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Anyone have plantar fasciitis? What helped? I've self-diagnosed myself--pain in my left arch, especially first steps of the day. I've ditched my heels at work and i'm stretching. It has been a couple of weeks. I'm thinking about ordering some inserts for my shoes. Do I need professional help or did you find it resolved with time?

belikewater 6 Nov 4
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I had plantar fasciitis a few years ago and was treated by a podiatrist. These were the treatments: stretches - orthotics (custom and expensive) - cortizone shot in the heel (very painful) - night split to keep the foot/ankle at a 90 degree angle. I think all of the treatments helped, but the one that helped the most was the night splint. With plantar fasciitis, there is an injury to the tendon running from your heel along the bottom of your foot. At night, when your toes are pointed (and your foot is not at a 90 degree angle) the tendon shortens up....in the morning when you step out of bed the tendon stretches and tears away from the heel upon standing....but, if the tendon is kept stretched all night, you don't have the 'tearing' upon standing. Try to keep you foot at a 90 degree angle (keeping the tendon stretched) as much as possible during the day also.... it will help. It took a few months, but mine finally healed and I have no problems today.

3

Tight calves make it worse. Try the Graston technique. It helps a lot. Plus good arch support and really good shoes. Vionix, Aetrex and a few other brands.

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I tried inserts and better shoes, I hobbeled around for like a year, it went away... look up yoga exercises for this, that seemed to help.

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I went to a podiatrist, even bought one of those boots to sleep in did several different kinds of exercises and that all made it tolerable. One day a friend told me she only did one exercise and it cured her. Now I simply stretch in the shower before going to bed. I point my toes at each other while they're about 3in apart and I am standing about 5in from the wall. Then I lean forward and go back and forth about 5 times. You can feel it stretching the muscles in your calves. I also wear arch supports. I hope you feel better soon.

3

Go to a podiatrist. It will not resolve itself.
Good luck.

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I had it pretty bad as an athlete in HS & college. Miserable. Warm your feet up in bed before you put weight on them. Ice just before bed. Wear high quality, toe gripping sandals (I used Birks) for increasing amounts each day to strengthen your foot. Back off when your feet get sore or tired and then slowly increase all over again. That did the trick for me! Tried arch supports, athletic trainer tape jobs everyday, steroids, ... . Waste of $.

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Mine went away with rest, stretching, foot position when sleeping. Wikipedia referenced Zhiyun L, Tao J, Zengwu S (July 2013). "Meta-analysis of high-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy in recalcitrant plantar fasciitis". Swiss Medical Weekly. 143: w13825. doi:10.4414/smw.2013.13825. PMID 23832373. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. where is says, "About 90% of plantar fasciitis cases will improve within six months with conservative treatment". Given that it's only been a couple of weeks, I wouldn't go to a doc yet unless you feel safety or health is at risk.

2

Never barefoot! Do ankle and foot exercises to strengthen the muscles. And really loosen up your calves.

Hmmm, interesting. Currently mine isn't flairing up, and I have a bad ankle from a Marine Corps injury, but I find walking barefoot as much as possible actually HELPS strengthen my foot ankle muscles, and gives me better stability (feeling the ground before committing to the step).

@jondspen it makes mine worse! But everyone is different 🙂

2

I did a lot of foot stretches and got the Dr Scholls inserts for Plantar fasciitis. Both of those really helped. Good luck!

2

I don't have it but know a few people who do. They stretch the bottom of the foot by sitting with their legs out straight, grabbing tight onto the toes and pulling them back toward you.

I did that and it helped. I’d take a towel and loop it around the ball of my foot and pull back toward me. It helped stretch and work it out.

@TDSkully perfect!

@SukiSue Make sure you don't have tears. If you do, stretching them will not let those tears heal.

@Sticks48 oh my!

@SukiSue It took at least a couple of years years for those to heal.

@Sticks48 wow!

