Severe Plantar Facitis- recommendations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had terrible PF in one foot and I couldn't walk. I did everything but surgery including 5 sessions of electro therapy (I was desperate and my podiatrist agreed as a last resort, he didn't push it on me, and said 5 sessions was the max). I had the socks, the brace, the custom orthotics (I like those BTW).

Here is what ended up working for me and took about 1 month to see about 90% improvement. I bought hoka shoes (both the recovery shoe which is a super ugly flip flop and regular sneakers like this https://www.hoka.com/en/us/womens-everyday-running-shoes/gaviota-5/196565560629.html), wore the sneakers with my orthotics and NEVER went barefoot unless I was in the shower or sleeping in my bed. Otherwise (even if I had to use the bathroom in the middle of the night) I always wore my hokas. No cute flat sandals, not other shoes period.

My podiatrist had recommended this to me initially but I thought hokas were so ugly and I also love shoes so I didn't think being rigid about only wearing one kind of shoe would work. But it did. 4 years later and I am still following this protocol and I am painfree.

OP here. Thanks for taking the time to reply. Unfortunately I am past the Hokas point. I got my first pair of Hokas 4-5 years ago before they were even trendy, have bought 3 pairs since, and they don’t help me anymore. The toe bed is too narrow. I also never go barefoot and wear orthotic sandals even to go to the bathroom at night. Even with the night splint and all that jazz the pain isn’t improving. It is all the time now. Not just flare ups. Constant.

I tried one session of the electro therapy to the tune of $150. After buying the $200 custom orthotics (which the guy printed with a laser printer in his office). Just all seemed like a big fat scam and money grab.

I do appreciate the reply. I’m glad you’ve found relief and something that works for you. You’re so lucky and I wish my Hokas worked.

Oh no, I’m so sorry. I was really hoping it could work for you. I understand the insane pain. I would seriously consider surgery if you’ve tried all the other options. This is no way to live. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Yep, dry needling.

[Anonymous]

I got a cortisone shot in my knee from and ortho doc.

[Anonymous]

nothing worked for me (including orthotics, stretches, pt) and I finally got some recovery sandals (just type recovery sandals into amazon) and they have been life changing. It really has allowed my foot to heal and now I have taken to wearing them pretty much all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Severe plantar fasciitis is ruining my life and I am looking for recommendations for doctors who can actually find solutions to treat this medically once and for all! Is there anyone in NoVA who can actually help?

If you know how painful this is you’ll understand. I have dealt with it for 5+ years. I already have the night-splint ski-boots, have tried stretches, went to the quack podiatrist who sold me $200 laser printed orthotics and shoes which made it worse (returned) and is now trying to sell me $300 electro therapy that isn’t covered by insurance bc it’s “experimental”. Meanwhile I can still barely walk, and forget about the things I used to enjoy like concerts and dancing and even hiking. I’m in so much pain it’s devastating. I wear orthopedic shoes from Orthofeet, Vionic, kuru, oofos, hoka. Nothing helps!

DH is planning a family trip for winter break which will be hiking and outdoor adventure and I’m so scared I won’t be able to participate bc of the pain.

I truly appreciate any referrals or recommendations for things that have actually worked.

To not reinjure yourself put a large foam pad next to your bed. When you get up every morning step there first.

There is no cure

Good fitting shoes skip orthodocs they don’t work, aciscs ge kaynoworked for med

You have to rest it for months ie no hikes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only solution was cortisone shots.

OP here. Who does those? What kind of doctor?

Podiatrist.

[Anonymous]

Physical therapy!

[Anonymous]

Acupuncture worked for my PF
https://billreddy.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had terrible PF in one foot and I couldn't walk. I did everything but surgery including 5 sessions of electro therapy (I was desperate and my podiatrist agreed as a last resort, he didn't push it on me, and said 5 sessions was the max). I had the socks, the brace, the custom orthotics (I like those BTW).

Here is what ended up working for me and took about 1 month to see about 90% improvement. I bought hoka shoes (both the recovery shoe which is a super ugly flip flop and regular sneakers like this https://www.hoka.com/en/us/womens-everyday-running-shoes/gaviota-5/196565560629.html), wore the sneakers with my orthotics and NEVER went barefoot unless I was in the shower or sleeping in my bed. Otherwise (even if I had to use the bathroom in the middle of the night) I always wore my hokas. No cute flat sandals, not other shoes period.

My podiatrist had recommended this to me initially but I thought hokas were so ugly and I also love shoes so I didn't think being rigid about only wearing one kind of shoe would work. But it did. 4 years later and I am still following this protocol and I am painfree.

Pretty much the same for me. Except to add, I have been slipping this past year (year 5) and wearing cute shoes/sandals and going barefoot. And I’m starting to get pain when I get out of bed. For me the way the first sign of PF- pain when I got out of bed in the morning and put my feet on the ground. So, time to get militant again about the Hokas… sigh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dry needling in the calf!! It's magical. It cured my plantar fasciitis in two sessions when I'd had horrible pain for two years.

Dry needle treatment is the answer. Some call it cold needle treatment. Cured me with just one treatment which lasted just a few minutes.

Two needles are placed in your foot near the heel. Electric current. And you are cured. I had 3 treatments. Insurance permitted treatments every 3 weeks. I really did not need the last 2 cold needle with electric current treatment, but I enjoyed it.

[Anonymous]

You need to be wearing a wooden clog, every day, as your main footwear. Like this: https://svensclogs.com/Plain-Clogs-Low-Heels-Non-Bendable

Low Heel, Non-Bendable, and Wooden is important.

[Anonymous]

OP, I feel your pain. I suffered from bad PF for 9 months. Like you I tried everything.

Then, I tried Crocs. That was it for me. PF gone pretty quickly. To this day I wear Crocs almost all the time.

[Anonymous]

What worked for me was the compression sock, Hoka recovery sandals, Nike Metcon Frees, PFTape, and using a Hypervolt massage gun on my foot. It sounds like you are long past that point, I would try cortisone shots from an ortho and if that doesn’t do it get snipped.

[Anonymous]

What’s your weight? I got down to the lower end of my weight and that’s been magical for keeping the PF away. I had one cortisone shot that relieved swelling and then that combined with weight loss

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm right there with you. I've tried many things and nothing has cured it for me, though mine is not quite as bad as yours.

I am trying something now that someone on this forum recommended, which you've probably already tried but I'll suggest it anyway, prolonged stretching. I do a couple stretches for over two minutes each, and I also do a ton of hamstring and calf stretches. And Achilles stretches. It's almost like a second job to me but I am constantly doing these stretches and it seems to be making somewhat of a difference.

Podiatrist told me that the root of this is the need for stretching. for years I've been doing regular stretches to try to help this, but this prolonged stretching is new for me. I probably spend 45 minutes stretching a day. Have you tried this? Or met with a physical therapist to get detailed stretches and exercises?

FWIW I have heard that Cortisone shots are NOT the way to go, they are just a temporary thing.