Plantars Fascitis - Need Advice

[mom3girls2000]

I also suffered from PF, what helped me most was changing jobs and Crocs!

A trip to DW or DL is major money, and in order to enjoy myself to the utmost, I use and ECV. I can walk for about 2 hours in my Teva sandals, and maybe 3 or 4 in Crocs, but as we all know, DW is LOTS more walking! If I'm in pain, best case scenario is I go back to the hotel, in which case I have a miserable time and everyone with me feels guilty. That's why I use an ECV.

I also have a torn meniscus in my right knee, and while it doesn't happen a lot, I can fall unexpectedly for NO reason! The ECV helps with that too.

I will sometimes park it and walk around in a shop or restaurant, but for the most part I ride.

 

[TMcDwyer]

I wear slippers made by Orthaheel and they are designed specifically for people with plantar fasciitis. They are amazing. They actually were a bit uncomfortable (not painful, just uncomfortable) the first few times I wore them because they were *so* supportive--but that is because they have terrific arch support and they are designed to prevent my over-pronation.

They were about $60 and worth every penny. I know that is a lot of money for slippers, but I have worn them SO much! As I said earlier, I even bring them on vacation. My feet get exhausted and hurt when I don't wear these slippers (our hardwood floors *kill* my feet) but they instantly feel better when I put these on. They are amazing!

Where did you get the slippers?


I am currently battling BAD PF in my right foot. I got the inserts from a running store and they help a lot. I also LOVE my five finger shoes. I wear them almost all day now and they are helping. I am currently training for a 1/2 marathon so I need this pain to go away!

 

[aubriee]

Where did you get the slippers?


I am currently battling BAD PF in my right foot. I got the inserts from a running store and they help a lot. I also LOVE my five finger shoes. I wear them almost all day now and they are helping. I am currently training for a 1/2 marathon so I need this pain to go away!

Not DisSaraK but I got my Orthoheel Tides and Waves at FootSmart. They also have the Orthoheel slippers:
http://www.footsmart.com/P-Orthaheel-Womens-Relax-Slippers-89653.aspx

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'm glad I saw this thread. Sorry to read about so many that have this condition. I have PF too. I think my case was might have been brought on by exercising. Maybe my heels strike too hard when I walk. I don't know. But I had a bad flare up recently.

I bought some new shoes & inserts, do stretching exercises, I'm resting my feet more when I can, use an anti-inflammatory. I also bought some Ace splints for night time. I haven't gotten them yet, but I look forward to using them soon.

I use my DH's electronic foot massager from time to time too. Oh my gosh, does that feel good.

I went from being active to BAM! Pain! Pain. Pain. Frustrating. I'm ready for it to heal and continue my exercising! Darn it all.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I was diagnosed with plantar fasciatis and referred to a chiropodist.
While waiting for the appointment, I hurt my back and went to a chiropractor. While treating my back, he also did therapy on my feet, and gave me exercises to do. I followed his instructions faithfully, and by the time I got in to see the chiropodist, my feet were 85% better. She gave me further exercises to do and now my feet are fine. She never was able to sell me orthotics. The exercise she gave me which helped the most, was to stand on a step, with my heels hanging over the lip of the step, and let the weight of my body and gravity pull my heels lower than the step, stretching the arch part. I did this on the lowest step in case I lost my balance, and hung onto the handrails.

Seriously, try the exercise pampam mentions standing on the bottom step of your stairs with your heels hanging over the edge. The let your heels 'drop' for about 10 seconds to stretch your muscles, then return to normal position. Do it for 12 reps, 3 times a day if you can.
My husband was diagnosed with PF a few years ago and after several trips to the GP, painkillers and shoe inserts, all to no avail, a friend who is a physiotherapist (physical therapist to you??) recommended this excercise - he was cured within 2 weeks. Now if he gets a hint of pain, he does the exercises for a few days and all is well again.

Thank you both so much for mentioning this exercise! I tried it just a bit ago and I felt relief right after. I will do the 12 reps 3 times a day. My left foot feels almost completely better (I'm sure it will creep back like it has been doing, but I'll keep doing the reps). My right foot must be worse because the pain is still there. Not as intense, but it's still there.

So nice that there is something easy I can do that will relieve the pain. Thanks again!!

