Plantar Fasciitis

Trade

Trade

Well-known Member
Yesterday I went to a podiatrist and found out for sure that what I have in my left foot is indeed Plantar Fasciitis. They took X-rays of my foot and then the doctor examined it. I suspected as much but was not 100% sure because most of what I had read on it described the pain as being in the heel area and mine is more forward in the arch. But the doc said it sometimes manifests itself.

He said my shoes, New Balance walkers, were good, and the Spenco inserts I also use are good except that mine might be worn out and that I should probably get new ones. Then he mentioned that they had some they could sell me that were also good but they would be $55 bucks, but I might be able to get them online cheaper. He didn't really try to hard sell me on them but I asked him point blank if he thought they were better than the Spencos which I can buy online for about 25 bucks and he said "yes" so I got a pair from him. $55 bucks didn't bother m because with my two insurances, Medicare, and BCBS PPO, they didn't chanrge me anything. Not even a co-pay. So it still came out cheap for a doctors visit. I had expected he was going to tell me to lay off the daily walks and I was dreading that. But when I asked him, he said absolutely not, keep going. That was a relief. I don't want to give up my daily walks.

They are called Powerstep Pro Control 3/4. I haven't had a chance to try them out on a walk because it's been raining almost non stop here for the past few days, but I put them in my indoor crocs and just walking around the house they feel very comfortable. I am considering getting another pair so I won't have to keep switching this one between my indoor and outdoor shoes. Normally I don't wear shoes in the house. I just go with socks. But with this Plantar Fasciitis I want to have support all the time, so I'm wearing Crocs (with socks) and the inserts when I'm inside.

I also asked hi about a theory I had about why I developed it only in my left foot. About a year ago we switched from walking on a nature trail to mostly going around our block. That's a switch from soft ground to harder black top. But also, we always walk in the same direction. On the left side of the road facing traffic. Well the road is crowned for drainage so the surface that my left foot is landing on is lower than the surface where my right foot lands. I asked him if this could be the reason I developed Plantar Fasciitis in my left foot and he said "absolutely" and recommended that if we continue walking around the block we mix it up, sometimes walking in one direction and other times walking the other. So that's what I am going to try. I don't rally like walking in that direction because that means we are in the same lane as the overtaking traffic. However there isn't a whole lot of traffic in our neighborhood. If we encounter 10 cars during a 40 minute walk, that's a lot. Usually it's more like 5. And that's both ways, overtaking and on coming.


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I had the same problem many years ago. We were just about to take the kids to Disney World when the pain was at its worst. We went and walking was fine but sitting down for any length of time and then getting up was extremely painful. I think my problem came from wearing nothing but flip flops day in and day out. I got a good pair of sneakers and a heel insert from the doctor which helped but it took a long time healing. One other thing I did which helped with the pain was to roll a soda can on the floor back and forth with the bottom of my foot. I wish you a quick recovery.
 
Sorry to hear you're having this Trade, but I understand it's pretty common, I only had it in my left foot too. I feel it slightly now, even years later, if I take a long 3 1/2 mile walk on a concrete trail, other than that, it's history.

I developed Plantar Fasciitis when I was working. I worked long hours, many times on my feet all day on cement floors. What helped me is massaging Magnesium Oil http://www.globallight.net/ProductIn...?productid=245 into the arch of my foot with my thumbs. Just a couple of minutes before work and at night really helped. On bad days, I rubbed some in after work too.

My shoe of choice at work were sneakers (tennis shoes), when I had pain from the Plantar Fasciitis, I went from the New Balance brand, to a higher quality Saucony. That coupled with my mag oil did the trick for me. Now I'm not on my feet as much, but if I ever get any uncomfortable feelings in my foot, I just take out the oil.
 

I had Plantar Fasciitis a few years ago and it went away as quickly as it came.

The Podiatrist taped my left foot, ordered orthotics from a local running shoe store, etc...

One thing that helped me at home when I was barefoot was putting an old bed pillow on the floor in front of my chair. The pillow provided a small amount of support similar to the orthotic and relieved the pain.

After a few months it all just seemed to resolve itself.
 
