Walking with plantar fasciitis

Raymil82

I have 85lbs to lose and just starting my weight loss journey and would like to get more active. Thing is I have PF (plantar fasciitis). Which was fine for quite awhile until recently. Anyone here experience this and have any ideas on what shoes are good for this so I can start being more active without the pain? I need to be more active but worried this will stop me.

bladebiker

Hi Raymil, have you had any treatment for this, I'm going through it now, also have you ever had a physio tape your plata fascia up, feel free to add me if you like.

chookywillow

I had insoles made specifically for me, also lots of stretches and daily massage - there was a thread quite recently I will see if I can find it.

chookywillow

This wasn't the one I saw, but has got a diagram of the stretch I found most effective.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10400162/plantar-fasciitis

DixiWitch

I deal with plantar fasciitis from time to time and I walk quite a lot. The only thing that has helped me (and I've tried everything but the shots) is my Skechers Go Walk 2 shoes. (This isn't an advertisement) The cushioning in them really helps me a lot and I'm on my feet most of the day at work. You can also find exercises on YouTube to help.

kcpond

I have PF as well. I ended up seeing my dr. regrading this and she sent me to a specialist who prescribed orthotics. This has helped my considerably. Costly but it has helped.

fluffymc36

I have had it for three years now. I been on treatment. I do not let it stopped me however. I was also doing physical therapy. I now do these exercises on my own, some stretching, these videos you can always find on youtube. They help alot. I also use heat and a frozen bottle of water to roll my foot on. You may need to go see your Podiatrist if unsure of what to do. I do alot of walking due to the nature of my job.

Godsgirl42

I have pf and the shoes I buy from Foot Locker at called Asics Kayano. Those with a good insole and I can walk all day. But you do have to replace your shoes twice a year for best effect. Hope this helps.

http://www.footlocker.com/_-_/keyword-ASICS+Gel+-+Kayano+Shoes?SID=8224&inceptor=1&cm_mmc=SEM-_-Non-Branded-_-asics gel kayano-_-MSN

Montepulciano

I spend about 5-10 minutes every morning doing the stretches. Part of mine is caused by being overweight along with high arches so orthotics and strengthening/stretching has helped. When I am home I walk around barefoot as it does strengthen your feet. I hope that once I get down near my goal weight it will lessen though stretching in the morning is not a terrible thing to have to do as part of my waking up. For shoes it is about the correct fit and cushioning, at least for me.

jgnatca

All the stuff you do when not walking will speed healing. I used to stretch my foot up all day under my desk.

For exercise I would do calf raises on the stairs.

https://goo.gl/images/hlCqyk

When I had plantar's I babied my heels.

luangie16

I suffered with PF for about a year. You need to be religious about calf stretching, icing, massaging and breaking up the tissue. Also, buy the most supportive shoes you can find to walk in. Asics, Saucony are good, stop into a running shoe shop. They will look at your walk and help you find the best shoes for your gait. A good insole to replace the ones in the shoes already works wonders. I did two rounds of cortisone shots and they did not help me. The little nubby balls from amazon work well too or roll your foot over a golf ball. It will hurt a little but you have to break up the tissue in your heel or wherever your knots are to start to feel some relief. I still get it from time to time when I don't wear good shoes when I walk but it is much more manageable. I feel your pain ... good luck!

JeffreyBurkhalter

Wife had PF and bought some Vionics shoes. They worked like a champ.

try2again

Asics for working out/walking, Vionics for sandals & casual. Vionics are pricey, but you can get good deals on them on ebay or amazon. Might want to size them in a brick & mortar first, since I find the wide width at least runs a little big.

LiftingLisa

I had PF and went to my doctor. He showed me some stretches for my Achilles tendon that I did and they worked great. I haven't had any problems in months.

plainsjane

I too had Plantar Fasciitis (PF for this post) and was overweight (remembering crawling across the floor many, many times. Too many times).

A prescription for anti-inflamatory sat in the drawer for over a year since, "I don't want to take any drugs". It's now common knowledge of how Inflammation can be traced to SO MANY poor health conditions. My experience with taking anti-inflamatories was rather dramatic... after a month or so, one day I woke up and it was just GONE...weird. That's been 15-20 years ago. But, I still remember being so completely debilitated by the pain of PF and that's why I decided to post here in the hopes of being of help.

My medicine was prescription grade Naproxene. There are many over-the-counter anti-inflamatory alternative's. BEWARE: Anti-inflamatories can cause problems if taken long term, affecting areas such as the kidneys. Check with your doctor if taking long term.

But the main reason I'm posting, is to also recommend getting small 'massage balls' (with knobs and protrusions on them) that you roll around underneath your feet while sitting. The one's I like best are approximately 2"-3". I have two balls...one with very low protrusions and another with 'spikes'. They're both rather hard. They're both helpful, depending on the area of the foot. There are softer ones available for purchase.

Also, to protect the floor/carpet while using the balls and to keep the balls more manageable while being used, I highly recommend purchasing a 'kneeling pad'. (Menards has some in their Hunting Supplies area for a great price, I think I paid $5 as a special, and they're a decent size of 13"x14"x1.5" thick, super squishy and a hunter green). A pad helps the whole process of keeping the ball in place while it works to loosen the muscles. I just came up with the 'pad idea' a few days ago, but will never go back now, it makes such a difference in really being able to work the ball into the foot.

OMG, the massage balls/pad combo feels amazing, even now while I'm no longer suffering from PF. Being able to give myself a foot rub is 'gift to self' where I can work on the areas where it's obvious ONLY TO ME. You can't even imagine. A small but incredible investment. The pad made such a difference in effectiveness.

I have custom orthotics (many, many pairs - a least 10 pairs in the last 20 years). Not every orthotic company is the same. They're expensive - usually over $250. I recently had to go into my 'stash' since I left my shoes somewhere, and was re-introduced to the pair I had made at a Chiropractor 10 years ago. The brand is FootLevelers.com. They're actually rather stiff compared to others I've had. There are many companies out there, just do your due diligence first, obviously.

The next step in my orthotic journey will be to purchase a new set since my arch has changed. I'm now determined that ALL my shoes will allow for orthotics, ego aside. Women have suffered so long with 'beauty standards'. But now there's even sandals that allow custom orthotics & wedges to replace the original footbed inserts. (Wedges are so helpful when a shorter leg has been determined).

So, in summary: 1) Anti-inflamatories; 2) Massage balls used with a kneeling mat; 3) Orthotics & possibly a need for a wedge; 4) Using orthotics in all shoes worn.

Taking care of your feet is similar to taking care of your teeth. It can take years to see the results of our choices. From what I've heard PF is generally a temporary condition. Loosing weight will help greatly, your on the right track.

gawworthington

I have had a lot of problems too. I went to my podiatrist. I have a boot thing I wear at night to keep the foot bent, orthotic called aetrex, the green ones, and shoes that are as wide as my foot on the bottom- new cut outs and rigid-new Balance makes them and I bought them at a real shoe store with the man that knows how to fit them. he also said never go barefoot!

lithezebra

Can you bike or swim instead? I do a substantial portion of my cardio on a bike, to help preserve my feet and knees for other activities.

elydotap

I suffered with planter fasciitis for 4 years. I tried everything. Shoes, insoles, tapeing, shots, stretching night socks, even surgery. The last straw was staying off my feet to let them heal. One month on crutches fixed my feet. Have not had a recurrence for 8 years. Don't know if this helps anyone else but if your foot pain is chronic, you may have to get extreme to fix the problem. Good luck.