 

[staceyhzoo]

To the poster that mentioned KT Tape

Seriously, you have changed my life! 3 days and I just walked over 5 miles with very little pain after! THANK YOU

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

To the poster that mentioned KT Tape

Seriously, you have changed my life! 3 days and I just walked over 5 miles with very little pain after! THANK YOU

This is such a great thread!!

Thank you everybody for contributing!

 

[OceanAnnie]

To the poster that mentioned KT Tape

Seriously, you have changed my life! 3 days and I just walked over 5 miles with very little pain after! THANK YOU

I want to start walking again. I think I'll look into that tape!

ETA- Where did you get it? That's okay. I see you can get it at Wal-Mart, Target, and Dick's Sporting Goods store. I'm going to get some!

 

[pampam]

The first tape I bought from the chiropractor for about $8.00. Then I learned about buying it at the hardward store, about $10.00 for about 5 rolls. Just ask for atletic or dancers tape.

The chiropodist said I likely would have to do the exercises periodicly throughout my life because of my feet, but I would be able to wear any shoe without orthotics. She of course recomended shoes with good support such as new balance, and if I wear dress shoes she recomended shoes with the wedge heel, since it gives more support

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Hello everyone:

This is t he OP. I decided to give you guys a little update.

We arrived at WDW on Saturday night, so its been almost a week.

I've had great luck with my feet this week.

They really hurt on the 4th day, but were fine afterwards. I did roll my feet on a frozen water bottle to relieve the pain that day. Its not been perfect, and I've had a little pain everyday...but nothing like what I've experienced at WDW in the past.

I had bought a very comfortable pair of Skechers Premium Kudos (really pretty shoes). They feel great on my feet. HOWEVER, they have ripped in one area, and I will have to have them repaired.

I also placed both Dr. Scholl's inserts and Dr. Scholl's heel cups into the shoes. That helped a lot!!! I also took ibuprofin and drank a lot of water. I could really tell when I had forgotten the ibuprofin or the water.

I tried to walk 1-2 miles most days before the trip.

It helped to put aspercreme on the backs of my legs, more so than on my feet.

I also exercised my feet by pulling them to me as far as I could and then away from me as far as I could BEFORE getting out of bed.

My husband helped me exercise my feet by pushing them toward my knees as far as possible.

It has been the most wonderful trip to be able to go where I want to go, and do what I want to do without being in intense pain. I truly believe that these treatments made the difference.

As for the podiatrist, my appointment was postponed until after we get back. I'm not sure what I will tell him now.

Thank you for all of your advice and encouragement.

 

[disney*mom*82]

To OP Im glad you are not in too much discomfort. I just want to add my two sense on this subject since Ive been suffering as well. I am only 29 years old, both my feet have heel spurs and PF. It started in my left foot back in March, got worse over the months and we went to WDW in July/Aug, it was a pretty painful but managable trip, over the last 2 months my right foot now has it.

I finally went to foot Dr who gave me a steroid. I took it 6 days, it helped right foot get a lot better and improved left. I returned and they decided to do another round of steroids and Im on 5th day of 6 today and still am having a lot of pain in left food. I also was told to roll over a frozen peach can, how to stretch it out several times a day, wear a night splint and well supported shoes. If its not better by Thursday (my next appt) they are going to do injections and fit for insoles.

I have a lot of things wrong with my back (scoliosis, spina bifida occulta, extra disc, extra bones, etc) and was told that this is going to be something hard for me to get rid of and to expect it to reoccur. I wasnt expected to walk as a child and have still been told not to expect to walk too late into life. Ill tell you not much other pain compares to the pain I have on my feet everyday.

I will look into this tape thing and hope to find some relief. I get injections in my back every 3-4 months, so Im not worried about getting them in my feet, hope they help as well as they do in my back. Any other advice? Not to hijack the thread, but does seem like there is several of us that have experienced. I told DH I rather give birth 3 more times than have this pain.