I had Plantar Fasciitis a few years back and I know exactly what caused it. That's when Sketchers came out their Shape-Ups which are rounded at the bottom. I was excited to try them out so I ignored the instructions where you're supposed to gradually get used to them and take shorter walks until your feet adjusts. That's silly I thought and took my regular long walks with them uphill and downhill. Soon after that I had pain in my left foot (what is it about left feet?). I researched it and realized I had that Plantar Fasciitis thing. It seemed counter-intuitive that the a rounded shoe would shorten that ligament the runs from the heel to the front of the foot. But apparently it did. That ligament is attached to the heel and that's how you get heel pain because it gets pulled on and can cause pain on the rest of foot, as well.

So, I got some exercises from the web that stretches that ligament. I'm not sure how well it worked or not, but it took a year to get cured. It was never so bad that the pain stopped me from walking or anything.
 
Thank you all for your feedback. It helps to know that others have had this and how they delt with it. I'm going to try the stretching exercises in addition to the new supports and walking in a different direction around the block.
 
I remember it from years ago. So actually what is it? The tendons have pulled away from the bones at some point.

So how do you fix it? Different methods for different people. With me I managed to make sure I got a lot of rest. I was a golfer and it was worst because you have to flex your foot.

I also found rolling my foot on a dowel helped.

I also was able to raise the heel on the offending shoe. about 1/2 inch. That puts less pressure on the foot. Similar to inserts but in addition to the inserts.
 
Well I guess we balance out because I've got PF in my right foot and for the second time.
X-rays showed nothing much (what else) just s little arthritis and some inflammation. But afternoons are painful walking.
Trying different shoes, different heel inserts, different insoles, also a night-splint, the foam boot and an ankle support. Nothing is the magic bullet yet.
 
I’m really sorry you are going through this. It’s very painful. I had it a few years ago.
Better shoes made a huge difference but it still took a long time of painful walking for it to get better. What helped a lot for me was ‘practicing better walking form’ heel toe, heel toe.

I wish you the best. I know how much you like walking.
 
I had the same problem years ago at work walking all the time on cement floors.
I tried to stay off my left foot as much as possible on my days off from work.I used something called a 'foot rocker' going back and forth which helped
The problem went away gradually,it didn't make me stop taking my daily walks. Sue
 
"As we get older ..." (I've come to really, really dislike that phrase :()

The plantar fascia attaches to the forward side of the bottom of the heel bone. When a healthy young person walks, their foot lands on the rear side of the heel and rolls forward to the ball of their foot. Heel toe, heel, toe, ... that's how the foot is designed to work so that the plantar fascia doesn't have to absorb the impact of our steps.

"As we get older" our tendons become less elastic and begin to shrink. This includes the achilles tendon that runs down the back of the leg to the heel. For many folks, this shrinkage results in a tendency to walk more flat footed. With the shortened tendon, they don't lift their toe high enough and the impact of each step strikes right on that point where the plantar fascia attaches to the heel bone. This can cause the fascia to become inflamed resulting in plantar fasciitis. It can be very painful!

When I was diagnosed with it 10 to 15 years ago, my orthopedic surgeon arranged for physical therapy which included the use of gel heel inserts in my shoes. He also gave me some exercises to do to stretch my achilles tendons. It took several months for the inflammation to subside. I no longer use the gel inserts but I still do the stretching exercises and pay attention to my walking posture. Thankfully, the problem hasn't returned.
 
Tommy said:
"As we get older ..." (I've come to really, really dislike that phrase :()

The plantar fascia attaches to the forward side of the bottom of the heel bone. When a healthy young person walks, their foot lands on the rear side of the heel and rolls forward to the ball of their foot. Heel toe, heel, toe, ... that's how the foot is designed to work so that the plantar fascia doesn't have to absorb the impact of our steps.

"As we get older" our tendons become less elastic and begin to shrink. This includes the achilles tendon that runs down the back of the leg to the heel. For many folks, this shrinkage results in a tendency to walk more flat footed. With the shortened tendon, they don't lift their toe high enough and the impact of each step strikes right on that point where the plantar fascia attaches to the heel bone. This can cause the fascia to become inflamed resulting in plantar fasciitis. It can be very painful!

When I was diagnosed with it 10 to 15 years ago, my orthopedic surgeon arranged for physical therapy which included the use of gel heel inserts in my shoes. He also gave me some exercises to do to stretch my achilles tendons. It took several months for the inflammation to subside. I no longer use the gel inserts but I still do the stretching exercises and pay attention to my walking posture. Thankfully, the problem hasn't returned.
Click to expand...

