Plantar Fasciitis hell

[SMLSML]

Need a hand hold, had PF since March and it's been getting steadily worse even with treatment. Currently getting weekly shockwave therapy, halfway through the course and it's gotten so bad again, I'm struggling to stay on my feet as it's so sore and they're constantly burning and painful. Doing all the recommended things, you name it I've tried it. Seem to be just burning (pun intended) money away trying to solve it. Anyone who has had it, do you just have to ride it out and it'll go on its own? Need reassurance as really struggling, have two kids under 5 and a demanding events job where I need to be on my feet for 12 hours plus at a time. I've lost a stone, not overweight, I've got autoimmune conditions but nothing drastically out the ordinary. Just looking for reassurance I'll get better eventually and idea of timescales that others experienced 🫠

Forgot to add. The best stretch and movement I did was just before getting up in the morning when I was very stiff. Lie flat on your back, slowly bend one knee at a time dragging your heel along the bed, keep your foot stretched upwards at a 90 degree angle, then straighten it back to flat. Three or four on each side. Changed my wake up every morning. Such a small thing but made it so much better.

Yes it will go.

Never go barefoot.

Never wear flat shoes, if flat wear arch supports https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=amazon+pro+11+insoles&adgrpid=161123163357&gad_source=1&hvadid=696641742162&hvdev=m&hvexpln=70&hvlocphy=1006886&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=14495772803351773512--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14495772803351773512&hvtargid=kwd-587228961266&hydadcr=24984_2304610&mcid=3991bb09129330bda1ffdc6ea1c3d615&tag=hydrukspg-21&ref=pd_sl_2sm4nbu84n_e_p70

Stretch out calves every time you
go upstairs.

The first time I experienced it I tried all sorts of things at the same time (new arch support insoles, new trainers, never going barefoot, stretching, anti inflammatory meds, not wearing heels) and eventually it just went away after a few months. I had no idea what was the cure out of all those changes, or even if it just healed over time.

After a few months of going back to my old "bad habits" of going barefoot a lot, wearing unsupportive shoes and never doing the calf stretching exercises, it flared up again.

This time I only went back to not going barefoot and doing lots of calf stretching and that seemed to be enough. I do wear my supportive trainers around the house and any other time casual footwear is appropriate, but I also can wear shoes with poor support or higher heels, occasionally, with no ill effects.

So, ridiculously long story short, I'm pretty sure that the main thing that keeps it at bay for me is regular calf stretching.

As above and Sketchers that have a "bubble" window underneath. They're not named "arch support" but do have them in. I haven't tried the ones that Sketchers call arch support as the others worked fine. My job involves continually being on my feet and it was when I first started in the role that I got PF but don't have it all now.
Have heard that magnesium spray works for cramps and though not the same type of pain this may help?? Just a suggestion.

Another vote for Hoka trainers. If you buy them direct from their website you can do a 30 day trial to eye if they help. Free returns.

My sister has this and swears by Archies flip flops

There seem to be different levels of bounciness in the Hoka range. I bought Hoka hiking sandals. They’re good but it’s taken me a while to get past feeling like I’m on a bouncy castle and at risk of pinging off at an angle. Which Hoka trainers do you buy?

I'm a long distance hiker. I got it after a hike about 18 months ago. It's taken a year to go away and I've had to drastically cut down how much I hike. I'm starting to be able to walk a bit further now but there were several months where I just couldn't do anything.
I had gel insoles in my shoes and they were good. And I also had foot braces to wear during the night which gently stretched my feet.

Rolling my foot over a cold drink can at night. Wearing New Balance trainers. Sticking my toes between the bed mattress and bed and pushing my heel down to stretch calves before getting out of bed. Putting my toes on the edge of a step and pushing my heel down. Avoiding flat shoes such as Converse. Wearing slippers in the house.

Sketchers. Ugly but helpful.

However the thing that started the resolution was moving on it too fast, causing it to, somehow, crack. It was agony. I fell over, screaming. BUT the next day it started to resolve and was better within a week.

And I also have a autoimmune disease. IBD.

