NP. Thanks!! ^^

OP, I think you last posted over a year ago so it probably won't help you - but I think the calf muscle is the right muscle to be targeting.

Someone else last year mentioned "Prolonged stretching" and that is what totally cured my plantar fasciitis. The key is that you really have to hold the calf stretch a VERY long time. Far longer than you think you should.

The theory is that if you hold your calf stretch for over 2 minutes (past what they call the stretch reflex which is the sense you get that you should stop stretching), it sends a message to your body that the calf muscle needs to grow longer! If you repeat this stretch, for at least 2 minutes, for 4-6 weeks, eventually your body actually starts growing a longer calf muscle.

Or the tendons. Or something. Something that needs to grow longer, grows longer. All the other strategies try to mimic this same thing, really. But all you need to do is a simple stretch, but just HOLD IT for two minutes per leg, and do it for at least 4 weeks.

This is what worked for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRDC8erSNqw

Here's a link to more EPAT info. These people aren't in the DMV but I googled and there are several practices. You'll want someone that can also do the PT which goes hand in hand with treatment.

https://balancehealth.com/services/extracorporeal-pulse-activation-therapy-epat/weil-foot-and-ankle-institute/#:~:text=EPAT%20vs.,-ESWT%20Treatment&text=multiple%20clinical%20studies.-,These%20studies%20have%20shown%20a%20nearly%2090%25%20success%20rate%20to,involving%20the%20foot%20and%20ankle.

Dry needling, massage and stretching helped but did not eliminate the pain entirely. I've now added a calf strengthening exercise and believe it's working. If that doesn't, I'll do EPAT. It's been successful for my golf elbow problem.

"EPAT is a non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment that harnesses the power of acoustic soundwaves to stimulate the body's natural healing processes." There are foot centers that specialize in this if your PT doesn't have access to the machine.

No boot or cortisone shots necessary. PT and dry needling and you'll be fine

Cortisone shots cured me. They let the pain and swelling die down long enough for my foot to heal. Now I can still feel it (I think it’s torn) but it’s about 2% of the pain it was.

Also- losing weight. I got PF from pregnancy weight gain. It was relieved sooo much by losing all the baby weight.

You need a boot (day). I had to wear if for six weeks during the day. Plus PT. Solved it. I would never do cortisone shots. Weakens tissues and can make it worse.

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

This! I had foot pain for years and having someone work on my calf helped so much (the actual working on the calf was painful, but afterwords it helped)

Anonymous wrote:The only solution was cortisone shots.

Me too. Hurt like hell but relief was instant. Which the doctor had told me not to expect.

Didn't come back either.

Any updates, OP?

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.

Just came here to say this.
I've had dry needling for TMJ, sinus infections, endometriosis, tendonitis in the side of my lower leg, and sciatica. It works really well.
It's not easy to get someone who really knows what they are doing. My chiropractor does it and it doesn't seem as effective as when my PT does it who is highly skilled in dry needling.

I had PF for a year and I know how awful it is. I didn't know about dry needling back then so I did Hokas, massage, night splint and eventually it went away but I don't know what did it. I'm told it sometimes just stops but clearly that is not happening. Surgery is always a last resort but I think if dry needling doesn't work, you might need to look into that.

birkenstocks cured mine. have you tried?

^^I am the PP. Also wanted to mention that I got a cortisone shot and it worked really well--I thought it was the cure I had been looking for. Once it wore off I went back a few months later and the second one barely helped at all...

Yes on the calves. Also, I have a fascia specialist who literally "massages" the fascia in my foot and legs with her elbow. Painful but it has cured me. What she does is called Wolfe non-surgical technique if you are looking for a provider.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Just started PT this week and did dry needling for the first time. For those of you who have tried this, where did the therapist insert the needle? This PT seems to think that my chronic 6-year-long plantar fasciitis is a result of tight and knotty calves. She felt around my calves and yeaowwwwww!!! Do others have therapists needling their calves for plantar facitis? It was the weirdest sensation and even though she has the needle in my calf I could feel a twinge in my upper heel!

That’s where the gastrocnemius inserts. That makes sense. Best of luck.