Plantar fasciitis

Anyone else got it? Tips for pain relief, shoe brands, insoles, etc?

I've self-diagnosed but am 99% certain that's what's going on. My cousin has it very bad, with a 9mm bone spur, one cortisone shot under her belt (with no relief) and surgery likely on the horizon. I do NOT want to get to that point so I am anxious to do the right thing.

Yes, I've had it in the past. It passed off without treatment eventually. But now I have what I have self-diagnosed as tendonitis in my achilles tendon that is really farking my quality of life. By all accounts, the cortisone shot is extraordinarily painful, and I couldn't quite talk myself into it before I left the States and didn't bring it up to my NHS doctor.

Say...I just took your thread and made it about me, didn't I?

Ummm...stretching exercises is what my nurse friend recommends.

Dh has this when we were in the States we picked up a couple pairs of Dr Scholl's Heel Pain Relief Orthotics inserts that are specifically for Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Spurs we got them at Walmart. they seem to be helping but he is still in a little pain with the inserts in his shoes but without the inserts he would be in a whole lot of pain. Goodluck with whatever you find.   

I thought I had it, but my GP said it was achilles tendonitis....his recommendation....lose weight and exercise! Saying that, since breaking my ankle I've been seeing a physio and she has given me exercises that seem to be helping.

I'd never heard of it until I myself started to suffer with heel pain and then it seems everyone around me had had it at one point or another.  Seems to hit people who are into middle age and/or could stand to lose a few pounds - although one of my work colleagues is fairly fit and in his early 30's!

I went to see my GP about it and he wasn't much help - lose weight, gave me some specific calf stretching exercises, told me to take ibuprofen and come back if i was 'desperate' for a coritsone shot.

My internet research told me that, even with a number of interventions, this could hang around for up to a year and eventually seems to clear itself.  I did calf stretches on a regular basis, gave up on taking anything for the pain, tried several different kinds of shoes (but not heel inserts) and - the thing that gave me the most relief?  A frozen water bottle.  Three times a day for 15 minutes, I rolled it back and forth under my foot - usually when sitting.

Not only does it help with inflammation, it encourages you to do a natural stretch of the muscle that is tightening and causing the problem in the first place.  I did this for months, and eventually, after nearly a year, my heel felt completely better.

Now my DH is starting to suffer with this, but he also intends to see his GP to make sure there aren't heel spurs or something else going on...

I have it! Diagnosed and all! 

Losing weight helps, unfortunately. That's not much fun. But stretching exercises do the trick, too. If you go to see a podiatrist and are officially diagnosed, he/she will probably show you what stretches to do - or even give you a print-out. Or if you don't want to see a doc, just Google. I'm sure they're online.

The other thing that's good is to rest with your heel on a bag of frozen peas for 15 minutes or so in the evening.

Don't wear high heels, but don't wear flat flats either. You need a bit of a heel all the time.

Good footwear is key. It's hard in summer, but try to avoid flip-flops and flat sandals. Also, make sure you are fitted properly for any running/athletic shoes at a good running store.

I can sympathise. I have completely flat feet, and have pretty much self-diagnosed myself with post tibial tendonitis (as a former dancer, I've had tendonitis in my achilles, knees and hips before, so I know the signs). In fact I'm just icing my ankle now after a run. I'm going to try to work my way through the NHS to get to see a podiatrist, and hopefully get some orthotics.

Stretching, ice, rest and proper footwear are key.

Thanks everyone.

My cousin is seeing a podiatrist and got some orthotic inserts from him, though they weren't custom made. I'm going to try REI or something for them.

Summer is a real pain with the shoes. I can't wear flip flops at all (can't do the toe bar), but I bought what I thought were good, cushion-y sandals and now realize that yes, they are cusion-y, but they have no other support.

My cousin's podiatrist told her Crocs or mock Crocs are NOT good at all. And of course I'd just got some of those, too.

Don't get me started on the weight loss...

Here are some stretches which should help you. These are pretty much the same as the ones my podiatrist has me do. The second one from the top I find particularly helpful, especially first thing in the morning.

Thanks everyone.

Summer is a real pain with the shoes. I can't wear flip flops at all (can't do the toe bar), but I bought what I thought were good, cushion-y sandals and now realize that yes, they are cusion-y, but they have no other support.

I hear you. I have a hard enough time finding shoes that fit me full stop, as I have extremely narrow feet. Add to that trying to find shoes with good arch support, and I've pretty much resigned myself to having to spend a good amount of money on shoes. No trendy, cute, cheap summer sandals for me. And I love my converse sneakers for summer, but have realized that those were doing a real number on my feet (pretty much no arch support at all), so I try to wear those sparingly.

I have Plantar fasciitis in both of my heels. People have given some really good advice on here!

The cortisone shot is extraordinarily painful! Had that done...and never again!!! Losing weight...special excercises...or Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy..can be done.

http://www.plantarfasciitisbraces.com/plantar_fasciitis_stretching_exercises.html

http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1043%2F1524-5012(2000)002%5B0175%3AEPFAMT%5D2.0.CO%3B2&ct=1

I haven't had Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy..but I have thought about having it done.
There are ways of wrapping the foot with plantar fasciotomy to help ease the foot pain. Unfortunately wearing sandals isn't going to help with this conditions...probably make it worse. It has for me.
Know it can be painful. Sorry to hear you have this.

Dh has this when we were in the States we picked up a couple pairs of Dr Scholl's Heel Pain Relief Orthotics inserts that are specifically for Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Spurs we got them at Walmart. they seem to be helping but he is still in a little pain with the inserts in his shoes but without the inserts he would be in a whole lot of pain. Goodluck with whatever you find.   

Just echoing the above.  These really helped alleviate a lot of pain for me.  It's not 100%, but more like 80%.  Combined with stretching exercises, they made a HUGE difference in day to day walking.  I generally wear supportive shoes, but these give them a bit of extra help -- without being overly bulky or causing heel-slippage (which drives me batty).