Severe Plantar Facitis- recommendations!

[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.

You need physical therapy.

[Anonymous]

Active release therapy on my calves via a PT

[Anonymous]

Cortisone shots

[Anonymous]

My used to be so bad too. It would get better as the day went on - but lots of pain.

Stretching. Lots of stretching. More stretching. There are stretches for feet and it felt impossible at first, but over the years has gotten better.

No more pain. And always good shoes. Padding. And we put more rugs in the house. That also helped.

[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.

This is exactly what I did too. It’s the only thing that worked.

[Anonymous]

Who does dry needling? A PT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go see a manual physical therapist. Not someone who puts a hot pack on and sends you to the gym. Someone who will spend 45-60 minutes working on your calf (because plantar fasciitis is a calf problem, despite the referred pain to your foot). Can't give you a NOVA PT, because my PT is in Bethesda

+1
I couldn’t find one close enough so ended up going (at the rec of a neighbor) to a Chinese massage place. It specialized in reflexology and leg and foot massages. I went 3x/week for a few weeks, and it was life changing. I’ll warn you that the massages hurt like hell, but it was so worth it. Before that I had spent a fortune on every gadget and shoe available, multiple orthopedist and pt visits, etc. Nothing helped. I was at the point where I wouldn’t even get up in the night to use the bathroom bc the pain of those first steps wasn’t worth it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go see a manual physical therapist. Not someone who puts a hot pack on and sends you to the gym. Someone who will spend 45-60 minutes working on your calf (because plantar fasciitis is a calf problem, despite the referred pain to your foot). Can't give you a NOVA PT, because my PT is in Bethesda

Could you say who your PT is in Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

Cortisone shot is temporary relief- you need PT to really address the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who does dry needling? A PT?

My PT did it, but I don't think most are trained in it.

[Anonymous]

I had excruciating PF a few years ago and was miserable. My podiatrist gave me a cortisone shot, wrapped my foot in an ace bandage, and told me to stay off it for a week or so. After that, he gave me exercises to do at home to stretch and strengthen the tendons.

Lay a hand towel on the floor and use your toes to roll it up, repeat several times.

Stand up and bend over with your head hanging down. Stay that way for as long as you can - the goal is to put your hands flat on the floor. It will stretch out tight calves that can lead to foot pain.

Fill a plastic water bottle and freeze. Roll it with your foot while you watch tv. A tennis ball or lacrosse ball also works well.

Never, ever go barefoot and wear supportive shoes. I like Hoka sneakers, Stegmann clogs, and Birkenstocks.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

DH got over severe PF this summer with shock therapy (by far the most essential part of his recovery) and better orthotics. He gave up wearing dress shoes to work (he wears Ons. with black soles now). I bought him a home foot massager machine we use every night, even after the PF goes away. The foot massager machine was the most enjoyable part of his recovery. He started with a lacrosse ball and self-massage, but the machine is much better.

[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.

What is this? Have never heard of dry needling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Who performs this? Can you recommend someone in DC or NoVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who does dry needling? A PT?

Yes, but not all of them