Has anyone on here got Plantar Fasciitis?

elisamoose

I have had a couple of bouts of this and although painful for the first day , the injection did work ! Doctors seemed reluctant to do it as first line of treatment though. By the second bout I just marched in and asked for the injection please-- and got it !

nappentass

mazza245 wrote: »

There are TWO distinct patches of PF - one towards the heel and one further forward!

The Plantar Fascia (or Plantar Aponeurosis) is traced from each toe under the ball and arch of the footfoot to the heel, then after it's rounded the heal gets called something else, so this seems a strange thing to 'diagnose' If the body has built up additional fibrous tissue it would suggest that these areas have been under strain (the body is re-inforcing it) so getting the whole fascia released would probably make a difference, which is probably why the suggestion about massage was made.

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?.

As well as a good massage therapist, other therapies that work within the fascia & soft tissue may be an alternative if you can get personal recommendations locally, for example Bowen (which I am trained in), NST, Myofascial KMI , Rolfing, Feldenkrais.
There can be so many different causes of plantar fasciitis that there is no 'silver bullet' so keep on trying to find what things work best for you.
HTH
Jill

siaoeh

Hi all fellow PF-ers :hello: I had them from 2 years ago when I went on a too long beach walk on some flat flipflops on holidays. Was in agony for a while before I decided to see my GP abt it where he told me, yes you guessed it, its PF. printed some leaflets for me and told me to rest it till the pain goes away. aren't some GPs just so predictable??! :mad:

anyhoo, I went and googled it like anyone would in a case of having not much advice off the GP.

did some stretching exercises I found on the internet that were terribly painful (mainly stretching the calves) and bought some gel heel pads and stop wearing any shoes that are remotely flat. I find a very slight heel helps, though anything higher than an inch would trigger my knee and lower back pain ( and I'm only in my early 30s )

2 yrs on, the pain is still there now and then when I've walked too much, but at least I'm not in agony most of the time (not in my heel anyway)

and if I make sure I stretch my calves everyday (all thru the day as well) that seem to ease it a bit? I even survived a 5 month retail temp job where I had to be on my feet and run up and down 4 storeys all day! did go thru a few pairs of heel pads though, and did stretches on my calves all day, behind the till, stocking the shelves or while standing at the door greeting customers.. I must have looked pretty odd! :rotfl:

can't remember where but one of the articles I read did mention something about short calf muscles tend to make me more prone to PF?

been looking at Fitflops for a while now... they've been only doing it in flipflop style, hence not suitable for the current weather, not unless I can find some of those Japanese toe socks to wear them with... but they now do it in winter shoes style too!! clogs with no backs at 66 quid and fur lined short boots for 88... ouch. has anyone else heard of or tried these Fitflops? apparently they are meant to help tone leg and bottom muscles when we walk in them, but because of the very thick and slightly heeled soles, they are good at easing PF pain, knee pain and back pain caused by walking! sounds good but I've yet to try them for myself at that price..

reading on all your stories here actually makes me feel grateful my PF is nowhere as bad as some of yours! hope everyone can find a good way to help ease those pain soon! :beer:

mazza245

Thanks for that, Nappentass. I have heard of the Bowen technique, but haven't a clue about NST, Myofascial KMI , Rolfing, Feldenkrais???!! I could look them all up through Google but perhaps you would be kind enough to just give a brief idea of what they are and where you can find those practitioners.

I have actually seen Fitflops for sale so I could try them. My OH will go mad if I come back in with any MORE shoes no matter how good my excuse is! I could also buy (if I could find any) some MBT's or any of the other kinds of trainers etc that have been recommended. The person who is treating me at the moment said that if I have the injection, she won't touch me for at least six weeks afterwards! It was as if I dared to have that done, I couldn't have any other help! Does anyone have any idea why this should be? I have an appointment for the injections but that can be cancelled as it's not until the 16th December.

spidey

I had this a couple of years ago. At the time I was very obese, and it spurred (pardon the pun, it's aka heel spur) to join weightwatchers and a gym. I've lost a lot of weight since (4 1/2 stone) and it's cleared up now. I did find the inserts you get from Boots useful at the time.