Excellent post Tommy! I agree 100%. Besides getting better footwear, I gave myself my own walking therapy and my problem has never returned. I also stretch and do yoga daily which really ‘does’ help a LOT.
 
Keesha said:
I’m really sorry you are going through this. It’s very painful. I had it a few years ago.
Better shoes made a huge difference but it still took a long time of painful walking for it to get better. What helped a lot for me was ‘practicing better walking form’ heel toe, heel toe.

I wish you the best. I know how much you like walking.
Click to expand...

I don't think the heel toe thing is a problem for me. I checked the bottom of my walking shoes this morning and they are showing more wear at the back of the heel than anywhere else. That's pretty much the same wear pattern my shoes have always shown. But the good thing is new new inserts seem to be helping a lot. I was able to do a 2 mile walk at the nature trail this morning with a lot less discomfort than what I have recently been having. I've decided to buy another pair of those inserts I got from the doctors office on Tuesday. That way I won't have to change inserts from my inside shoes to my outside shoes. I called them this morning to see if they had any more in my size (Sasquatch) but they are out but on order, so they are going to call me when they come in.
 
I had this years ago and the worst of it came at night when I was trying to sleep. I had the pain more toward my arches, like Trade mentioned, but the doc said it indeed was PF. The doc taped my feet, which immediately made it better; then I got custom shoe inserts and went to better shoes. The doc said a large contributing factor in my case was wearing high heeled shoes to work for years and years and years. I also overpronate, which adds to the problem, but the orthotics helped solve that problem, along with better shoes.
 
I finally (and this is part of the reason I'm changing Doctors, Primary Care Physician in today's parlance) got my MD to prescribe something. In this case Prednisone 10 mg (Deltasone). Almost instance relief, can sleep without aching foot.

First aside: Wifie is having fits about Steroids (snort) at 72 I think long time use/abuse is hardly a worry for me _especially_ since I abhor meds.

Second aside: I've read been told, by wifie, that Prednisone is synthetic horse mare urine! Don't know what to make of that!!
 
I dealt with this back in 2013. I thought it was heel spurs, and was expecting my Doc to tell me I had to have surgery, so it was actually a relief to find out it was Plantar Fasciitis! The pain wasn't too bad when I was on my feet, it was when I'd been sitting for a while and then stood up and put weight on them. That's what actually finally sent me to the doctor...I had been sitting on the couch watching TV for a couple hours, and when I stood up, unthinkingly putting most of my weight on my left foot, it was so excruciating that my knee buckled in response and I fell!

My doctor gave me a cortisone shot so I could get some immediate relief. He told me that the flip flops I tend to wear all summer long were going to have to go because every shoe I wore from here on out should have arch support. He also gave me a couple of exercises to do daily, which I expanded once I talked to some of my dance friends and discovered that this is a common malady in the dance community.

I still wear flip flops, but they're not the dollar store kind any more. I found that several companies actually make flip flops with arch support, among them Reef and Sanuk. They cost more, but unlike the cheap ones they don't wear out after a season. I still have the same several pair of flip flops now that I bought back in 2013.

I also bought Sof Sole orthotics, ordered from Amazon. They have a range of products for flat/medium, medium and high arches. My slight preference was the Airr, but I've tried several of their products and have found them all to be excellent.

These days I am very mindful of the arch support in all my shoes, switching the orthotics between shoes as needed. Not all the shoes I own have an arch support, but if I know I'm going to be on my feet for any length of time I make sure that my footwear is comfortable, and supportive in the arch area.

One other suggestion. I bought a pair of Oofos Recovery flip flops. THEY ARE AMAZING. They're not cheap (not for flip flops anyway) but man, they are the BEST investment I've ever made. Incredibly comfortable! They conform to the feet in a way that supports the arches, but without any hardness. There's no adequate way to describe the feel, other than to urge you to try them yourself!
 
stretching massage ice and so on...ck the net--reduce the inflammation first then work it..it will stretch out ok probably some days...three or so for swelling etc, and 4 or 5 for working with it....keep working it even after...both feet...that is prevention...
 

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