Plantar Fasciitis, what a curse!!

gsganzer · May 6, 2024

Oh man, I've been suffering with this for over 6 months on my left foot, maybe even longer! It's just something I keep trying to ignore, but I've come to the point that I'm almost crippled. You'd think I'd be smart and go see a doctor, instead I've been too busy with work and family issues and keep trying to just get over it. Every time I think I might be getting over it, it rages back. I've tried different shoes, stretch, massage, roll a frozen water bottle under my arch etc. I've even put new insoles in some of my shoes/boots and they haven't done anything.

Today I bought a brace, that I wear while sleeping, that I'll try. But looking on-line, I see a better one that has a tensioning strap to help stretch your foot upward during the night. I think I'll buy that one too and see what works better.

To make problems worse, I have issues with my right ankle too, associated with a leg injury that required lower leg reconstruction back in 1989. That ankle has always had a range of motion issue, but is now giving me some severe tendonitis or joint issues too. I did see the doctor about that last year and their solution was to send me to PT, which did nothing. With that ankle, I think I have a mechanical issue, related to the original injury and I probably need to see an orthopedic doctor.

I guess I'll quit being stubborn and try to make a doctor appointment.

I've never had issues with my feet and could always walk miles and miles with no issues. This is really a pain.

caver · May 6, 2024

Go to a podiatrist. If they just want to give you steroid injections find another that will make custom orthotics for you. They might give you one injection to help the healing process but you need custom orthotics. A good Dr. will also mention OTC orthotics for other shoes besides your primary footwear. Spenco is the brand my 2nd Dr. recommended. the first guy just wanted to give me an injection every year and they hurt.

bigtiller · May 6, 2024

I stepped on a Dr. Scholes machine at Walmart to measure my feet and bought the recommended size of shoe insert.

It helps, but it takes a few months.

Kyle_in_Tex · May 6, 2024

Sometimes I get pain about an inch behind my 3rd and 4th toes on left foot still. I wear Sketchers slip on shoes now, and they help. I don't like walking barefooted. I have almost all but stopped drinking for about 2 years now. Only maybe 5 beers a month for the last 10-15 years, mainly just to help me lie while I was fishing.... Before that, I floated a battleship. Had gout in ankles real bad around 36ish years old.
Hope yours gets better.

stumblinhorse · May 6, 2024

I Went thru a lot to find something that helps. Shots, PT, braces…

These worked for me. I just use them now a couple days a month. Working well for about 18 months.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TG2M4NE

bobmisi · May 7, 2024

Been there done that with both feet. Finally had a plantar faciatis release on both feet. Problem solved. Pain free for 20 years now,

Birdhunter1 · May 7, 2024

I dealt with that BAD and went to a podiatrist who got me into custom orthotic insoles which helped a bunch. THen off and on for about 1 1/2-2 years it flared up now and again. One flare up that was particularly worse I wrapped a towel into a rope and was using it to pull my toes to stretch my calf. I kept doing a breathe in, breathe out, constant tension to stretch, and I mean major tension and getting some major stretch.... then all of a sudden something rolled/moved high in my calf and provided major instant relief and I have not had an issue for a few years.

Willman · May 7, 2024

It’s been a bunch of years since i had the problem, i used the foot brace at night to help with the stretching, also did the foot rolling with a tennis ball while sitting watching the tv, seemed to help a lot

2manyrocks · May 7, 2024

I had some pain in my left heel after my DeWalt Titanium boots started wearing out. Thought I had a new backup pair in the closet that turned out to be very similar, but not to have the same cushion insole after further inspection. I tried a variety of insoles that didn't work, but Timberland Pro insoles have worked for me. https://www.amazon.com/Timberland-P...-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

If you've been wearing the same footwear for a while and are now starting to feel pain, it could be that your insoles are worn out.

crreed67 · May 7, 2024

Same here. I did the DR Scholls like bigtiller and after a week or three all was good. Not an expensive trial even it it doesn't work. Worth a shot. Everyone is different though.

MattB4 · May 7, 2024

I had both plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis in my left foot real bad to the point I thought I needed surgery. What solved it was none of the various shoes and stretching exercise. It was leaving the job I had that involved being on hard paved surfaces and standing/walking all day.

I now walk 4-5 miles a day on gravel dirt roads and rarely have any flareups. But walking too much on hard surfaces can bring back problems.

masscity · May 7, 2024

In the last 17 years I've had it maybe 3 times, probably not as bad as the rest of you. I don't where the idea came from, but I hold on the wall at the living room doorway and do toe stands. It usually goes away in a few days.

gsganzer · May 7, 2024

MattB4 said:
I had both plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis in my left foot real bad to the point I thought I needed surgery. What solved it was none of the various shoes and stretching exercise. It was leaving the job I had that involved being on hard paved surfaces and standing/walking all day.

I now walk 4-5 miles a day on gravel dirt roads and rarely have any flareups. But walking too much on hard surfaces can bring back problems.

That's my problem. I commission new power plants, and I've had a bunch of sites recently that involved a lot of walking on paved or gravel surfaces. Especially the site I've been working in Canada. I think the problem really flared up when I was there before the end of the year and it was icy. I wore these grabber/cleat things that slip over your boot to give you traction on ice. Walking with the dang things was like having something poking you right in the bottom of the arch. I've been bringing 2 different sets of boots on every job since and keep swapping between them to try to get relief. I bought some of the Dr. Scholls, Plantar Fasciitis inserts and I'll give them a try. I bought some expensive "Sole" branded inserts, and they did nothing for me.

