Plantar Faciitis---Any Tips?

[SamIAm21]

It seems I've developed this nasty little problem called plantar faciitis. It involves the inflammation of a tendon on the bottom of your foot that connects your toes to your heel. It is definitely painful to walk these days, especially after sitting for any amount of time or upon waking in the a.m.

I stupidly put off getting to a podiatrist and I have a Disney trip coming up next week. I'll be living on Advil and the margaritas in Epcot!

However, if anyone else out there has experienced this, do you have any coping tips until then? Thanks!

I have a good friend who had it, but I think she had it worse than myself as she went through surgery. I'm not sure I'm in the surgery category just yet. Well, at least not til after I get back from Disney which should really screw me over!

 

[MS_mom_1965]

Before you get out of bed in the morning, flex your feet all around to stretch the tendon. Wear shoes with a LOT of support - I can't wear Crocs when mine are hurting. Good tennis shoes will be better.

 

[froggy5657]

I had the same issue when I was just at Disney. It was intermittent, so when it flamed up I walked on the side of my foot, or avoided flexing the tendon.

 

[LeahZ]

We have both been having problems with this lately. A couple of things the podiatrist told us- stretch your foot before getting out of bed. The tendon tightens up overnight and this is what causes the pain. You can try wearing insoles- in good sturdy tennis shoes. Mine always hurt worse when I've been wearing sandals a lot. Last time we went to Disney I was in the middle of treatment for this and the doc had wrapped my foot with tape supporting the arch and that seemed to help.
My husband just had special inserts for his shoes made, but the only reason insurance pays for them is because he's diabetic.
Good luck! I know what a pain it can be!

 

[TXYankee]

Ouch! I have been there!

Only wear supportive shoes. My Doc recomended New Balance 900 series. Get good insoles and use them even in your slippers. Do not go barefoot.
Besides ask your doc or look on the net for proper stretching exercises. For me, I was able to wear Crocs with sox. Good Luck.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

I find that birkinstocks are the best sandals for me. I hate tennis shoes personally. I feel for you. I found out the week before we went to Disney World a couple of years ago. Unfortunately at times I was walking through WDW with tears rolling I hurt so badly. If it gets too bad, rent a wheelchair or scooter. If I had to do that trip over again I would rent a scooter in a heartbeat.

 

[SamIAm21]

Thanks DIS'ers! I have been in flip flops all summer, probably adding to the problem the whole time huh? I didn't think that so many people right here on this board would have dealt with this. I actually developed this working at Target being on my feet a lot and one especially stupid day when I wore little ballet flats while shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. By the end of that day, like you Karla, I was in tears!

I am taking all your suggestions to heart! Good shoes, inserts, stretching (any reason to stay in bed a minute or two longer works for me) and possibly taping my foot for support! Webmaster Leah, did you use actual medical tape or were you talking like an Ace bandage type thing?

Thank you everyone! I didn't realize that this was common. I thought only I came down with such oddly named conditions.

 

[PixieFan]

Go to a foot Dr. I went to a podiatrist, he gave me a big splint thing to wear at night that keeps your foot flexed, the exercises, but best of all a cortizone shot in both feet. I could walk the next day. I was worried about the shot, had heard they really hurt. It didn't hurt at all. I wouldn't wait. It was well worth it! Good luck!!

 

[WaltD4Me]

My sister has this, she is a nurse and on her feet all day, she wears shoes with really good support and she has an orthodic. When it bothers her she wraps it. She said at Disney good shoe support is very important, also the flexing in the morning.

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

Until I got my special inserts approved, I just used Gel Inserts in my tennis shoes while in the parks. They didn't eliminate the problem - but there was a noticeable difference in comfort.

 

[LeahZ]

My feet were wrapped tightly around the arch with medical tape. If you could get an ace bandage wrapped tight enough, that may work too.

 

[Kae]

Do not go barefoot at all. I would slip crocs on when I got out of bed. Advil helps. I take a frozen water bottle & roll it under my foot that helps alot. Now I wear Keens, Dansko & Crocs as slippers. Some Merrells are ok. Not wearing the same pairs of shoes two days in a row also helps me.

Kae

 

[jacstangler]

Hi: two things. first go to a speciality shoe store that deals with special
orthopedic shoes. get the tennis show that gives you the best support and feel. they will cost you probably $150 or so. Not all styles or different brands are created equal so be careful of getting the same brand at a discount
store vs a specialtiy shoe store. The two running shoes I have and think are the greatest are the Brooks beast and the Asics QT 2110.. As far as dress shoes go to the foot doctor and get a perscription for a shoe incert. Check on your insurance to see what is covered. Again these incerts are about
$300 so insurance would help. The actual dress shoe is also important.

hope this helps.

John

 

[dizzy203]

I had the same problem. I used the Dr Scholls Heel Pain Relief Orthotics and it helped so much. It's hard to believe just adding them to good sneakers would help but it does. I also bought some for my son's baseball cleats and my nephew put some in his too.

 

[NonScents]

Lots of good suggestions here.
I was "afflicted" with this right before a vacation too, 4 years ago. It has been a long process to get to a pain free state, and now I am on a "maintenance plan"!
Supportive footwear is a must, not just when you hurt but all the time.
One thing that saved me, is Walk Fit inserts. They are like a generic orthotic, can get on eBay and some Targets/Walmarts, around $22 these days I think. Without these I would not have even been able to go to work, and now I only wear shoes they will go in. I "saved" a co-worker by rec. these, she had problems for years too.
Exercises and stretching, absolutely. Done with toes on the floor (sit in a chair) and raise your heel; then the opposite, keep your heel on the floor and raise your toes toward your shin.
Another stretch I found on one site and never found again, but it works.....
You can be seated, turn to one side so that you can gently turn your foot over so the top is pointed toward the floor, hold for a few seconds. BE CAREFUL with this not to put too much pressure or lose your balance and come down hard. But these 3 stretches have greatly helped my PF, as well as night time leg cramps! (Hope this all was clear).

Feel better!

(The Advil and Margueritas sound good too!)

 

[Minniemama350]

I wear Fit Flops. They have new mule shoes that work too. I can't wear my Crocs, they make it worse for me. Also, my special inserts do not help. I'm glad they work for other people. Maybe mine were messed up in the process of making them.

 

[airman]

I have had this problem for a while now, stretching is the best, like everyone is saying. I also freeze a soda bottle with water and roll my foot on the ice for awhile, that really helps, especially after a long Disney day.

 

[kevrab]

My daughter is a Physical Therapist and my wife had plantar faciitis and they both said to tell you to check out Dansko shoes. Some of the shoes are made specifically for this problem.

 

[DCrockett]

My wife had this some years ago, a pretty bad case of it. She tried shoe inserts, wraps and special arch supports. The only thing that worked was Birkinstocks and it's the only shoe she wears to this day. She purchased the majority of them thru QVC. Buy a pair, wear them in the house and if you don't think they work you can return them.

 

[rtobe]

anti-inflamatory medicine, arch supports/insoles, stretching, good shoes. It took awhile to get it under control but it is managable. The frozen soda bottle (12 oz not the liter size) work. For me the insoles work best or my tennis sneakers.