Anyone overcome plantar fasciitis?

I have this, and it's no fun! I added inserts to my shoes, and started wrapping the arches of my feet for compression, and it slowly got better (I mean, over the course of 9 months or so). But I never started running again like I used to.

Instead I found that there are other ways to exercise that are easier on the feet. Have you tried swimming? It can be a really hard workout, and a big challenge if you haven't done it in years.

Good luck getting better

I suffered terribly with it for over 5 years. I thought I would never be able to walk normally again. I had a cortisone shot which only helped temporarily, had orthotics made which actually made the problem worse. I had TERRIBLE pain in my heels and couldn't even work out in the yard without almost collapsing in pain. I tried creams and the foot brace, all did me no good.

THEN!! I had been going to see a physical therapist to help break up the "rice krispies" as she called them. I noticed a little improvement, but then a couple months later, my partner and I went to the Dominican Republic for 2 weeks. I have no idea whether it was walking on the uneven sand, the heat, or the rest that did it, but by the time we got home, THE PAIN WAS GONE. Since then, I have told everyone I know who suffers to go walk on the beach. It was just a miracle as far as I'm concerned.

I've had it in both feet for 15 years.

When I first go it, I felt crippled and miserable, and gained a lot of weight. At the time I also had painful neuromas in both feet.

ESWT and cryosurgery helped.

After lots of experimentation, I found relief by wearing a very supportive running shoe, the New Balance 1260, along with a thick gel insole called the Bauerfeind Viscoped.

I can wear other shoes with the Viscoped insole, like golf or dress shoes, but they have to be one size larger than I normally wear, and I have to remove the insole they come with. I've found if you wear the Viscoped without socks, the insole kind of adheres to the soles of your feet, helping support your arch. Almost like having an extra fat pad under your foot.

I also do calf stretches regularly, and avoid running or any sports that involve jumping or landing hard on your feet.

Good luck!

I was recently diagnosed with it. My doctor wanted to do surgery but so far I have refused. He recommended wearing Asics or Brooks shoes and getting fitted for arch support for them for when I work out. I haven't done it yet because my pain comes and goes but I plan to! There are also a lot of exercises you can do that is supposed to help! Good luck!

I had surgery on my left food while they injected my right foot. Noticed some calve cramping so i went to the hospital to get it checked out, fine they said. About a week later i was trying to walk across a parking lot and started getting a runners cramp in my side.... Fast forward the pain spread to my stomach and then my right shoulder. I was admitted into emergency after i went back to the hospital and found out i had a blood clot in my lung. I guess what i am trying to say is, surgery might not be the best option considering besides the fact it almost killed me, it didnt help my condition of my feet.

2 years ago i started developing chronic pain in both feet due to what seemed like temperature issues. Winter time they would turn blue and ache so much. Summer time they would turn sun burn red and ache so much. I am in pain from my feet 24/7 which really plays with your mind. Thats why only now i have gained enough resistance to the pain that i could once again go to the gym and train the best i can. Still have to find a place to sit all the time in between sets. I might be broken but i am far from defeated. I honestly just wish i could get some sort of satisfaction from the company that took so much of my life away. Lol hard to live on 900$ a month pension.

Yes, have had it and overcome it w/o surgery or shots. This is what I wrote on a previous thread on the issue:

I've had if for more than 4 years, and had it under control for the last 2. These are the things that worked for me. They aren't cheap, but they work:

- Get a pair of (real) Birkenstocks. Wear them like house shoes - never walk barefoot, slip on your birks straight out of bed and wear them as much as possible. I wear them all the time unless I'm working out or at work. Don't get the betula line or any of the narrower spin-offs, just a classic Birkenstock.

- Get a pair of Birkenstock insoles and wear them in all your flat (non-high-heel) shoes - sneakers (not for working out, but daily kicks), loafers, boots, etc.. Birkenstock insoles fit in all flat shoe styles except for really skinny dress flats. They are pricey, but you can move one pair between all of your shoes.

- the birkenstocks & insoles provide awesome arch support and keep some of the weight off the center of your heels by redistributing it across your foot and to the edges of your heels. They are far more effective than soft insoles, which make everything squishy but your weight is still distributed the same way

- Get some Strassburg socks to sleep in. They are super unsexy, but they keep your foot flexed while you sleep and so that the facia can't get as inflamed. I've tried the cheaper CVS boot styles - the sock is better/more effective and easier to sleep in.