2

I used regular arch supports from any drug store,and they worked great. I have been wearing them for years. It took a long time for those tears to heal. They really help when wearing flats. I have worn cowboy boots for 45 years and got some loafers. The lower arch support in those flatter shoes caused the tears.

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I had it several years ago. I was referred to a place called the Good Feet Store, not sure if they exist in your area, but they wanted about $600 for two sets of insoles. One of those sets was a "training" set to get me used to the primary set. I went to Walmart and bought some ten dollar arch support insoles and those cleared it right up. Good luck.

1

I had it rather painfully for several months several years ago. Doctor said it was likely caused by walking around in socks, when I have flat feet and need arch support. I purchased quality slippers with good arch supports ($40) and after several weeks of wearing them in the house (instead of just socks), the plantar fasciitis did indeed go away. So I conclude that that was the culprit and indeed how to get rid of it! Good luck!

1

I gave up the pretty shoes and wear sneakers made for plantar fasciitis..

It has been an issue for me off and on for 20 years but less of an issue when I stick to the correct shoes.

1

I had it for about 5 years, saw lots of doctors, even had surgery...got so bad I hated getting out of my chair to pee. ( "how much do I like this chair, really?" )
Finally saw an accupuncturist (desperation!) And in 8 visits pain all gone. Went home, had a flare-up, tried all the old crap like stretching, with, surprise, the old non-useful nonresults.
Back to acupuncture, 6 visits, pain gone. Repeat scenario 2 more times, because I am tough to teach. Finally learned to go immediately upon any twinge, maybe 2 visits would do it. Now, 12 years later, I have been pain-free with No more visits. Total elapsed time of treatment, about a year (because I was So foolish!)
Some insurances pay, some do not...i had to pay my own tab, and worth every penny X 50!

1

Several things can be done. Get a tennis ball and roll it back and forth under your arch at night before bed. Some inserts work. I paid $250 for hand made formed from my own foot. The $20 Dr Scholls version from the drug store worked better. Good shoes are a must, look for a hollow space in the heel. Some doctors will give you a steroid shot, lasts about a month. There is an operation also, about 50% successful. I also considered amputation. Bottom line😕tart with good shoes, go to the Dr Scholls machine and try that before spending $250. After that, it's a crap shoot.

1

I had a bad case but just put up with it and it went away on its own after about a year.

skado Level 9 Nov 4, 2018
1

Piroxicam.

Duke Level 8 Nov 4, 2018
1

Vionic inserts from QVC

1

I had plantar fasciitis, but have no problem today. I saw a podiatrist who measured my feet and shaped a fitted pair of orthotics to insert in my shoes. Since using the orthotics, I have had no problem. They have already lasted 10 years.

1

My 70 year old mother has it. She could barely walk most days. When she would sit down for a period of time and then try to get up it was so painful for her, you could just see it in her face. She tried all kinds of therapy exercises and shoe inserts but nothing would work, at least for her. It wasn't until I gave her some of my CBD Oil, that she started getting relief. She's not 100% but at least she can walk, drive her car again and she's smiling a lot more.

1

Stretches and shoes with good arch support. If the pain doesn't resolve itself relatively quickly, get yourself to a podiatrist. They can put a cortisone shot right into that tendon which can really help. If you let the inflammation continue it causes bone spurs on your heels and then surgery is the only answer.

GwenC Level 7 Nov 4, 2018

@belikewater I have one foot that did very well with the cortisone shots, but had to have the surgery on the other. Four years later and I still don't have full feeling in my heel from the surgery.

1

Lots of stretching, shoe inserts, and avoiding going barefoot helped mine.

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I had it pretty badly in my left foot. It’s something that seems to take a long time to heal. My left foot still has pain and discomfort some days. Orthotics, stretches, and time was all that seemed to work. I’ve also heard of taking a bottle of water, freezing it, and rolling your foot over it. I did all of these, but the stretches were the best source of pretty instant relief. I feel for you. ??

1

Consider going to the New Balance website and answering their questions to analyze your feet. New Balance actually makes tennis shoes that help adjust imbalances in your gait.

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