 

[Bamagal]

I suffered from PF in 2007 for several months. It had gotten to the point that I was crawling on the floor when I got off work. After rounds of steroid injections, taping and icing, the dr informed me without surgery I would not get any better. I had the surgery and had to wear a walking boot with crutches for months. It took a year to fully recover but it was so worth it. Now my other foot has been diagnosed with PF and just maxed out on my steroids shots. It's much better but I have to baby it and we're going to Disney in 38 days! Going to tape and buy some new insoles. Anyone who considers the surgery.... It's a long process but very worth it! The dr told me it would have never heals without it.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

To OP Im glad you are not in too much discomfort. I just want to add my two sense on this subject since Ive been suffering as well. I am only 29 years old, both my feet have heel spurs and PF. It started in my left foot back in March, got worse over the months and we went to WDW in July/Aug, it was a pretty painful but managable trip, over the last 2 months my right foot now has it.

I finally went to foot Dr who gave me a steroid. I took it 6 days, it helped right foot get a lot better and improved left. I returned and they decided to do another round of steroids and Im on 5th day of 6 today and still am having a lot of pain in left food. I also was told to roll over a frozen peach can, how to stretch it out several times a day, wear a night splint and well supported shoes. If its not better by Thursday (my next appt) they are going to do injections and fit for insoles.

I have a lot of things wrong with my back (scoliosis, spina bifida occulta, extra disc, extra bones, etc) and was told that this is going to be something hard for me to get rid of and to expect it to reoccur. I wasnt expected to walk as a child and have still been told not to expect to walk too late into life. Ill tell you not much other pain compares to the pain I have on my feet everyday.

I will look into this tape thing and hope to find some relief. I get injections in my back every 3-4 months, so Im not worried about getting them in my feet, hope they help as well as they do in my back. Any other advice? Not to hijack the thread, but does seem like there is several of us that have experienced. I told DH I rather give birth 3 more times than have this pain.

We have scoliosis in our family as well. My sister wore a cast at age 11 for 9 months. In our early 40s, my other sister and I have started experiencing adult onset scoliosis, or let's say it is worse now than when we were kids.

I don't want to scare you but PLEASE always be very aware of your heart health. Scoliosis rearranges your body and puts pressure on your heart and lungs. My Mom had rheumatic fever as a child, and then scoliosis. She wasn't that concerned about it, and neither were we until she passed away unexpectedly at age 56.

I suffered from PF in 2007 for several months. It had gotten to the point that I was crawling on the floor when I got off work. After rounds of steroid injections, taping and icing, the dr informed me without surgery I would not get any better. I had the surgery and had to wear a walking boot with crutches for months. It took a year to fully recover but it was so worth it. Now my other foot has been diagnosed with PF and just maxed out on my steroids shots. It's much better but I have to baby it and we're going to Disney in 38 days! Going to tape and buy some new insoles. Anyone who considers the surgery.... It's a long process but very worth it! The dr told me it would have never heals without it.

I've figured out that part of my pf are very tight muscles on the back of the legs. The tightness really goes from my butt to my toes. It helps to stretch everything!! I also think the heel cups REALLY helped me from over-pronating too much. I can still tell from looking at my shoes that I still ran my shoes over by over-pronating.

However, it looks like this time the shoes instead of me took the damage.

I've gone through $65 shoes in 4 months, but they have helped me tremendously. Should I buy another pair of these wonder shoes? Should I go back to another pair for $50-70 that hurts...and keep them a year or two? or bite the bullet and buy $100+ athletic shoes? Hmmm....

 

[Jackie Psarianos]

Plantar Faciitis:

I suffered from this for two years and for me nothing my Chiropractor suggested worked, and I went through all kinds of orthotics and various shoes.

Then I tried Crocs, for the very first time and loved them and because walking around in my stocking feet is what precipitated my PF, I wore the Crocs inside the house and almost overnight my pain went away. It worked for me, I don't know how you'll do, but give it a try.

Good luck.

 

[jclark5735]

i've been battling PF for years and it has gotten so horrible that I finally am seeing the podiatrist on Wednesday. Things that have helped me in the past are the taping, the splint, and more importantly--Dansko pro shoes. I swear, the other year, I was suddenly able to walk overnight because of them. I own several pairs now. Also, sneakers-- K-Swiss tubes work great for me. Though right now, neither is helping me.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have PF.

Solution, saw a poditrist, got the injection (Ouch!), anti-inflamatories, and custom orthodics. I still wear Crocs at times, or shoes with the orthodics.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I've started seeing a podiatrist. I had my first shot yesterday. Ouch!

The podiatrist said he hoped that the shot would get this under control. I hope so.

It seems like the pf was worse before and after my trip than during it. I guess somebody was looking out for me.