I wore that brace last night, not perfect, but it seemed to work. This morning, I stretched and went straight into my tennis shoes. I'm trying to "tread lightly" (see what I did there?

), and try to get on top of this before I go back to that site next week.

Every time I think I'm seeing improvement; I have a set back. It seems like all it takes is 10 steps in the wrong shoes, not properly stretched, wrong surface etc.etc. and you're screwed again.

bigtiller · May 7, 2024

masscity said:
In the last 17 years I've had it maybe 3 times, probably not as bad as the rest of you. I don't where the idea came from, but I hold on the wall at the living room doorway and do toe stands. It usually goes away in a few days.

So do I.
I stand on the balls of my feet, on the bottom rung of a step ladder. then lower my heels as far down as comfortable for 10 seconds. Then stand on my toes for 10 seconds.

I did several cycles of that stretch several times a day. And I never passed up a chance to stretch my Achilles tendon for a few seconds during the day.

It helped me, and I still do a few stretches just for maintenance.

2manyrocks · May 7, 2024

I suspect a lot of foot pain has to do with today's footwear not having the same quality as years ago. Hard surfaces plus walking a lot on hard surfaces makes it worse.

RobertEH · May 7, 2024

I had a bad case a few years back. It has been threatening to start up again the past few months. I have 3 bits of advice:

1. Good Arch support is critical in all your shoes - all the time. via orthotics or "superfeet" insoles

2. Make sure your bare foot NEVER touches the floor. I got some cork sandals with good arch support that I keep by the bed. My foot goes into them before it hits the ground in the morning. This is critical as failure to do this promotes micro tears in muscles and makes the pain worse/inhibits healing. This is especially important first thing in the morning as everything has relaxed overnight (which is why your brace is important). I wear some Addidas sandals in the shower as they have formed to my feet and are waterproof.

3. Having one of those little spikey ball things to massage your arch also helps. https://www.amazon.com/Due-North-Massage-Plantar-Fasciitus/dp/B002QEY6NK

If you don't see improvement with these tips in a month or so, then go see a podiatrist!

Dftodd · May 7, 2024

I've suffered for several years now. Granted it's a little different for each person since everybody has a different arch type.

But here's what I figured out that works for me having high arches.

A good sneaker that I wear when I'm not working.

My doctor recommended "Brooks" sneakers since they were developed and produced by podiatrists. He and several of the other doctors in his practice wear them.

After about 6 months when I saw him next, I thanked him for the recommendation.

I stretch my feet when I get up in the morning. I stand up straight, lean forward against the wall putting the pressure on the pads just before the toes, stretching the arch of my foot.

This hurt like a mother when I first started, but I would feel relief afterwards. And it did help, since it's basically tendinitis in the arch of your foot.

I can also do this sitting down on the edge of the bed once I figured out where I needed to put pressure to stretch out the arch.

Good work boots. Just like the shoes, it took me a long time to find a pair of work boots that had the padding and support where I needed it.

This is not a one size fits all. If you ask my coworkers, every one of us swears by a different pair of boots.

It took corporate a while to figure this out, since they give us a boot allowance each year. It used to be that we had to stick with RedWing boots. Which happen to tear me up.

Corporate finally said "we don't care what brand of boots you get as long as they meet these requirements"

One coworker swear by Ariat, another wears RedWing. I wear timberline pros. And once I found a set of boots that work for my feet, if the local boot store doesn't have my size in stock, I'll order them.

Joel/ak · May 7, 2024

My daughter has it and in constant pain. Had custom insoles made and she wears Hokas shoes.

Only time her feet don't bother her is when she's playing hockey, of course her skates are baked to her feet

SARG · May 7, 2024

Check on YouTube for exercises for plantars .... there are dozens

jyoutz · May 7, 2024

gsganzer said:
Oh man, I've been suffering with this for over 6 months on my left foot, maybe even longer! It's just something I keep trying to ignore, but I've come to the point that I'm almost crippled. You'd think I'd be smart and go see a doctor, instead I've been too busy with work and family issues and keep trying to just get over it. Every time I think I might be getting over it, it rages back. I've tried different shoes, stretch, massage, roll a frozen water bottle under my arch etc. I've even put new insoles in some of my shoes/boots and they haven't done anything.

Today I bought a brace, that I wear while sleeping, that I'll try. But looking on-line, I see a better one that has a tensioning strap to help stretch your foot upward during the night. I think I'll buy that one too and see what works better.

To make problems worse, I have issues with my right ankle too, associated with a leg injury that required lower leg reconstruction back in 1989. That ankle has always had a range of motion issue, but is now giving me some severe tendonitis or joint issues too. I did see the doctor about that last year and their solution was to send me to PT, which did nothing. With that ankle, I think I have a mechanical issue, related to the original injury and I probably need to see an orthopedic doctor.

I guess I'll quit being stubborn and try to make a doctor appointment.

I've never had issues with my feet and could always walk miles and miles with no issues. This is really a pain.

I had that for 14 years. Orthopedic insoles prescribed by a podiatrist makes it tolerable. But what really helped was a physical therapy treatment I had called ASTYM. Eight treatments and my plantar fasciitis was cured after suffering for 14 years. I still wear the orthotics insoles. See if you can find a physical therapist near you that does this treatment.