Plantar Fasciitis

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm not sure if I have this or not but if I wear thongs or sandals for a while my toes will start hurting. I'm sure it has something to do with my arch. I know that my mom has to buy arch supports and she puts them in all of her shoes. I bought some Dr. Scholls shoes with air-pillo gel insoles and they've really helped me a lot. I hate wearing shoes when I'm at home though and I mainly walk around in my socks or slippers.

[Twisterdog]

I have this as well.

It started when I started wearing Crocs. I loved those shoes, I'm lazy and a comfort hound, so they were the perfect shoes for me! Ugly or not, I wore them all the time. After a couple months, my feet started to hurt. Badly. And it got worse. Finally I read somewhere that Crocs, clogs, flip flops, etc. are bad news. I got a pair of tennis shoes, and I always wear arch supports, and it helps. But even then, if I'm on my feet all day, I can barely walk by evening.

Some shoes work for me, and some don't. I have a brand new pair of adorable Sketchers, that I can't wear, they kill my feet. So do most skate shoes, sadly, I think they are so cute and can't wear them. I have a pair of DC's sitting in my closet for the same reason. I love my Zoo York high tops, though, and I will cry when they wear out. Ok, so I'm a forty-one year old grandma wearing hot pink and grey high tops with little skulls on them ... but my feet don't hurt! LOL!

[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.

[RICHARD]

Time wounds all heels!


Check out SPENCO inserts. I used to stand and walk at work, then played volleyball in the evenings. I had foot problems until I tried a pair of these inserts. I bought them when a salesperson recommeded them to me.

They are incredible and really make a difference- Buy the long insole with the arch support.

THEY WILL MAKE YOU FEET HURT-for the first few days. The tendons on your soles will burn! If you gradually build up your tolerance you will buy extra pairs for you other shoes.

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One thing about thongs, flip flops and sandals.

Your toes 'grab' the shoe bed as you walk. I noticed that as my birkies got worn, I had to adjust the straps every so often.

I was putting pressure across the tops of my feet and my toes were going numb.

I also had a pair of shoes that I played VB in that had the strap that went across the top of my feet, that would keep my toes from smashing into the toe of the shoe, but adjusting the strap tighter just made the problems worse.

Thick padded socks, with cushioned heels and toes, are another way to keep your feet comfortable...Good luck!


http://www.spenco.com/insoles.shtml

[Moesha]

My friend who was diagnosed with this at the end of June is better. She went to an orthopedic doctor and was given a round of steroids and a splint to wear at night. I've been doing the exercises and am still in pain. Although some days it is much better than others. I think that the vacuuming really aggravates my right foot. In trying to compensate, my left arch is now slightly sore. My friend lent me her splint to wear at night. Although I don't have the bad pain the morning that so many people mention. Mine is mostly after walking or especially working. I have thought back and I've had this heel pain for over a year. It's not always terrible. If I clean two houses in one day, that is the worst. I went to Disney back in March and it didn't hurt at all, even with walking around the parks all day every day. But it started again as soon as I got back to my routine. I don't know what I'm going to do about that. I am thinking about going to a podiatrist if this splint doesn't help in a few days. My massage therapist sister will be in town tomorrow, so I'm having her massage my back and feet for me. I wish it would go away.

[boomersooner]

I was officially diagnosed with this, too, on Tuesday. He gave me a script for orthotics....but he said give the exercises a few weeks before I spend the money. My husband has foot problems (thankfully surgically repaired in March, and he is pain free now..) Anyway, he went through his share of orthotics, and I'm just not ready to deal out 300-400 dollars right now.....He also gave me some heel cups to put in my shoes...I thought it was actually feeling better until I walked around Walmart tonight....not so much! I'll keep doing the exercises, and I need to go and get me a new pair of shoes. Good luck to everyone who has this nuisance.

[kimlovescats]

My goodness, is this contagious??? I"ve been having the same thing for months now! It's not quite as bad at this current time but it had gotten absolutely miserable for months on end. SHARP pains in my heel and even in bed at night! I wear those gel heel inserts in my shoes all the time.

[boomersooner]

The weird thing is that it hurts first thing in the morning when you get up....I saw something where you can sleep with this stretchy thing on that keeps your Achilles stretched out while you sleep.....Lots and lots of people evidently have this and don't know it!

[Moesha]

That's the odd thing is that mine doesn't hurt first thing in the morning. I did sleep with the night splint last night that I borrowed from my friend. She said that it really helped her. I didn't notice a difference this morning, but I will probably keep trying it for another week or so. My sister, who is a massage therapist, worked on my food this afternoon and thinks that my problem is more in the ankle area. I'm going to look for some stretches to do for that also.

[boomersooner]

Mine doesn't hurt every morning, but it does more than not....It really hurts when I've been standing or walking on it....My arch has fallen a bit so I think that is where mine started. It isn't fun, that's for sure, but I guess there are much, much worse things to have!

[DJFyrewolf36]

I just was diagnosed with this too on my right foot...I have to make an appointment with the podiatrist. Anti Inflamitories help a little but not all the time...streching helps too but sometimes for no reason at all it seems my foot starts to hurt really bad!

Is there any way to keep it from swelling up at night? This is where I have the most issues...

[Karen]

Have you tried elevating your foot as you sleep? That might help, if you can.

[Moesha]

There are some different kinds of night splints that will help keep the fasciitis stretched during the night. My friend wore that. Now, after just a couple of weeks, hers is much better. I have been trying it. I don't know if it is helping me because I never had the terrible pain in the mornings. Mine still hurts once I start working. I'm sure the podiatrist will know if a splint would help. There are several different kinds. Some are bulkier than others. Please let us know what the podiatrist says. I've been contemplating going to one myself. My friend went to an orthopedic doctor. She was given steroids to take. I know that some doctors will give a cortizone shot into the heel area if it is bad. Most will try other things first though.

[boomersooner]

I went to an ortho, and he said the cortisone shots would be the very last thing considered....he gave me the heel pads, gave me exercises, and gave me a script for a custom orthotic, but he said don't do that unless the other things don't work. There are a couple of stores in the Dallas area that specialize in just feet....I may go and see what they have...

[MoonandBean]

I haven't read all the posts so I'm not sure if this has been recommended but I have known several people who have had good results from this:

http://www.thesock.com/

Also, try freezing a bottle of water and rolling your foot over the frozen bottle for 30 minutes 3x/day.