Fellow plantar fasciitis sufferers?

chriscm70
chriscm70 Posts: 76 Member
edited November 13 in Social Groups
Does anyone have any experience with PF or with "dry needle" therapy?
I went for a session this morning and had a treatment on my calf. (My calf is super tight and what is probably causing the PF, they said) The needle part was fine but my calf is very stiff and painful now. Oh, I have to wear a night splint too. I'm going back on Friday.
I was just wondering if anyone else has had it done and what the results were... or what worked for you or didn't, in general, for PF.
Thank you,
Chris

Replies

  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    I had to google dry needling
    http://www.neurosportphysicaltherapy.com/services/dry-needling

    I don't have PF but my physical therapist has told me to roll my feet since I guess she felt the beginnings of it.

    I get grastoning of my ITB and down to my ankle to deal with my ankle problems.

    Wanna trade? being poked with needles sounds more enjoyable?

    I wish you a speedy recovery!
  • beemerphile1
    beemerphile1 Posts: 1,710 Member
    edited March 2015
    PF is caused by lack of flexibility in the foot and is caused by stiff shoes.

    I saw a couple doctors, heard a lot of theories, had physical therapy, used a night splint to no avail.

    I solved it on my own by taking a break from running and going barefoot any time I didn't absolutely have to wear shoes. The flexibility in my feet returned and the problem went away.

    PF is a self inflicted injury caused by constantly strapping a stiff board to the bottom of our feet. The foot is meant to flex and conform to the surface underneath which it can't do in shoes.

    I don't know if poking holes with a needle would be of any benefit but if I would have had my tens unit back then I would have tried that.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    PF is caused by lack of flexibility in the foot and is caused by stiff shoes.

    Complete and utter *kitten*.

    PF is caused by tightness in the calves that puts undue strain on the plantar fascia. PF is not a foot ailment, it is a lower leg ailment that manifests itself in the foot. Once the fascia in inflamed the symptom has to be treated as well as the cause. So, you need to stretch the calves and roll and ice the bottom of the foot. You also need to NOT go barefoot to allow it time to heal. ART and Graston will help it. Dry needling may, but I'm not a proponent of it. Don't like needles for anything.

    I've had it, got ART treatments and follow the guidelines I quickly stated above and it's gone, has been for about 6 years now. I didn't go barefoot, I continued to run in shoes and still do to this day.

    For the poster above, the time off from running is likely what fixed it, not the going barefoot thing. Yes, foot strength is important, but shoes don't cause PF.
  • chriscm70
    chriscm70 Posts: 76 Member
    Thanks for the responses. The doc and therapist say it's a calf muscle dysfunction, what Carson is saying. I'm pretty good about stretching but I think I just let it get to the point where stretching alone wasn't doing anything for it.
    It has only been a day but there is noticeable improvement as far as my calf being tight and tender. It's still not good but definitely better. I go again tomorrow.
    I slept with the splint last night and had minimal pain first thing this morning so I need to keep doing that.
    The needle treatment is done with acupuncture needles and they apply a small amount of electricity to it, kind of like a tens unit but right into the muscle.
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    I do not doubt that in some cases PF is the result of tight calves. I have tight calves and achilles tendons (I think) and I have had serious PF. But, I have to admit, I hear this and I wonder: Then why do so many overweight people who simply stand on their feet a lot get it as often as runners? And why, for so many years, was it primarily known among military recruits, who had been sedentary and suddenly were asked to slog 20-miles-a-day with a heavy pack on. Seems to me that those things indicate that PF has much more to do with weight and with pounding than with calves.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    tufel wrote: »
    I do not doubt that in some cases PF is the result of tight calves. I have tight calves and achilles tendons (I think) and I have had serious PF. But, I have to admit, I hear this and I wonder: Then why do so many overweight people who simply stand on their feet a lot get it as often as runners? And why, for so many years, was it primarily known among military recruits, who had been sedentary and suddenly were asked to slog 20-miles-a-day with a heavy pack on. Seems to me that those things indicate that PF has much more to do with weight and with pounding than with calves.

