Recurrent severe plantar fasciitis

[Anonymous]

NP. I've looked at Super Feet insoles before and gotten paralyzed by all the colors/choices. Also, I have a really wide foot for a woman (honestly, my feet look like duck feet with a wide forefoot, high arches, and a narrow heel) so finding shoes that fit is almost impossible. Does anyone have any recommendations for/against types of Super Feet?

[Anonymous]

I had it on and off for 2 decades, sometimes severe, sometimes went to a podiatrist and had cortisone injections. All temporary relief. But after working with a very good PT and supplementing that with stuff I read about, I did the following, I have not had a recurrence in years.

--wear supportive shoes, including in the house during a flare-up
--myofascial release (Google this with the terms "plantar fasciitis" and you'll find info on this)
--rolling my feet on a lacross ball
--wear compression sock, not the full length but there are special ones with the toes out, that just go up to the ankle. Look on Amazon. I wasn't a believer but after I saw the reviews gave them a try. I do not work out without having them on.
--did PT to strengthen gluttes and stop over-using the smaller muscle systems (feet, ankles, calves).

[Anonymous]

I'm going to come out with some different advice here. Supportive shoes, never going barefoot, insoles, etc. -- all of these are band-aids on the problem, and actually exacerbate things because they weaken your feet and calves. Obviously you need to rest some to get past the current pain, but in the long term you need to work on strengthening your calves and your arches by wearing minimalist shoes that encourage a toe strike.

I never got rid of my PF issues until I started wearing minimalist running shoes (originally Merrell Pace Glove, now Altra Solstice) and switched my running stride to a toe strike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am never ever ever barefoot. If my foot is touching the floor, it’s in a vionic or super feet insole (or heels). Full stop all the time, like flip flops next to the bed and the feet go straight into them.

This. I am 95% done with my plantar fasciitis now. (I was the OP of a previous thread). It helps in the winter that my slippers have insoles and I always wear slippers. After 18 months of PF, it's FINALLY going away. I was pregnant and had gained 30lbs. I've since lost 40lbs, so that has a little to do with it.

[Anonymous]

+1 to the dorsiflexion boot at night. Using that religiously finally got mine under control.

My ortho recommended custom orthotics, but I didn't follow up. I did go to Potomac River Running and the guy there sold me some Brooks running shoes and orthotics for them. Those have been great.

[Anonymous]

wooden clogs

[Anonymous]

Something that helped me. The memory foam bathmats put them by your bed. When you wake up in the morning putting foot on that vs hardwood floor or carpet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am never ever ever barefoot. If my foot is touching the floor, it’s in a vionic or super feet insole (or heels). Full stop all the time, like flip flops next to the bed and the feet go straight into them.

This. I am 95% done with my plantar fasciitis now. (I was the OP of a previous thread). It helps in the winter that my slippers have insoles and I always wear slippers. After 18 months of PF, it's FINALLY going away. I was pregnant and had gained 30lbs. I've since lost 40lbs, so that has a little to do with it.

Same. I have PF and achilles tendonitis (complications of cerebral palsy) and I absolutely cannot be barefoot outside of the shower. I do think it can take some time to find the perfect supportive shoe for your needs. Danskos, birkenstock and Vionic work well for me. Superfeet do not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This guy swears by repeated dedicated stretching of the calf muscle. I don't know if it works, I never did the stretches as often as he recommends.

https://www.marksdailyapple.com/plantar-fasciitis-stretches/

I have found that if I stretch my calf muscle in bed before I get up, the pain is less severe. I also find it gets worse when I've been resting/sitting too long. That article basically confirms what I have been experiencing.

Thank you for posting this! I'm going to do that wall stretch for 2 min (I'll see if I can last that long LOL) -NP

Another 2 minute stretch success story here. I was doing everything I could think of to treat the PF, and I still had terrible pain. The issue resolved within a few weeks of doing the 2 minute long stretches.
Just a warning -- I tried a shortcut by stretching both calves at once using a ramp-like device, but I injured my achilles that way.

[Anonymous]

Which super feet to buy?
Also, i have custom orthotics. They havent helped. Would super feet work if custom orthtoivs dont?

[Anonymous]

Haven't read the whole thread but OP and PPs you guys are going to love my story - I hope this helps someone.

TL;DR = Crocs and strength training/whole body conditioning fixed my nasty PF:

I was a runner who got plantar fasciitis about a year ago. It started off mild and I immediately stopped running. But then, even with no running at all, over a period of weeks, it started getting bad - like, limping around all day bad. Like, can't put weight on my foot bad.

