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Plantar fasciitis pain- Does it get better?

clairelizzy1972
clairelizzy1972 Posts: 54 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm finding myself discouraged to work-out daily because of my heel pains. I'm wearing a PF sleeve and taking naproxen before working out but still having major pain. By anyone's experience does this improve with weight loss?

Replies

  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    It should help. The main thing for me was staying off it and letting it heal.
  • ImpracticalGirl
    ImpracticalGirl Posts: 59 Member
    Mine certainly improved when the pounds fell off, but not until I also got custom made orthotics. Ibuprofen, stretches and ice also helped. Be patient and it will heal. Good luck!
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,574 Member
    I slept with a night brace on my foot - got it from Amazon.com for about $30. Best investment ever, and yes, it did go away. Occasionally I have mild flare ups (esp. now that I'm working out more). I put the brace on a couple nights and it usually goes away again. I know the agony, believe me...the brace was a lifesaver.
  • cosmichvoyager
    cosmichvoyager Posts: 237 Member
    Mine got better when I lost weight. Also, orthotics and stretching helped. It comes back mildly if I walk around the house barefoot or walk too long on concrete, but it's never been as bad as when I was heavier.
    Good luck, I hope it heals soon.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I wear orthotics for mine. I also do a lot of stretching and whatnot and don't usually have pain...just flare ups from time to time for which ibuprofen is generally enough and a little R&R. I also wear one of those socks at night when mine flares up. Usually my flare ups only last a few days and sometimes up to a week...usually fine after that. I have friends who get shots when they have flare ups, but I haven't gone that route yet.
  • indyrunning
    indyrunning Posts: 136 Member
    I have a friend who swears by freezing a plastic reusable water bottle and rolling it back and forth on his foot at the end of the day (or a workout).
  • Ms_LisaKay
    Ms_LisaKay Posts: 103 Member
    indyrunning wrote: »
    I have a friend who swears by freezing a plastic reusable water bottle and rolling it back and forth on his foot at the end of the day (or a workout).
    YES! This helps tremendously (doesn't kill the pain, but -does- help, roll it under the arch). For me, better shoes & arch support, weight loss, & stretching several times a day helped too. Stretching with a towel before ever getting out of bed helped, as did heels-off-a-step stretches. It will get better, but the agony when it is happening, oof. I hope you feel better soon!
  • HelenWater
    HelenWater Posts: 232 Member
    ImpracticalGirl wrote: »
    Mine certainly improved when the pounds fell off, but not until I also got custom made orthotics. Ibuprofen, stretches and ice also helped. Be patient and it will heal. Good luck!

    Pretty much as above, but I also had to rest my tendons by not bushwalking, rowing, or standing up while cycling (for quite some time). I go back to the podiatrist every six months to make sure the orthotics are still correct for me.
  • Hotshoe1200
    Hotshoe1200 Posts: 46 Member
    I've had a couple run-ins with PF in the last 10 years or so. It does get better. You know those things you freeze that go into a small cooler between cans of pop or beer? I used to rest my foot in the groove, especially the heel. Also, I put some heel cushions in my shoes, and that helped, too. Didn't need them in my sneakers because they were very supportive.

    It's a struggle, I know. Give it time and ice!
  • clairelizzy1972
    clairelizzy1972 Posts: 54 Member
    Thank you everyone :) I can't wait to get some relief. I love my workout (jazzercise) but my heel is keeping me getting to the top of the curve, even when I modify for low-impact. And of course working out is key to weight-loss. I am going to try to ice it, just put a water bottle in the freezer. Can't wait for it to be ready!

