Has anyone on here got Plantar Fasciitis?

savvy

It's not just older people that suffer with it, I got it in both heels at age 13 when I ran down a ploughed up hill to stop a herd of cattle getting out and causing carnage on the A30! As I ran I felt a lot of snapping in my heels, but didn't think much of it until a couple of days later when I was in agony and felt like I was walking on a drawing pin in my heels.

That was a long time and a couple of useless GP's ago, had some physio and massage but that didn't do much, so I had some NHS orthotics made which helped at the time. However many many years later they much good now, so I switched to MBT shoes/walking boots/trainers as my GP is useless for referring me. They have been the best thing ever, but obviously bulky with the fantastically comfortable thick soles. So I have just bought some more orthotics through Sub 4 as they had a show special on at the Snowboard show this weekend that I can use in other shoes again, fingers crossed

keep_trying_3

I had it in both feet a few years ago. I did the exercises although it was painful and also got gel supports from the chemist. I had it for seven months before it cleared up. Perhaps do some of the exercises if you can, or modified versions of the exercises? Also the gel supports came in a pack of three different sizes so you could adjust the level of support. Hang in there.

hazelwoods

I suffered for months before going to see my GP.

It had got so bad I was almost in tears. I'd had a look on the internet during the summer and it looked as if Plantar fasciitis was a possibility. I tried gel insoles, specially shaped insoles, flat shoes and shoes with heels. Flyflot clogs were quite good, but as others have said after sitting for a while the pain was bad when getting up again. Trips to the loo in the middle of the night were also a nightmare.

So eventually, in mid October, I gave up and went to see the doc. He took 1 look at my foot and diagnosed PF "But you knew that cos you've looked on the internet."

He gave me an info leaflet with stretching exercises and suggested strong painkillers.

I decided to go and visit a friend who is a massage therapist. He took great delight in inflicting pain, but after stretching the muscles in my leg as well as my foot he suggested that a lot of the problem could also come from tight muscles in the back of my legs.

Armed with stretching exercises I headed for the local shopping centre. He had also advised MBTs. He uses them himself and said they were good. He was right. They were expensive but have been worth every penny. I still keep doing the stretching exercises but have had no pain for a couple of weeks.

I wear the FlyFlots at home and the MBTs when out. They are not the most stylish of footwear but I'd much rather be pain free than stylish. I was able to wear court shoes for a short while last week and trips to the loo in the middle of the night are no longer so painful.

A colleague had an op on her foot this time last year and still has problems. It was only this month that I discovered she has PF too. She has specially made insoles which help a bit but she is still in pain. I hadn't realised how widespread it seems to be.

jumpingjackd

I have got this. It got so bad on holiday in the US that I went to a podiatrist thinking it was hard skin, but he said it was "heel spurs" and the treatment was three injections of cortisone, or heel supports.

I picked up a pair of insoles but they were so big I couldnt get them in my shoe. The most relief I got was after buying a pair of wedge heeled slip on sandals (1 1/2 sizes bigger) and kind of walking on tiptoe.

We stayed at a hotel with a whirlpool bath for two nights and I put my heels on the jets for about 1/2 hour and that combined with the sandals made it almost bearable to walk during the day, but getting up from a resting position was a nightmare.

Our holiday was ruined and I felt bad for my husband who was on his first visit to New York and was so looking forward to "seeing everything" Most of the time I told them just to go on without me. It was horrendous.

I have never known anyone else to have this and am glad to have finally found a name for it. I fell so ridiculous at time saying "my feet are sore".

Would be glad to hear any more remedies.

Meant to say that I think the heat may have made it worse as coming home although still very painful it was slightly less so. Five months on the pain is still there. I wear a pair of Rohde walking shoes most of the time. I also found Clarks shoes to be awful.

annifranakapan

Oh I do feel so sorry for you - this is a horrible condition.

My 28 year old son has been suffering from this for months. The pain came on very suddenly one morning. When it was still painful two weeks later he finally gave in and went to the GP.

The doctor diagnosed PF and said that steroid injections in the sole of the foot 'might' help. My son had the injections (according to him they were 'uncomfortable' but bearable) and they didn't help at all.

After 8 weeks he went back to the GP who referred him to hospital for physio, but said he'd like to give the injections another 'go', as sometimes they worked better the second time as he would use more steroid. So my son had the injections for the second time - didn't help at all. In fact I'm convinced it became worse after these second lot of injections.

During this time my son was trying to work as normal in a pretty manual job where he was on his feet all day. He was in absolute agony with the pain and I felt so sorry for him.

He finally got to see the physio at the hospital and they recommended a kind of 'shock wave' therapy. The course of therapy took place on 3 seperate occassions at weekly intervals. It didn't work.

By this time my son could hardly walk at all with the pain and the doctor 'signed him off' work. He also referred my son to a consultant at the hospital for a second opinion.