I consulted my physicians Dr. DCUM and Dr. Google and tried (in order):

rest - no working out, just walking (when I could) (this period of resting ended up lasting 8 months...)
2 minute long wall stretches
writing the alphabet every morning with my sore foot before getting out of bed
compression socks
the boot you sleep in at night
special plantar fasciitis slippers - Vionic brand
a bunch of Iboprofin to try to knock it down and out with antiinflammatories
hot soaks
those balls you rub on your foot
walking barefoot
wearing sneakers more (but just wearing sneakers hurt...sigh...)
going to a special sports podiatrist (Dr. wanted to do electromagnetic therapy which I declined, b/c of $$ and results not proven, a little too woo-woo for me)
ice soaks

THEN in desperation I finally tried:

1) Crocs and 2) saying screw it, I love working out and all this sitting around certainly hasn't worked, I'm just going to strength train through the pain.

I made a trek to the Crocs store. Instant relief.

And after 1 month of strength training (whole body - planks, chest presses, bicep curls, squats, rows, lunges, leg lifts, sit ups, etc.) my foot felt waaaay better. After 2 months foot pain was gone.

First time I ran again - 1/2 mile - I held my breath. No pain! That was 2 months ago. I kept up the Croc-wearing and strength training religiously. I only do light stretches (35 seconds each pose) after runs.

Fast forward to today - I've been running 3 to 5 miles 3x a week for the past few weeks. With nary a twinge in my foot before, during, or after the runs. YAY!

I wear my ugly Crocs EVERYWHERE. Previously I mostly wore Keds.

To conclude: THERE IS HOPE FELLOW PLANTAR FASCIITIS SUFFERERS! Good luck cracking the code. What worked for others didn't work for me, and what worked for me might not work for you. But keep trying!

[Anonymous]

Percutaneous needle therapy (PNT)! Lifesaver after suffering for too long. Find an experienced podiatric surgeon or ortho who does this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haven't read the whole thread but OP and PPs you guys are going to love my story - I hope this helps someone.

TL;DR = Crocs and strength training/whole body conditioning fixed my nasty PF:

I was a runner who got plantar fasciitis about a year ago. It started off mild and I immediately stopped running. But then, even with no running at all, over a period of weeks, it started getting bad - like, limping around all day bad. Like, can't put weight on my foot bad.

I consulted my physicians Dr. DCUM and Dr. Google and tried (in order):

rest - no working out, just walking (when I could) (this period of resting ended up lasting 8 months...)
2 minute long wall stretches
writing the alphabet every morning with my sore foot before getting out of bed
compression socks
the boot you sleep in at night
special plantar fasciitis slippers - Vionic brand
a bunch of Iboprofin to try to knock it down and out with antiinflammatories
hot soaks
those balls you rub on your foot
walking barefoot
wearing sneakers more (but just wearing sneakers hurt...sigh...)
going to a special sports podiatrist (Dr. wanted to do electromagnetic therapy which I declined, b/c of $$ and results not proven, a little too woo-woo for me)
ice soaks

THEN in desperation I finally tried:

1) Crocs and 2) saying screw it, I love working out and all this sitting around certainly hasn't worked, I'm just going to strength train through the pain.

I made a trek to the Crocs store. Instant relief.

And after 1 month of strength training (whole body - planks, chest presses, bicep curls, squats, rows, lunges, leg lifts, sit ups, etc.) my foot felt waaaay better. After 2 months foot pain was gone.

First time I ran again - 1/2 mile - I held my breath. No pain! That was 2 months ago. I kept up the Croc-wearing and strength training religiously. I only do light stretches (35 seconds each pose) after runs.

Fast forward to today - I've been running 3 to 5 miles 3x a week for the past few weeks. With nary a twinge in my foot before, during, or after the runs. YAY!

I wear my ugly Crocs EVERYWHERE. Previously I mostly wore Keds.

To conclude: THERE IS HOPE FELLOW PLANTAR FASCIITIS SUFFERERS! Good luck cracking the code. What worked for others didn't work for me, and what worked for me might not work for you. But keep trying!

That’s funny. I can’t wear my crocs long because they aren’t very supportive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which super feet to buy?
Also, i have custom orthotics. They havent helped. Would super feet work if custom orthtoivs dont?

Not in my experience. Superfeet are really only basic arch support. Definitely not worth it if you've already tried custom (and failed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which super feet to buy?
Also, i have custom orthotics. They havent helped. Would super feet work if custom orthtoivs dont?

Not in my experience. Superfeet are really only basic arch support. Definitely not worth it if you've already tried custom (and failed).

NP these helped me a lot. I work in a professional environment and the vast majority of my shoes couldn't fit the regular inserts. I think men have an easier time with orthotics. These are fab. They work in nearly all shoes, even dress shoes for suits. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B806D52/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm the person upthread that got it when I was pregnant and mine is finally gone. I wanted to cry one morning when I woke up and realized I wasn't in pain anymore. I also changed the way I walked. I stopped striking my heel as I walked and was never barefoot. I definitely roll my feet outwards though and toe in. I've been to so many orthopedics over the years and had xrays done. This is mostly due to slight knee and hip issues.