    Weight and inactivity. You go from nothing to something, it's bound to put unusual stress on the body. The calves do a LOT of work. Look at the calves of seasoned runners. You add additional weight to the equation and you have a perfect storm.

  • FromHereOnOut
    FromHereOnOut Posts: 3,237 Member
    I've had my share of calf problems manifest in the plantar fascia and in the Achilles. Anyone having these problems who thinks they are stretching enough, don't forget to stretch both straight knee and bent knee. Fiddle around with it until you feel the right stretch. I also stretch my calves slightly cross legged, to hit the it band as well (plus other itb stretch, crossing ankles and bending over). I have about 6 stretch variations for hitting all of the calves, heel dropped, bracing & pulling body inward, leg crossed--all in both straight and bent knee. But most of all, I used strengthening exercises while I healed and then going MUCH easier has helped strengthen my calves and condition all the muscles/tendons, etc combined with thorough stretching. Still not perfect, but tons better.
  • beemerphile1
    beemerphile1 Posts: 1,710 Member
    CarsonRuns wrote: »
    PF is caused by lack of flexibility in the foot and is caused by stiff shoes.

    Complete and utter *kitten*....



    "All truth passes through three stages.
    First, it is ridiculed.
    Second, it is violently opposed.
    Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."


    Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788 – 1860)


  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    edited March 2015
    CarsonRuns wrote: »
    PF is caused by lack of flexibility in the foot and is caused by stiff shoes.

    Complete and utter *kitten*....



    "All truth passes through three stages.
    First, it is ridiculed.
    Second, it is violently opposed.
    Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."


    Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788 – 1860)


    Yes. The advice to never go barefoot, even in the shower or walking to the toilet in the morning seems ridiculous at first. My wife used to make fun of me but following this advice allowed me to keep running and get better at the same time.

    Stretching, ice, keep shoes on at all times. I have a $75 pair of flip-flops just for this reason. They're easy to slip on and they have fantastic arch support. Wearing shoes with good arch support takes the stress off your tendons and lets them heal quicker much like a cast and crutches lets your leg heal sooner if you break it.

    I haven't had any issues since 2012 but I'm doing about 50 miles per week now and they can feel a bit stiff in the morning. I still put my shoes on to walk around the house at times. I'm sitting at my desk with a lacrosse ball under my foot right now. It feels great. Take care of your feet.
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    I saw this yesterday. Not exactly "new" but lots of good information there for anyone with PF. I was interested to read about the role of the toes and the flexor digitorum brevis.

    http://running.competitor.com/2014/06/photos/new-techniques-treating-plantar-fasciitis_96398?utm_medium=whats-hot
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    CarsonRuns wrote: »
    PF is caused by lack of flexibility in the foot and is caused by stiff shoes.

    Complete and utter *kitten*....



    "All truth passes through three stages.
    First, it is ridiculed.
    Second, it is violently opposed.
    Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."


    Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788 – 1860)


    *eye roll*
  • RunRachelleRun
    RunRachelleRun Posts: 1,854 Member
    I suffered for months until I started do a standing calf stretch for each leg every time I was at a counter, at least 3 times a day, about 2 minutes each leg (waiting for coffee, doing the dishes, brushing my teeth, etc.). I noticed a huge improvement within a few days and it was almost completely healed in two weeks. I've also worn shoes or sandals all the time for the last few years since I first got the PF, even in the house, as per my doctor's recommendation. And I started buying more supportive running shoes.

    I often feel it starting up again, but I just increase my daily stretching and it never becomes bothersome. I also tried a little spiky ball (you can use a golf ball), that you throw in the freezer and then take out and roll it around under your foot while you're watching TV at night. But I wasn't consistent with it.
  • Carrieendar
    Carrieendar Posts: 493 Member
    edited March 2015

    Re: needing to be barefoot:

    The plantar fascia exists to maintain the arch of the foot. It most certainly does not make the foot "conform" to all surfaces...it does the opposite. It resists the urge of the foot to flatten (human foot v great ape!)
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