Plantar fasciitis - anyone had it?

[PH5121]

I have had this on and off (more on than off) for over four years. It is basically discomfort in the heels which can be painful.
Over this time period I have been to the doctors who have sent me to the foot clinic at a local health centre, who have in turn sent me to hospital.

I have done the stretching exercises, taped my heels up, I wear stout walking shoes to support my feet, I have had arch/heel supports made at the hospital which I wear all of the time, and have had cortisone injections in my heels.

The only thing which has offered any relief was the injections. I had 8 months from December last year to August this year without discomfort.

Unfortunately the discomfort is back with avengence. I lay awake this morning from 3.30am with an uncomfortable burning sensation in my heels, and by the time evening comes after a day at work I am hobbling.

The condition is annoying more than painful, but I wondered if anyone else here had suffered from it, what treatment helped alleviate the symptoms and if so how long did it take to clear? I don't want to be taking pain killers or anti inflammatry tablets all of the time.

Unfortunately I suffer from pie-retention so assume that losing some poundage would perhaps help matters, so am trying to do more activity whilst minimising my consumption of unhealthy stuff (beer, crisps, sweets, junk food).

Thanks

Edited by PH5121 on Wednesday 28th September 16:25

[Wacky Racer]

Try rolling your bare foot over a straight drinking glass, backwards and forwards whilst you sit down, this is what my doctor recommended, she said she had the same problem (PF), and it did the trick for both of us.

Simple but effective.

[timbo999]

Yes I have had it and it took well over a year to clear up... walking on hard surfaces doesn't help in my opinion (used to walk to work...).

In addition to what you've already tried I suggest:

1. Like Wacky, I found rolling my foot on a cold drink can helped alleviate the pain (and you can drink it afterwards!). Also the exercise where you put your toes on a step with your heels hanging in space and gentle drop your heels to stress your calf muscles.

2. Counterintuitively, I found cycling helped an enormous amount...

3. As a result of taking up cycling, I lost a deal of weight (12 Kgs) which probably helped a good deal as well.

Good luck and don't despair - my experience is that you will suddenly realise its cleared up!

Edited by timbo999 on Wednesday 28th September 16:33

[condor]

Another sufferer here. Had it first earlier in the year and found compression sleeves to be the best at fixing it Still took a couple of months though.
Pain started up again a couple of days ago, so am back wearing the compression sleeves again and some new trainers.
I've previously been told that trainers aren't good and to wear proper leather shoes with low heels instead.
I'm a dog walker and regularly walk 6-8 miles a day, so resting my foot isn't an option.

[timbo999]

condor said:

Another sufferer here. Had it first earlier in the year and found compression sleeves to be the best at fixing it Still took a couple of months though.
Pain started up again a couple of days ago, so am back wearing the compression sleeves again and some new trainers.
I've previously been told that trainers aren't good and to wear proper leather shoes with low heels instead.
I'm a dog walker and regularly walk 6-8 miles a day, so resting my foot isn't an option.

That's interesting, my Podiatrist suggested trainer type shoes that have a heel and curved heel/toes... I found Clarks shoes useful in this respect.

[condor]

It was my GP that told me to wear proper shoes. I do wear Clarks ankle boots sometimes (when it's wet as they're waterproof), but I find them too heavy.
I usually wear Nike trainers and get a new pair to wear when the plantar fasciitis returns.

[EdJ]

I have had this due to running (I run 100-125 miles a month) and what has prevented it from coming back was a lot more stretching exercises post run, and when I'm at my desk, I roll my foot over a golf ball.

Good luck, I remember well how awful it was.

[Vee]

When I had this, going to sleep for a week with spatulas taped to the bottom of my foot really helped alleviate the pain at night.
Basically it keeps the foot straight rather than curling up.
Sounds weird but look into it.

[CAPP0]

I've just developed this, about 2 weeks ago. Worst when I get out of bed in the morning. I googled for what it was, haven't seen the quack yet. Been stretching the foot and it definitely seems to have eased already.