- stretch the minute you get out of bed, and before you go to bed. Downward dog is your friend.

-if you can afford it, see a physical therapist who does ART (active release technique) or Graston technique. I've tried a lot of methods, and these are the ones that have worked for me. The podiatrist was happy to give me prescription meds and squishy insoles and let me just live in pain - the PT actually helped me recover. My insurance covers PT, so I can go for just a co-pay- but otherwise it can get pricey. Look for a sports medicine PT, not just one that focuses on rehab exercises.


I would also add - if you wear high heels, lay off them. They shorten the muscles that you need to stretch, and going back and forth b/tw heels and flats doesn't help.

I use this sock - http://www.healthylegs.com/4584-Feetures-Plantar-Fasciitis-Sleeve.aspx?source=ChannelAdvisor_Healthy+Legs&CA_6C15C=1894484673

I have it still but I went and got orthodontics and never have pain anymore. It feels like you a walking on glass. The inserts work but for the first month you will need to wear them every time you walk. So outside inside the house but not to bed. It will heal but it takes time. I now don't even think about it unless I don't wear my inserts for a few days. Sandals or flip flops are a no no

I am working on overcoming it, but not sure if there is an end. I have orthotics ($450, but which are amazing and allow me to actually walk and almost feel like running) and I always wear sandals in the house (Birkenstocks). I step out of bed in the morning and straight into my birks. It has made an incredible difference in my quality of life. It isn't perfect, but I can tell you I spent an entire day walking around Niagara Falls a couple weeks ago and the only pain I had was that tearing sensation whan I was walking up a hill that was extremely steep.

I have not worn crappy shoes since I got the orthotics. It does mean a lot of ugly shoes for now, but I would rather be mobile in ugly shoes than the alternative.

I don't know if this has been said yet, but on top of good arch support, icing at night is crucial, so the swelling will go down before you sleep. This has helped me, so I don't wake up in pain.

Yes.

Before you get out of bed, use a towel or a belt around the ball of your foot to stretch the tendon. You want to work that tendon BEFORE you put weight on it. That may mean baby has to cry for just a few minutes, but you HAVE to do this to keep from tearing the tendon.

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation (itis means inflammation) After trying just about everything already suggested I started taking high doses of Ibuprofen 24/7 for several months. (I had first tried Ibuprofen for a couple of weeks The pain quickly went away but came back soon after I stopped taking the Ibuprofen so I started again but didn't stop for a longer period.) I don't know if you should take Ibuprofen while breastfeeding. I had gotten to the point where surgery was the next option which I really did not want to do. I did not check with my doctor I just did it. I knew I got relief from Ibuprofen because I had used it for short periods before so I thought why not give long term a try. Felt it was safer than cortisone (which is an anti inflammatory but a steroid which has a lot worse side effects.)

I agree that the first step is to see a good podiatrist. At my first visit, he gave me this boot to sleep in, world of difference day one! You can get a boot or sock online as well, but I think the one from the doctor is a little stronger since it has a metal support. Before the boot, I was gripping the wall in pain with that first step in the morning. It's definitely not sexy, but it works wonders!

I am also picking up my custom orthodics tomorrow for my running shoes, hopefully that helps even more. His other instructions were stretching, icing (rolling over frozen water bottle), only wearing supportive shoes, and more stretching.

Take your shoes to the doctor with you. He agreed I had the right running shoes (brooks addiction) and forbid me to wear my Nike airs and flip flips. He did suggest the brand Fit Flop, but I haven't tried them yet. He also said low wedge heels are acceptable since it keeps your foot from flattening out and that flats without support should also be banned.

Good luck!! It does eventually get better...

One more thing - you can still wear sandals but look into those with arch supports. Fit Flops, OrthaHeel, Teva... all good. You'll spend more for footwear from now on, but it's worth it!

it can take along time to heal. Took me around 6 months just to get to where the pain was horrible. It eventually went away but I cannot wear shoes without some kind of heal support. I seriously have a collection of insoles. Recently, it got reaggravated from working almost two week straight daily so I had to get new work shoes and stuck work insoles in them and sometimes swap out with the dr.scholls heel pain insoles. I like those more for daily use. I also have some heel cups I wear in my flats. You should talk to your doctor because sometimes it can turn into heel spurs that DO NOT go away