Miracle cure for plantar fasciitis ?

[wherewillwegoto]

Is there anything that definitely helps with plantar fasciitis? I've had it since August, I've been wearing arch supports, I've been doing the recommended exercises, rubbing in voltarol. Nothing is helping. I've an appointment with physio just before Christmas, but am in holiday the week before and we'd hoped to walk around quite a lot. At the moment after ten minutes I'm in agony! Is there anything I can do or use that will help?

Compression socks
Adidas trainers with arch support.
Soak your foot in hot then ice cold water alternately, a couple of times a day.

Calf raises on the edge of a stair. As a runner it’s the only stretch I do regularly. It’s always fixed PF, if I’ve had a break from running and done too much when I’ve come back to it, and it prevents it coming back.

I think my DH cured his (after a long time) by doing some sort of exercise in bed when he woke up. Stretching his feet up and down. I'm sure I read it here several years ago. He's at work so I can't check.

FitFlop’s for me. Their sandals in summer in and out of the house and shoes and boots outside in the winter and their fluffy slippers in winter.

threw away all my beloved flat sandals

Only thing that worked for me to get rid completely was one of the ever so sexy planar faciitis socks that you wear overnight.

I already posted a long post upthread and you asked about the type of night brace/socks people used. This is one I used and I DO NO RECOMMEND IT!!!!

Something more rigid like a boot/brace might help, but this sock thing was awful. Uncomfortable and IF I finally got to sleep, my other foot would get caught in the strap and I'd wake with it all half off.

I've had two flare ups of it and the latest one was debilitating. I couldn't walk on my heel at all, so was constantly on tip toes on the affected foot, and the pain woke me at night. The only thing that worked was shockwave therapy at a really good physio, three times a week at first, then twice and later just once a week accompanied by a year of physio three times a week doing foot strengthening exercises. Everyone said it will go away with time but it didn't and it was awful, affected every part of my life, I was miserable. Go and see a really good sports physio and get it treated ASAP.

Yes that's the problem, after a few minutes the pain is unbearable - and I'm used to pain with a chronic pain condition!

Today I've bought some crocs to try wearing around the house. Also a sock to wear at night.

There are a million online tips on how to cure PF quickly but ultimately there is no quick fix

oddly, keeping your foot warm really helps, as do saunas and hot baths and moving as much as you can tolerate, as the fascia in the foot has very limited blood flow, and good blood circulation is needed for healing the area, so whilst icing it may numb the pain, adding heat and focussing on movement to keep circulation going accelerates healing

it found this very helpful

it also also why moving your feet and ankles and wiggling your toes relieves the pain a bit

@Cantonet what kind of scan did you have please?

For me, I think the exercises do help, but you have to do them a lot. Like every hour. It's also very helpful IME to stretch calves and roll the foot before first putting a foot to the floor in the morning.

Ice also helped me a lot, again more often than seems reasonable - every hour if you can.

After suffering for nearly 2 years, mine was gone in a week when I really upped the frequency.

What exercises have you been doing that don’t work?

First thing in the morning, before putting my foot on the ground, I’d do lots of point and stretch on my feet, to get them ready for walking

The real breakthrough came when I found https://www.petrafishermovement.com/free-your-feet/

Hipe you find what works for you xx

Tens machine for foot / ankle

Decent trainers or crocs

support tape

But tens makes a huge difference

@ladycardamom a diagnostic ultrasound.

Yes!

I just wanted to say thanks for posting the link. These are great, the pain hasn't gone yet, but I feel like I'm stretching my feet better than I was.

Oh I have some good news here OP (with regards to my own experience!)

Ive had PF for 7 years…in agony most days as a teacher, having no choice but to be on my feet for 7+ hours a day. I was in literal agony. Tried everything (under an orthopaedic consultant) including cortisone injections, expensive orthotics, hundreds and hundreds of pounds spent on ‘miracle shoes’ that did nothing, multiple rounds of physio, and I even tried hypnosis and acupuncture, both of which were utterly crap (and expensive!)

Earlier this year my consultant said that there were only two options left…calf relief surgery or a full plantar release surgery, which they don’t like doing as it can cause more complications in some cases. He then said that he wanted to try ‘one other thing first’ which was shock wave treatment…which this hospital had only just started offering. I had two rounds of three treatments (3 months apart). I had the last session a couple of weeks ago.

Since round one, I’ve had almost 100% success, with very little pain. After round two, I’d say it’s 100% clear…pain free!

It hurts like hell during the treatment, but you can get through it…with sweat and gritted teeth. It’s worth it though…my feet are renewed!!

Three sessions of shock wave therapy, I tried everything else and none of it worked.

@OldBeyondMyYears the shock wave therapy did nothing for me and I didn't find it that painful. I wonder if they didn't turn it up high enough! The podiatrist was surprised it didn't hurt and kept checking. I might try again with another clinician.

I think there's a lot of people with shockwave machines that don't perform any useful function.
I had 10 appts with a local physio and it didn't help.
The specialist in foot Injuries I went to cranked up the shockwave & it was very painful. It also had some extra functions like a deeper wave into the foot.

@Cantonet @ladycardamom

I agree that many private clinics don’t administer the shock wave therapy properly. It ‘should’ be at least ‘fairly uncomfortable’.

I had mine in the rehabilitation unit at my city NHS hospital. The physio said that it would be painful and that many people just can’t tolerate it at all. I started on 2.5 and they gradually turned it up to 4 by the end of the each round of 3 sessions. 4 was really bloody painful, and I could only tolerate this by putting it my ear buds and blasting heavy metal music…plus doing breathing exercises and gripping onto the bed! It hurt! I was genuinely sweating! 🥵

I was told to roll my foot over a frozen bottle. I know it sounds odd but it helps. My mil uses insoles from the podiatrist and said they made a big difference.

I have to wear shoes with support so I can’t wear my sketcher memory foam now. I find shoes with laces best so I can adjust the support.

Podiatrist carried out a lengthy assessment. She recommended Fitflops and ordered customised insoles. She advised me to buy heel lifts for my right foot.

The pain was greatly reduced in a week and gone in two.

Which fitflops do you wear?

Go check this famous GP out.
See image.