[dudleybloke]

Vee said:

When I had this, going to sleep for a week with spatulas taped to the bottom of my foot really helped alleviate the pain at night.
Basically it keeps the foot straight rather than curling up.
Sounds weird but look into it.

Available here......

http://youtu.be/DpsMGpMIqNk

[JDiz]

PH5121 said:

I have had this on and off (more on than off) for over four years. It is basically discomfort in the heels which can be painful.
Over this time period I have been to the doctors who have sent me to the foot clinic at a local health centre, who have in turn sent me to hospital.

I have done the stretching exercises, taped my heels up, I wear stout walking shoes to support my feet, I have had arch/heel supports made at the hospital which I wear all of the time, and have had cortisone injections in my heels.

The only thing which has offered any relief was the injections. I had 8 months from December last year to August this year without discomfort.

Unfortunately the discomfort is back with avengence. I lay awake this morning from 3.30am with an uncomfortable burning sensation in my heels, and by the time evening comes after a day at work I am hobbling.

The condition is annoying more than painful, but I wondered if anyone else here had suffered from it, what treatment helped alleviate the symptoms and if so how long did it take to clear? I don't want to be taking pain killers or anti inflammatry tablets all of the time.

Unfortunately I suffer from pie-retention so assume that losing some poundage would perhaps help matters, so am trying to do more activity whilst minimising my consumption of unhealthy stuff (beer, crisps, sweets, junk food).

Thanks

Edited by PH5121 on Wednesday 28th September 16:25

I had the same for about 7 years, cortisone injections were the only thing that helped, i did all the stretches, laser treatment, taping, night splints, ultrasound etc etc

What made the huge difference was surgery, firstly i had the plantar partially cut and the tibial nerve cut in the foot, didnt help.

Then I had the medial head of gastrocnemius released, an incision behind the knee to release part of the calf muscle, it has made so much difference, i have had it done in both legs by my consultant Michael hennessey of clatterbridge hospital on the wirral. I used to be sat every night with ice packs on and in so much pain, now i only notice it if i walk too much, on a day to day it has made such a difference to my quality of life.

while cortisone injections are still working (they're horrible aren't they) keep on with those, but there are surgical options. Mine was done on the NHS btw.

edit: when the injections wore off and i didnt want to wait months for an injection, i saw the same consultant privately, it cost £150 for an injection, well worth the months i was pain free

Edited by JDiz on Wednesday 28th September 18:38

Edited by JDiz on Wednesday 28th September 18:40

[oilandwater]

I used one of these boots in bed, surprisingly comfortable.

This was four years ago, and touch wood..........

http://www.physioroom.com/product/PhysioRoom.com_P...

[anonymous-user]

I had it briefly, didn't know what it was at first and couldn't work out why my feet were sore all the time until a work colleague told me what it was, as he suffered for a year or so.

In my case, it developed because I had been wearing some very flat soled 'fashion' trainers a lot at the time, and the soles were thin and offered virtually no support. I was walking a lot of miles in them. I am also on my feet almost all day at work and was wearing fairly knackered trainers for that.

I immediately stopped wearing the flat soled 'fashion' trainers, got some good quality supportive insoles from Boots which I made sure I wore in every shoes I had on, I also bought for some supportive North Face walking trainers for wearing at work all day.

It began to clear up and I was ok again in a few weeks. I think I just caught it before it went too far.

I notice I get sore feet quicker walking in trainers than if I wear a pair of proper shoes like brogues or boots etc.

[freshkid]

I had this a few years ago. I have very high arches so the arch supports simply didn't work. I balled up a sock and pushed it under the arch of each foot inside my shoes. Hurt to walk on at first but cured my condition in a couple of months. Hasn't returned thankfully.

[NiceCupOfTea]

This is timely - I have developed this in the last few months. It's coincided with days when I've been on my feet a lot and walking, especially when they've been thin soled leather shoes or something. It's got worse over the summer to the point that I am aware of it all the time but I am in pain and hobbling in the morning when I first get up.

I went for a couple of ill-advised slightly too long runs over the summer and (as well as knackering the rest of myself for several days) this made it quite a bit worse.

