Plantar Fasciitis

[Moesha]

I searched previous threads and found a few mentions of this condition, but no threads dedicated to it. Since I was recently diagnosed with it, as well as a friend of mine, I thought I would ask those of you that have been affected by this painful condition a few questions.


I read that some of you wear crocs and that seems to help. Mine started after I couldn't wear my Birkenstocks for long periods of time any longer. This was due to wearing them in Prague. Something about walking for miles on the cobblestones caused the toe bar to do something to my big toe. It was numb for several months after that trip. Now when I do wear my Birks for an hour or two, that same big toe starts to hurt. I used to wear Birks all the time. Then I switched to crocs. They are good because I can wear them when I clean people's showers. After wearing them for awhile, I noticed a terrible pain in one of my heels. It would get so bad after cleaning one house that I could barely walk. I finally stopped wearing the crocs and the pain is not nearly as bad. I do some stretches. I also was told to do an exercise where you pull a towel toward you by using your toes. That one hurts! I haven't really noticed any relief from rolling my foot on a frozen coke bottle. I am trying to remember to wear shoes in the house. I really don't like that, but I do know that going barefoot is bad for this condition. I don't have to wear the splint at night. I don't have the signature terrible pain first thing in the morning. My friend is wearing the splint though. The orthopedic doctor didn't tell her if that was something she would always have to wear or if she only needed to wear it until the heel healed.
So what advice can people share?
What were the best exercises you found for helping the pain go away?
Does the pain ever completely go away or do you have to deal with this all the time?
I know heel spurs can come as a result of plantar fasciitis. How do you know if you have a heel spur? Did it feel differently than the regular pain?

[catnapper]

I found that stretches help a LOT. What I do is stand with my toes on the front of a step and lean forward. It stretches the heel and calf muscles. Its not a quick fix (or even permanent) but it helps more than I can say.

Losing weight helped the most. I have noticed since I regained 20 pounds that my feet hurt like they used to.

[chocolatepuppy]

Those stretches on steps or even on a mat at work, seem to help me a lot. I need to lose weight also. I always wear shoes, flip flops are a no-no, and even slippers with open toes are quick to cause me pain.

[Moesha]

Something that I found interesting is that tennis shoes are recommended as often as possible. Last weekend I forgot to bring my Birks to work in, but I had my tennis shoes in the car. They are not very old New Balance brand shoes. I wore them to clean two houses. After doing that, my heel was much sorer than it had been in quite awhile.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I developed some terrible plantar asciitis I thought I would never walk again.

It was right around the time we moved to SoCal. I had taken the train to LA for some classes and called my husband from the train station..."I don't think I can walk to to the train!"

I bought an ankle brace. Elastic and goes under the arch. I used it when doing Jazzercise or walking a great deal. Sometimes I would just wear it because it felt so good.

I did the exercises as well which helped....but it was really that brace that did it. It took quite a long while - but it has been at least three years since I have had ANY pain.

[Moesha]

Where did you get the brace? Was it just like a regular brace you can get in a drug store? I've been looking at some of the splints online, but those couldn't be worn to do normal activities.

[carole]

I had this problem too ,when i started working out at a gym many years ago, well that was what the physio person told me , despite good shoes, i was in so much pain with my feet i consequently gave the gym up because of it, i don't have the same problems so much any more, but have very sore feet most of the time,but then i have fibro, so not sure which is causing what.

I have no advice except do stretches and seek physio treatment if possible.

[moosmom]

I was diagnosed with it about 7 years ago. The doctor had me go out and buy an expensive pair of walking shoes and it did the trick. He told me no more heals (that was my demise while working as a paralegal) and to wear these walking shoes ($95) at ALL TIMES and it did the trick.

After a while it went away.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I had a terrible bout of it many years ago. I bought some Dr. Scholl's gel heel inserts and arch supports for my shoes. I only wear "sturdy" walking shoes as long as I can get away with it. Sometimes, I have to wear dress shoes.

I couldn't walk very well at all. I used a cane and had to get up and stand for 3 minutes(at least) before I could proceed. I did alot of stretches. The one with stretching your toes hurts but is the easiest and helped me the most. The one Kim mentioned is good too. I stretched my foot every time I sat down.

Eventually, it got so bad, I dragged myself into the ortho doctor on a walker and got a cortisone injection in the heel. It was the one time that a cortisone injection helped me and it never came back that bad. I don't use cortisone anymore but I was glad I did that time. It was a miracle. I couldn't walk into the office that day without the walker. When I left, I was carrying the walker and went shopping afterward.

Good luck to you. I feel your pain.