I had it 10 years ago for 6 months... hell! As others have said, buy proper running trainers and do the calf stretches. I think I had some Nike ones back then but now I wear Hokas every day. For me it meant saying goodbye permanently to the flat shoes I was wearing (Converse, Vans). I never found the arch support inserts worked and have made peace with running shoes every day! (Helps with an ankle injury I have too).

My friend suffers with this. She doesn't wear anything other than Crocs (don't know how that helps!) and she has flare ups but they go very quickly. She says it's the Crocs that help.

I had it for a year. The only thing that got rid of it for me was penetrex cream:

https://penetrex.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorH2zCzCCtj3MxCTvt4oyk1DHkNUbtnT3L1irQo29pz-Adj83qD

I used it in the morning & at night. I recommend it to a co worker and it healed his too. I swear by it

Don’t wish to put you off but I’ve suffer 20 years with what each “professional “ said was PF
I gave literally spent ££££ on different professionals, insoles, orthotics even customer made computer ones £400.
I’ve seen podiatrist 5 different ones , chiropractor
physio’s
Also had steroid injection right at the very start of this nightmare, and never again they absolutely hurt like hell.

Im sick to the back teeth of getting up every morning stretching before getting up and feeling like I’m walking through treacle. If I had to get up in a rush I’d end up on the floor
If I’ve been out walking around by say 30 mins in
my feet are hot, ache, I feel tired
when I look my soles are red , my calves feel stiff
they ache
All this started from walking around Blackpool for hours in a pair of thin soled boots 😡😱
At the time she’d 43 I’m now 67 and it’s even worse
Oh and I’ve had mri saying yes I have PF and another saying No !!! And 2 lots of shockwave therapy, just finished 4 sessions

so fed up and annoyed that nobody can treat this properly . The last few years I have left and I’m left in this state ! I so much wish my feet didn’t hurt so so much and I could walk about going places in my retirement

Goid Luck ❤️

These are the only things that helped resolve mine

Had it badly for year and a half now have it mildly in one foot.

Specially formed inner soles. Birkenstocks and fitflops. Really long stretches of back of heel calves.

The worst one... give up tennis, padel, running any of those hard hitting sports.

You've just reminded me how bad it used to be!!

I accidentally stumbled across sketchers while on holiday in the USA. Bought 2 pairs
(couldn't decide between them🤣) and haven't looked back. life changing.

(Go Walk are my go to. Haven't tried the 'hands free' or the sandals, boots etc)

I do wear other shoes now, but wear my sketchers most (& touch wood it hasn't come
back)

best of luck getting rid of it!! Nothing else I tried lol worked!

ouch. i am literally feeling your pain right now. I have had it for about 2 months. It is wearing me down. I love salsa dancing and walking. I think it was too much of both in my converse that started it. Trying all the things that might stop it and following with interest.

Asics trainers are great.. also insoles made by a podiatrist

Same here, immediate relief after months of excruciating pain. This was about 7 years ago and it hasn't come back.

It took me about 8 months to get over my attack of PF. I had shockwave therapy but it didn't seem to benefit me. In the end the combination of anight splint and custom made orthotic inserts from the podiatrist did the job. I was pretty much living in supportive running shoes for the whole time.

Wearing Birkenstocks all the time cured mine!

I suffered badly for years op. Tried everything, but what seemed to cure me was a summer of wearing nothing but Birkenstocks.

Sorry to hear this, pain is awful and debilitating. I have left foot plantar fasciitis and pain on the top of my foot. Apparently have compensated for it and caused Achilles pain in the right foot. X-rays show I have heal spurs too on the right foot. I am not in the UK so have a good amount of available care. I have had 3 injections of steroids in the left foot, 2 in bone spaces and one in the nerve. I got customized orthotics. Foot specialist recommended I wear these anything walking. Also change my trainers for ones which are much wider. I went from so lovely Sketchers go run to New Balance 1080 and 680 in men’s wide. I go to physio twice a week. Several stretching and strength exercises plus a brutal massage. I use a Pilates type machine and this really stretches the feet and calves. I am 12 weeks in and pain is still there but improving. In the house I wear some comfort sandals from Clark’s again in wide fitting. I do heel raises everyday whilst waiting for the kettle to boil. I have marbles that I dump on the floor and have to pick them
up with my toes on each foot and a towel that I pick up off the floor 20x each foot 3 times