I did wonder if it was related to my knees being knackered, and me walking in different ways to relieve the pain.

I noted from Google that is seems to be linked to being overweight (slightly) and over 40 (slightly)

I was hoping it would just go and I am trying to use more comfortable and supportive shoes (insoles and approach-style shoes), but I will try the stretches and the golf ball/bottle tricks too...

[mini95]

I don't think I had it as severe as some other posters, but I found the memory foam style insoles worked for me. I tried a few things but bought some insoles for all my shoes and after a few weeks the pain went and I have not had it since.

I also used ibuprofen gel before bed and in the morning especially if I was going to be on my feet all day.

[Jakarta]

Horrible injury to have. I have suffered from this in varying degrees of discomfort for about 5 years now.
I think I got it when I started running again after a few years break.
I still run regularly now, generally runs are around 6-12 km, with the occasional 40-60 km run a couple of times a year.
I do not do road runs anymore, the only time I'm on the road is when transitioning between trail sections.
I had orthotics made for me, they were too uncomfortable to run so I didn't use them after the first try.
I used heel pads and arch supports, which eased the pain for a while, but didn't get rid of it.
I renewed all my regular footwear.
I've changed from a heel strike runner to toe strike - this probably helped the most.
I now run in cushioned zero drop trainers - have a look at Altra, I personally think this helps a great deal.
I tried sleeping with 'Correct Toes' these space the toes out to create a stronger support for the arch.
And I've also had ESWT - Extra-Corporeal Shock Wave Therapy, basically it's an ultra sound that focuses where the plantaar tendon joins the heel. This disrupts the scar tissue and the re-growth should be scar free.

For now, I don't have any arch pain, but my heels are quite sore. The ESWT I had the first time about 18 months ago, and it was only after about a year I realised that the one foot that I had treated felt much better than the other. I then had both feet done a couple of months ago, this has eased the pain quite a bit, I'm hoping in about 6 months to be pain free.

My feet don't hurt whilst I'm running, but a dull heel pain at all other times. I try to never put my heels hard to the floor. In the mornings, I'm on my toes, the heels don't even go near the floor.

[Huntsman]

I had it too, could barely walk, 30 years of deck shoes and cheap safety shoes with no arch support didn't help.

Merrell MOAB Ventilator shoes are an absolute revelation in comfort and support and it all calmed down.

[BristolRich]

As others have suggested rolling your foot on a hard round object like a glass bottle or tin is good but Mrs BR was also advised to try a Golf ball under her foot. Don't forget your lower calf muscles as well...Put bottle or foam roller under calf whilst sat on floor, arms either side and lift your body up whilst rolling your calf back and forth on the roller...hurts but works. Also when sedentary (e.g. sat at desk keep your feet moving)

Mrs BR suffered with it for a year or so and went down the route of physio, injections and ultrasound but none provided much relief. During the treatment however her tendons were still pulling such that her Achilles was continuing to rub against the back of her heel causing a "bursa" (calcification) which caused a large heel spur to form right at the back of her heel. This became an issue when wearing shoes became uncomfortable/ blistering on the bursa.

Removal is a common procedure (1-2day stay in Hospital) however involves splitting the Achilles longitudinally to get to the spur. Recovery is 6weeks absolutely non weight bearing and joint immobilised, followed by 10 weeks of physio and gradual weight bearing with support. She was back on her bike by week 16 and fell off at week 18!

There is a risk as with any procedure like this of reoccurrence however 2.5 years on no sign of return, no weakness and the scars all healed nicely.

She thinks she is getting it in her other foot now

Edited by BristolRich on Thursday 29th September 10:02

[Matt_N]

I've got a similar foot issue but I don't think it's specifically this.

My discomfort is in the arch of my right foot, it has a dull ache pretty much all the time.

Started a few years ago and I all but good rid of it for a while through stretching and exercises but since then its slowly come back.

Doesn't help that it's the same side as I broke my femur on, so I now have a weaker leg due to that which is taking a long time to build back up.