Anyone had/have Plantar Fasciitis????

[juicy12]

If you've recovered from it, what worked for you and, most importantly, how long did it take? I've had it really badly in one foot now for about a year Tried the exercises, special footwear but it's still agony. anyone got any good news for me?

No good news from me, I've had it for about 4 years and it's still not fully disappeared.

The good news is that it does get better. It's at least 75% less painful and only tends to flare up if I've been sat on my bum at work all day - or if I've been out with the kids and walking more than usual - days out etc. There's usually a lot of stiffness/pain which goes after a few minutes of foot exercises or gentle walking.

I had it for almost a year until about May last year, then I broke a bone in my foot, mainly due to the PF because I was in pain, I was walking awkwardly and went over on my ankle and bingo broken foot bone!

I was referred for one course of physio by my gp and that did help. The physio gave me excersises to do at home. I would recommend seeing one if you can.

I am now pain free.

Thanks. I have had a bit of physio, but that seemed to just reinforce the exercises that I'd already found and I was sent off with a "it'll go in time". Fimbow, it's interesting what you say about breaking a bone, as I can feel my ankle "going" sometimes as I try to avoid pressure on my heel... Glad you're pain-free now.

I had it for 3 or 4 months year before last. I got so bad I couldn't walk for more than a few minutes.

I went to see a chiropodist and the advice was

take ibroprufen - it reduces the swelling

cold compress for a minimum of 10 minutes a day

Never walk barefoot on hard floor

and makes sure shoes you wear are very soft soles.

Mine went within about two weeks of that.

I also have a natural heel of about 1.5 inches so I shouldn't really wear heels less than that.

A night splint is definitely useful especially if you have significant first step pain. Low dye taping is also really helpful- a physio or podiatrist can teach you how. Over the counter full length orthotics or custom made made ones if you find them too rigid. No ballerina pumps ever again. Go to specialist running shop and get some stability trainers to correct the alignment of your feet.
Roll a frozen bottle of water under your foot for 10-15 minutes several times a day. A warm compress and non weightbearing stretches with a towel hooked underneath your foot before you get up in the morning. Do but don't overdo the weightbearing stretching regimen.

My dh had this for months and months and I bought him a night splint on the internet. It was miraculous! Disappeared almost overnight. Hope it gets better for you.

Thanks for your replies. OK, so a night splint looks like the next avenue to explore. I will wear heels again.

I found by losing my excess weight it got so much better. Also the insert for the shoes that the podiatrist gives u helps.

Boots ortho insoles solved mine, and lots of calf stretches on waking

What are the symptoms please? I think I might have it.

Feels like you have a big bruise on the heel of your foot. Usually very painful first thing in the morning as you get out of bed.
As it got worse mine affected all the way up to my calf muscle.

Moderate-severe heel pain,usually worse on first morning steps. The pain is usually on the underside of the heel and may also occur along the arch of the foot. It's made worse by wearing non-supportive shoes or walking barefoot. Pain varies throughout the day and may be exarcerbated by prolonged standing or standing up after prolonged sitting. The pain may be so intense that people walk on their toes or can't weightbear at all. It's a dreadful, miserable condition.

It's a dreadful, miserable condition Puzzlepetal, I couldn't have put it better myself. I have found that wearing Fitflops eases it, but on the whole it's a total pain in teh backside and foot! One poster suggested losing weight helps and I am on a health kick, so maybe we'll see some improvement with that.

Juicy have you had a steroid injection?

I haven't had the steroid injection - been really put off as I've been told the success rate is pretty poor, and there's a high risk of complications and, more to the point, it's horribly painful. I'm getting a bit desperate now, though!

REALLY painful.

Hi there - I had this about 6 years ago. It lasted about a year. I found two things helped me.

1. Losing weight (I had some to lose).
2. Wearing birkenstocks all the time in my hard floored house and never going bare foot.

Hope you find something that helps you.

Me too, have had this for about 6 months.
I find that wedge heels about 1.5 to 2 inch height are the best.
Have just bought some trainers with a built up heel, but am wary of taking anti inflammatory tablets every day.
Any hints as to where to get a night splint, and does it have to be specially made?

I had it for a year it stopped within weeks of wearing Birkinstock sandals and then wearing Birkinstock insoles the rest of the time.

I've had it for years and though it gets better, it still hasnt gone completely (have been told that I do have an unusually persistent case though). Some things that worked:

• birkenstocks around the house are great, but in the beginning they were still so hard, so I wore something like crocs, but softer/squishier - sorry can't remember what they were called. crocs do a version that they claim are for plantar fasciitis sufferers, but they were horrible and uncomfortable.

• wearing good quality trainers. Fitflops worked well over the summer otherwise

• wearing an insole made by the podiatrist

• taping by podiatrist - worked well for a while

The night splint has had the greatest impact of all though. Overnight it was much better, but am still wearing it months later. It's like wearing a ski boot to bed, but I notice a definite difference in the morning if I wear it or dont. I got mine from the NHS podiatrist.

Some things that didnt work at all:

• accupuncture/dry needling. didnt work and it HURTS
• 2 steroid injections - also didnt work and also very painful.

Anyway, good luck. As far as I can tell there are a lot of potential things that can help so its just a question of trying them out until you find something that works for you.