Plantar Fasciitis

[dthogue]

Does anyone have any experience with dealing with plantar fasciitis and running? I'm not sure if I should see an podiatrist or an orthopaedic doctor to help with this? Any suggestions?

 

[cewait]

Ideally, a sports oriented doctor specializing in foot issues who is also a runner. Either specialty will work but the better screening tool is sports oriented doctor.

Take it easy for a while and allow the tendon time to heal. It can be a tough healing injury.

 

[stampingoddess]

I've dealt with PF off and on for too many years to count. If your symptoms aren't too bad yet, I'd try regular stretching to help stregthen the tendon. You can find lots of good stretches online, many of which you can even do while sitting around and watching tv in the evening

 

[Korileigh]

I have been dealing with that as I trained for the princess half. I went to our local running store when they had a free screening by a sports med doctor and also had a physical therapist there. Here are the things I have been advised to do that have seemed to help:

-freeze a water bottle and roll your foot over it a couple times a day for about 20 minutes.
-stretch your calf muscle - don't over stretch your plantar fascia - just concentrate on the calf muscle
-use a massage ball - got one of those at my running store - little green ball with knobby things on it - just roll my foot over that in the evening
-doc said to take 2 alleve in the am and 2 in the pm - he ended up later giving me a prescription for naproxen - just a little more than the alleve dosagee
-Strausburg sock - use at night - got this at my running store as well - it is a little hard to get used to but it has seemed to help - it just keeps your foot in a good position while you sleep
-sports med doc also gave me a night brace because I didn't like the sock at first but the brace is WAY more uncomfortable so I went back to the sock
- never walk around barefoot - ALWAYS wear shoes - I got some dr.Scholls inserts at walgreens for PF and put them in a pair of crocs that I could get on easily or would wear my running shoes with inserts.
-there are also exercises the physical therapist gave me to help strengthen my foot/plantar fascia - I need to do these more

You also may want to have your shoes/inserts checked to see if you are wearing the right ones.

So sorry you are dealing with this - it has been rough for me - my training for the half was not what I had hoped but I was able to finish and my pain isn't nearly as bad as it had been so some of this stuff must be helping. Back when it was really bad i was also told to lay off running for a few days - he also told me after the half to take it super easy and let it rest. Hope this helps!!!

Kori

 

[saysay]

SO sorry, had a bad case come up as I was training for the princess 1/2. Last year I had it in my other foot....my experience:

I went to podiatrist last year. He gave me cortisone injection and told me to do some stretches specifically the runners stretch and the towel stretch sitting down with back up against a wall. I had to stop exercising for 3 or 4 weeks after the injection. It healed, but took many months. I work on my feet so taped up my feet for support to the plantar facia at his advice and wore the night brace.

This year when I did my 10mile long training run the other foot flared up BAD. I had been having some issues in my calves and when the PF flared up in my heel, it disappeared in my calves. I went to a sports orthapedic doc as I wanted "active recovery" so I could do the princess half which was 6 weeks away. The sports doc assessed I could potentially finish the race, just had to really slow down on my training. He sent me to PT. I was doing galloway and my intervals were switched to where I was walking as much or more than running. Thing is, when I tried to run, it would HURT. I went to physical therapy to get some treatment. She also thought my problem was my calves were way to tight and I hadn't been stretching. The minimum I do is stand on a slant board for 5 minutes a day..then I do one foot and bend the knees, kind of like a runners stretch.

3 weeks before the princess I had a bad flu like virus and was in bed for a week. To be honest, that forced rest did help alot. The last 2 weeks of training I just did eliptical at my PT's advice and I took it VERY easy.

I was able to finish the race, though the last few miles I walked very slowly and my times is nothing to brag about, but I finished. I had to resign myself to slowing down and not running.

Go to a sports doctor NOT a podiatrist is my advice. Yes the podiatrist helped me recoup, but I have gotten more long term advice this go round.

Good luck, PF sucks.

 

[luckymum22]

I found great relief once I added Superfeet insoles to my running shoes. My running shoes are very good and were specifically purchased and fitted at a store for running so when the plantar fasciitis started I was surprised because I spent so much $$ on good shoes! When I went back to the store, they told me about Superfeet. I did a bunch of research and then bought them. Now I'd never run without them!
You have to act quickly and not run until you start getting some relief. The more you injure it, the longer it will take to resolve. The frozen water bottle and tennis ball tricks are good. Be sure you have good shoes and do some research about Superfeet. I know I'm not the only one singing their praises for helping to relieve plantar fasciitis! Just google it!
Good luck & let us know how things work out!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Definitely go to a Sports Medicine Doctor...they understand the stresses of being a runner and can best assess your condition. If you go to a family doctor or podiatrist or worse, no doctor at all, the odds of you doing more damage is much higher. Sports Med Doctors are the least scary doctors out there!

The tips the Sports Medicine Doc gave were great and I can't stress enough how important it is to get yourself an appointment with one when you have any amount of pain that is aggravated by running or training in general. The goal of any Sports Medicine Doctor is to treat you the fastest and best way possible so that you get back to running and finishing a Marathon/Half Marathon.

Good Luck!

 

[fall08CP]

I'm no sports doctor but I used to have horrible PF. I would cry getting out of bed and would hobble for the first half hour of being awake in the morning. I was completely miserable.

In July I bought Vibram FiveFingers and eased into them slowly and my PF is completely gone. I'm sure that it's not the cure-all for everyone, but I haven't had any pain since I started wearing them consistently. It's worth looking at.