Bandicoot98

Hi

I regularly treat people with plantar fasciitis and find the best way to treat it is to attack it from all angles. By this I mean, use treatments such as massage and ultrasound, in combination with stretching exercises for the calf muscles and fascia itself.

I would also recommend the use of a night splint which costs about £40 from return2fitness.co.uk. This helps to stretch the calf muscle overnight to prevent them and the fascia tightening up, which is why most people find the condition is most painful when they first stand in the morning.

I have heard other people say acupuncture is very good.

The other option which I thin is important is orthotics. Plantar fasciitis can be caused by either having a flat arch, or one that becomes flat when you walk, or the opposite, a high arch. Correcting this problem is the only way to remove the problem over a long period of time. As a colleague of mine says, you wouldn't build a house without getting the foundations right first. Its the same with your body!

You can find loads more about plantar fasciitis treatment and rehabilitation on this site.

nappentass

mazza245 wrote: »

Thanks for that, Nappentass. I have heard of the Bowen technique, but haven't a clue about NST, Myofascial KMI , Rolfing, Feldenkrais???!! I could look them all up through Google but perhaps you would be kind enough to just give a brief idea of what they are and where you can find those practitioners.

Hi Mazza
I don't know any specifics because Bowen (& NST which is also derived from Tom Bowen's work) are the ones that sorted me out for my issues, and consequently I have trained & qualified as a Bowen Therapist.
It's just that I was recently on a training course looking at tension & balance in the body & when looking at problems like PF & other postural problems, those are the names of the therapies that came up that would help release tension in the body, so thought it would give you more options to look out for.
HTH
Jill

Josie_Jump_3

Hello,

I've been suffering with this for 3 years or so, had it in my left foot first and it took a good couple of years to clear and then it moved into my right and I've had it there for a year or so. I've had injections in the left it wasn't particularly painful but it didn't help much so I haven't bothered with the right one. I've not worn shoes for 3 years and have lived in trainers however a couple of weeks back I went into Clarks and found a pair of shoes that are even more comfy than my beloved trainers! I think they are called 'unstructered', I have searched high and low for trainers, shoes & boots and on 3 years of searching these are the most comfortable shoes I have found.

A couple of tips I would give are -make sure you stretch you calf muscles everyday, get one of the night splints (they really do help) & ice your foot - keep a can of pop in the fridge and roll it under your foot.

czt1304

Hi, I too suffer with PF and I totally agree that it is one of the most painfull things I have ever had! People who are lucky enough not to suffer with this look at you strange when you try to explain that your foot hurts. I suffered with the pain for over 2 months - thinking that it was a stone bruise which would eventually get better - needless to say - it didnt. I work as cabin crew and eventually found that I could hardly walk by the end of a flight. I saw my doctor and he referred me to a consultant. I was recommended insoles and exercise - neither of which seemed to help.After another month the consultant said I could have an injection.... I asked "would it hurt?" He replied " I'm not going to lie to you....Yes it is very painful!!!" I agreed as I was really hoping the short pain of the injection would far outweigh the benefits. The injection was painful but I didnt really feel I gained from having it. I was also given a splint to wear at night. My treatment at the moment ( my 3rd month of treatment)is wearing an aircast during the day which allows my foot to rest, the stretching splint at night and physio once a week. During my physio I have ultrasound and short wave treatment and a very short massage. I also have to massage the bottom of my foot every evening just pressing from the heal area up to the toe area - this encourages stretching. In the last week I have started to feel a relief from the pain and I believe this coincided with the ultra sound treatment. I would highly recommend this.I have been off work now for 3 months and cant believe how much pain this condition causes. I am totally sympathetic to all that suffer with this. I see my consultant on the 17 dec who will discuss surgery with me. I am in 2 minds as whether to consider this an option. Any thoughts would be gratefully recieved
:j .......I wish!

hazelwoods

After many months of pain I can now manage a whole day without pain.

The MBTs were expensive but by golly they were worth it. They are not the most glamourous of footwear, but I'll take pain-free any day.

Sometimes I'll change and wear my FlyFlots. I even tried ordinary boots last week. I can't believe how easily it has eased after the months of pain.

The big test comes on Friday, it's our staff Christmas Party. I think I'd better take my FlyFlots with me just in case. I have a massage booked for Thursday evening so that should help too.