My son saw the consultant who again diagnosed PF and said he thought an operation might be needed but he'd like to try the 'shock wave therapy' one more time. This second course of therapy begins the first week in December.

My son has now been off work for six months, is in absolute agony and uses a walking stick when at home. He doesn't go out much because it is so painful. I am worried about him, he's not a 'wimp' by any stretch of the imagination but this pain has really got to him.

Hopefully the next course of shock wave therapy will help (but I'm not holding my breath). TBH I don't think doctors are terribly sure exactly what will 'work' with this. Though to be fair, my friend had PF many years ago, had the steroid injections just once and was absolutley fine. I think that each case is different and what works for one person may not work for another.

I can understand how low you feel with this. Hopefully you may be like my friend and one lot of injections will fix the problem.

I hope you find the solution soon. Take care.

Annifran.

mazza245

Isn't it amazing how, though different, everyone reports very similar feelings and how everyone is trying different shoes etc?

I feel very sorry for your son, annifranakapan, it must be dreadful having to try and keep a job going as well. Him being young, it's spoiling his life for the time being. I am sure he will get a bit better soon and be able to go out but we all know exactly how bad it is and I don't have to go out to work but I dread going out at all, especially if I think I won't be able to sit down.

And you, jumpingjackd, you poor thing, it ruined your holiday. I can just imagine how it was, the guilt for the others not being able to do as much on top of the pain.

I went to the doctors last week and he thought he could find a little lump in the instep. He didn't want to inject anything until he knew what this lump was. I went to have an ultrasound and the result is back now. There are TWO distinct patches of PF - one towards the heel and one further forward! The doctor can only offer me an injection in each place and he says he will give me a local anaesthetic in one of the places!!! I told him never mind that, he would have to strap me down! Anyway, I can't have it done until middle of December so I have all that time to think about it.

I could do with finding a massage therapist as the radiologist who did the ultrasound advised me that it must be from the back of my legs and it all needed stretching and massage in order to smooth it all out, but where do you find someone like that? I also don't know where to buy some MBT's - I have looked on t'internet and can't find a stockist anywhere in the north.

I do hope you all feel better soon, especially Anni's son, good luck with the shock wave therapy. Isn't it funny how all these different therapies are around and no two people get offered the same?

Thanks for your replies anyway, back to hobbling down the stairs now.

hazelwoods

mazza245 wrote: »

I could do with finding a massage therapist as the radiologist who did the ultrasound advised me that it must be from the back of my legs and it all needed stretching and massage in order to smooth it all out, but where do you find someone like that? I also don't know where to buy some MBT's - I have looked on t'internet and can't find a stockist anywhere in the north.

Interesting that the radiologist suggested massage and that it could be coming from the back of the legs.

I'll ask my therapist if he knows how to find one in your area.

I got my MBTs at Brand Fusion at Livingston Designer Outlet. They have certain designs at half price. Is there a McArthur Glen outlet near you? Mind you, I said when I got mine that if they worked they were worth every penny of the £65 I paid. I'd even say that they would be worth every penny if I'd had to pay full price.

jumpingjackd

hazelwoods wrote: »

Interesting that the radiologist suggested massage and that it could be coming from the back of the legs.

I'll ask my therapist if he knows how to find one in your area.

I got my MBTs at Brand Fusion at Livingston Designer Outlet. They have certain designs at half price. Is there a McArthur Glen outlet near you? Mind you, I said when I got mine that if they worked they were worth every penny of the £65 I paid. I'd even say that they would be worth every penny if I'd had to pay full price.

Thanks for the heads up on McArthur Glen, I am going next week. Had looked at MBT s on internet last night (have never heard of them before) and was reluctant to spend over £140 for a pair of trainers.

My sympathies to everyone with this and your son. I feel sorry for him not going out but can definitely understand why. Hope the next lot of injections work for him.

jumpingjackd

Mazza I can understand just how you feel about the injections :eek: my reaction was the same when I think about it, but if it helps it would be worth it.

mazza245

Thanks for that, you are right, if it works it would be worth having the pain of the injections, it's just if it doesn't and I really am a softie and am bound to cry........ However, I am willing to try anything so I must have it done.

There is a MacArthur Glen outlet at Cheshire Oaks which is quite a way away, one of those trips we do once a year or so. I don't think I can persuade Mr Maz to go at the moment. We have been trying to get a lot of Christmas shopping out of the way this month and I think I have done too much plus he hates shopping and will moan all the time!

My foot is really painful at the moment as I have probably done a bit too much. You really convince yourself that it isn't as bad and then when you try to walk, back it comes! I will try again to buy them over the internet but last time I looked it didn't seem an easy task. I have found actually that a small heel is perhaps more comfortable, at the time, for walking, if you want to look a bit smarter, although you suffer more afterwards.