Plantar problems + barefoot running

I got PF in April while wearing vibram five fingers. I don't think the PF was from the shoes but rather from adding speedwork to an already heavy training load. I mostly cured it within 4 weeks by just rolling it on a golfball, rolling it on an ice bottle, and wearing a night splint. I also started wearing Brooks Connect shoes that have a low, 4mm heel to toe drop to add a little cushion on the road but not interfere with my running form. I did not use any orthotic. I reduced my running to around 45 miles per week for four weeks but did not stop running. I also stopped doing speedwork during that time.

We have two podiatrists in our running club and that is what they informally recommended I do. They said the most important thing is catch it early and treat it aggressively. The longer you let it go the longer it takes to heal.

Never had PF but I was get bad IT Band Syndrome when trail running in normal shoes. Especially downhill. I switched to NB Minimus trail shoes (MT10) and they eliminated the problem. Since I have also switched to NB Minimus Road shoes (MR00) for my road runs. Haven't had any IT band issues at all. So it might be worth a try for you as well.

I had custom made CAD/CAM orthotics made by a sports podiatrist and they were just about the most awful thing I've ever had in my shoes. Hated them Totally killed my love for running and gave me hip problems just to top it.

I read up on POSE running... http://posetech.com/ and changed my gait over time and used less and less structured shoes. From a highly structure shoe to a neutral shoe, to a minimalist shoe (Nike Free Run) and eventually to Vibrams. Never looked back.

Barefoot shoes gave me plantar problems. Not fasciitis as most people seem to get, but a collapsed metatarsal. My osteopath (also a runner) recommended plenty of cushioning, and my physio said most injuries she sees are from minimalist shoes.

And there will be an equal number of physios telling you that the majority of running injuries are the result of heavy heel striking. The jury is completely out on this.

Anyone have any experience??

... I know you have to ease into it like running in the shoes for just a few minutes and working your way up.

Changing to Forefoot running is nothing like running in the shoes for a few minutes to work your way up. You need to correct your bad form, just buying a pair of shoes designed for minimalist running doesn't mean anything. I would actually go out on a limb and say that you'll hurt yourself even more.

Look into Chi Running, Pose Running for the form and correct techniques. I have spent 9 months transitioning from heel striking to forefoot running and I didn't even change my shoes.

I am sooooo glad I saw this! I suffered with plantar fasciitis for 3 YEARS! At first I went to a podiatrist after a year of trying to suffer through it and wear a birkenstock insert in my shoes. I literally had to wear New Balance shoes 24/7. I am not kidding. As soon as I woke up I slipped them on and they were the last things to come off at night, no joke. I burned through tennis shoes in 1 month doing that. Anyway, the podiatrist told me to buy the insert that you speak of (I was charged $400 and insurance did not cover it). I still wear them in my shoes but only because I'm going to wear them until they are nubs!

After 3 years and no relief, I just happened to be in a vitamin and supplement store that is locally owned in my town. My husband was getting treated for his chronic pancreatitis after medical docs nearly killed him (he's almost cured, BTW!) I asked them if they have anything for plantar fasciitis and they immediately gave me a product called Myo-Tone by Enzymatic Therapy. It's an all natural vitamin supplement. I am not kidding you when I say this, I can now walk barefoot with NO problems! I now wear sandals all the time and my feet don't hurt! I found this product on Amazon for a very reasonable price. The recommendation is 2 tablets 3 times daily. They are fairly big, kinda like multivitamins, but not hard to get down. I now only take 2 tabs a day and sometimes none if I forget! I've only been taking them for a few months. The relief is immediate! You can do some research on this on the internet for your own piece of mind (I always do this myself) but you'll find many others that will say the same thing. Good luck and let me know if it helps!

I tried everything - stretching, custom orthotics, braces at night, yadda, yadda, yadda. Nothing helped. My chiro noticed that I was walking funny and asked what was wrong, I explained and he just laughed and said he could help. Scheduled me for underwater ultrasound treatments to be done in his office. After two treatments in 2010 I had no more pain and have not suffered any since.

I am sooooo glad I saw this! I suffered with plantar fasciitis for 3 YEARS! At first I went to a podiatrist after a year of trying to suffer through it and wear a birkenstock insert in my shoes. I literally had to wear New Balance shoes 24/7. I am not kidding. As soon as I woke up I slipped them on and they were the last things to come off at night, no joke. I burned through tennis shoes in 1 month doing that. Anyway, the podiatrist told me to buy the insert that you speak of (I was charged $400 and insurance did not cover it). I still wear them in my shoes but only because I'm going to wear them until they are nubs!

After 3 years and no relief, I just happened to be in a vitamin and supplement store that is locally owned in my town. My husband was getting treated for his chronic pancreatitis after medical docs nearly killed him (he's almost cured, BTW!) I asked them if they have anything for plantar fasciitis and they immediately gave me a product called Myo-Tone by Enzymatic Therapy. It's an all natural vitamin supplement. I am not kidding you when I say this, I can now walk barefoot with NO problems! I now wear sandals all the time and my feet don't hurt! I found this product on Amazon for a very reasonable price. The recommendation is 2 tablets 3 times daily. They are fairly big, kinda like multivitamins, but not hard to get down. I now only take 2 tabs a day and sometimes none if I forget! I've only been taking them for a few months. The relief is immediate! You can do some research on this on the internet for your own piece of mind (I always do this myself) but you'll find many others that will say the same thing. Good luck and let me know if it helps!

I have had this same experience with PF! For years I have had it, sometimes it is fine for 9 or 10 months, other times, I have had it 4 months non-stop! I had injections, physical therapy, stretching, icing, taping, orthotic insert$ and expen$ive shoes (that only last me 3 months top) from sun up to sun down. I may have to look into this!

It took me a long time to heal. almost two years because my feet took turns giving me pain.
I have been good for almost a year, now I started exercise and walking daily and just like that it comes back, both feet this time and with full force. But I have to agree with one answer here, rolling on a cold bottle helps or a ball.