might help with repair.

HRT
Theragun

I have it, 11 months now, I’ve had physio, an MRI, 3 sessions out of 6 of shockwave so far, alllll the exercises, it’s actual hell. Every step hurts, I limp, I’ve given up almost all exercise, it’s utterly miserable.

The Consultant says it’s one of the worst cases on plantar fasciitis he’s seen, and I have a tear in the plantar fascia too!

So no advice, but I absolutely hear you, it’s beyond rubbish!!

Have you tried the night time socks? I tried al sorts and found the only thing that helped. I used the ones that are knee high and have Velcro from the toes to the knees. Settled mine down within a couple of weeks. If you have any other aches or pains, I would suggest asking about. Rheumatology referral though because some longer term autoimmune conditions can start with PF issues.

Pressure socks helped me a lot, they just about halved the pain. It's still pants though. Wishing you well.

Massage your calf. Was told this by the podiatrist and it works! Also magnesium supplements

I had PF for nearly a year. I ended up using the night time splints where your foot is kept at a 90 degree angle. Not the most comfortable but they absolutely worked. This was ten years ago and it never came back.

Hubby had it. He got a pack on Amazon which had an insole, roller exercise ball etc. He said it helped but ultimately he just had to wait for it to go away. Took over a year for him.

Long story that I won't bore you with, but I bought a pair of sketchers (go walk) before I even knew what they were just because they looked comfortable and looks like they would help me do a lot of walking on holiday.

It wasn't instant, but overtime the PF just went away and I haven't looked back, I do live in sketchers now, but personally consider a small price to pay for not having PF any more or messing around with the exercise and therapy that never worked for me

My chiropodist told me when i coyld barely walk

2 weeks 800gm ibuprofen 3 times a day to reduce inflamation.

Ice it 10 minutes twice a day
Never walk barefoot

Worked a dream

Thank you everyone! It seems I am not alone and there is comfort in a round about way knowing that and hearing that it has taken people a while to sort it or not even sort it! I will keep plodding along and hopefully when I see the foot specialist I might get some more help in fixing this. I haven't used the night sock/splint so I am going to look at that and if anyone has a good brand recommendation that would be great. Thank you and take care!

I have this and I am on my feet all day for work. I found supportive insoles, massaging calves, and bending foot back worked wonders. The insoles were life changing. And decent shoes.

HRT and wearing fitflop slippers at home, I WFH so wear slippers all day

I swear by toe separators. They keep a lot of pain at bay for me. I wear them any time I’m at home (WFH/watching TV/sitting in bed) and never walk barefoot. Calf massages too.

Mine was definitely due to oestrogen- or lack of it, as I was on an oestrogen inhibitor when it started.

I never ever walk bear foot now. Even when I wake in the night I put my fit flops on to go to the loo.

All my shoes have a plantar insole.

Time eventually healed it.

These https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plantar-Fasciitis-Orthopedic-Absorption-Comfortable/dp/B0892DBDTK/ref=asc_df_B0892DBDTK?mcid=0e9671313b983000b2aac500a1e7f02f&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697223478847&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14371054979740717008&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045158&hvtargid=pla-923374145746&gad_source=1&th=1&psc=1
changed my life. I bought a few packets, put them in my slippers and the majority of my shoes and within 10 days I felt better than I had done in a couple of years!

go and see a podiatrist/chiropodist who specialises in biomechanics and menopause -there are lots around, but use a speciailst!

Our (my DH and I) private pt taped it up - showed us how to do it - said he needn’t see us again - both cured never had it since. (Nurse and builder)

I had this for years and it’s excruciating. The pain woke me up every morning and I could hardly stand.

I tried (with minimal success)
insoles,
shock waves,
electric foot massager,
splints,
pressure socks and massage balls.

After my feet were constantly tingling and it felt like nerve damage I was referred to a physiotherapist and had steroid injections in my feet.

I had the injections in October last year and the pain had gone the following day, it’s completely changed my life.

I had the worst case the physiotherapist had ever seen, I had no fat in my heel pads and I’ve got high arches, apparently my feet are a mess. I only have children’s size 13 feet so that’s probably why I had such a bad case, I was overweight too which put pressure on. I have lost the weight now I can exercise free from pain, that’s made a huge difference and I found wearing crocs helps.

I’m not sure if the shoes I was wearing before were just not supporting my feet as they were made for a young child or if the crocs are giving extra support but I have several pairs and wear them most of the time. I swore I’d never wear such ugly shoes but if I walk barefoot or wear different shoes I can feel the difference later.

I was advised to wear hush puppies and I tried them but they didn’t make a difference, insoles to support the arch and heel helped.

I had nearly 10 years of pain before I realised it wasn’t normal, I was on my feet for work and other staff often complained their feet hurt, I didn’t realise that they weren’t in agony like me!

I recommend the injections if they are available to you, I bought a numbing spray from an online chemist as I was warned the injections are painful, the spray meant I didn’t feel much pain.

Anyone who suffers from this has my sympathy, I
felt like I had a proper disability as I could hardly walk before the injections, I’ve walked 5 miles today with no issues 😄.

Have you not been offered steroid injections? I had the worst case the physiotherapist had ever seen and also had tears in the plantar fascia, I could hardly walk or stand.

I tried the shock waves but it didn’t help, I had the injections in October and the pain has completely gone.

I did have it in both feet and for nearly 10 years so when I finally realised what it was the injections were offered within two weeks, I would ask about them if you haven’t been offered.

I hope you get it sorted, I don’t think anyone understands how painful it is unless they have experienced it.

Steroid injection and custom orthotics worked for me

I had it some years ago, I found what worked for me was never walking barefoot, always wearing shoes (including slippers) with arch support.

My physio recommended calf stretches, 2 x 30 seconds on both legs 4 x per day. The pain hasn’t gone but I can walk 20k steps a day without it getting worse.

I had 18 months in 1 foot and same in other side.
Mounjaro which I assume reduces inflammation helped and losing weight. I never go barefoot...wear OOFOS sliders at home.

I had acupuncture. Four very painful needles into the soles of my feet . Immediately felt tingling . Didn't notice too much difference leaving the podiatrists office but next day woke up pain free . Very painful but I would still do it .