    --Claire
  • TiffanyJole
    TiffanyJole Posts: 52 Member
    I've had PF for almost two years, finally went to a Podiatrist and she gave me a series of cortisone injections into the affected area, it hurt like hell, but after about 5-7 days, the pain started to fade. I'm still working out, but I bought a pair of Protech inserts off of amazon, and they do help. My Dr. also said to always wear lace up athletic shoes, and never go bare footed. amazon.com/Powerstep-Protech-Control-Length-Orthotics/dp/B00E7L2VP0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426033089&sr=8-1&keywords=protech+foot+inserts
  • LyndaLee68
    LyndaLee68 Posts: 16 Member
    It took a while, but mine got so much better after 4 months and 30 pounds lost. Stretches in bed before I would get on my feet in the morning(there are some good sites on the internet with different stretches), foot in a bowl of ice water after working out, and resting with it up whenever possible, all really helped me. I still wear the over the counter PF insoles from Dr. Scholls and cut way back on wearing flip flops and flats (hard to do for a California girl). Best wishes !
  • DWBalboa
    DWBalboa Posts: 37,259 Member
    Freeze a bottle of water and then put it on the ground and roll it back and forth with your foot. You can also use a tennis ball, I guess if you have really big feet a bowling ball would work too. Also, Google PF stretches there are a ton you can do that are easy. That and losing weight was key for me, I know longer have issues. Well I have issue's just not with PF. Oh and get some PF inserts for you shoes helped me.
  • svirds
    svirds Posts: 57 Member
    Had it last year from running...I tried almost everything out there to get rid of it, but what actually helped was wearing Birkenstocks, rolling my calves, and using a hard ribbed roller under my foot (rolling it back and forth). Took about 6 weeks, but it has stayed gone completely!
  • wishiwasarunner
    wishiwasarunner Posts: 202 Member
    Rolling your foot over a golf ball can help also - it can get into the space even better than a water bottle
  • LyndaLee68
    LyndaLee68 Posts: 16 Member
    It took a while, but mine got so much better after 4 months and 30 pounds lost. Stretches in bed before I would get on my feet in the morning(there are some good sites on the internet with different stretches), foot in a bowl of ice water after working out, and resting with it up whenever possible, all really helped me. I still wear the over the counter PF insoles from Dr. Scholls and cut way back on wearing flip flops and flats (hard to do for a California girl). Best wishes !
  • wishiwasarunner
    wishiwasarunner Posts: 202 Member
    Rolling your foot over a golf ball can help also - it can get into the space even better than a water bottle
  • slider728
    slider728 Posts: 1,494 Member
    edited March 2015
    I lived with fasciitis for several years until I got to the point where I could barely walk when I first got out of bed. I went to a podiatrist eventually and though it took 6 months to a year to be pain free, I am there now (was better before I started my weight loss).

    Someone mentioned the frozen ice bottle. That was one of my daily routines, 5 minutes twice a day if I recall.

    However, probably the thing that helped me the most was rolling my foot on a hard cylinder every morning before walking on my foot. This massages the problem area and stretches the tendon that causes the pain when you first start walking in the morning. I kept a can of my wife's hair spray on my night stand. A can of soup or something similar would work just as well. For me, I thought something metal worked the best.

    The ice helped a lot, but rolling my foot on that can of hairspray in the morning before walking helped the most.


    My case was bad enough where I needed PT, lots of stretching, cortisone, anti-inflammatories, and custom orthotics. The doctor also cut a lot of exercises out of my workout routine to the point I think all I could do was the bike for almost 6 months.

    My advice is that if you don't feel it getting better, find a podiatrist that you like and get into see them.
  • areallycoolstory
    areallycoolstory Posts: 1,680 Member
    It is good to know that weigh loss will help with this somewhat. I try to stretch mine every morning, when I wake up. http://www.aofas.org/footcaremd/conditions/ailments-of-the-heel/Pages/Plantar-Fasciitis.aspx
    The exercise I do has me stretching from the toe of my hurt foot as I push against the wall, rather than stretching flat footed as shown in the first illustration. Good luck. Try not to let it get you down.
  • thedaydreamer92
    thedaydreamer92 Posts: 198 Member
    I had it since 2013, but it got really bad last year. I ended up getting the shots, which improved it for a few months, but similar to you, they are starting to hurt again (especially when I exercise). I mainly cycle for my exercise - it doesn't hurt my feet at all.
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