Hello, I've been through orthotics, physiotherapy with ASTYM, stretching, expensive athletic shoes, special arch support sleeves, etc., and I'm still where I was when onset occurred. I have achilles tightness and soreness too. Pain in mostly in the arch, rarely the heel, and worsens throughout the day. It's fine when I first get up but as I move about the pain gets worse. In about a year, I'd like to travel to Israel, but I can't see it happening. Both a podiatrist and orthopaedist told me that I'd have to "train" for the trip so that I can stand and walk for 6 hours a day up and down hills with cobblestones, etc. I can't even walk for 5-10 minutes, or stand for more than a minute. Given then PF is degenerative, if I were to start a walking routine (which I know would cause more pain), am I hurting myself rather than helping? I am almost completely sedentary, because that's the only thing that reduces the pain. I get in about 500-1700 steps per day. During travel, I could expect 10,000 steps per day, 10 days in a row. I have no idea what to do. Any ideas? Thanks so much!
Ok my credentials first. I have 5 years of pain in both heels. 3 surgeries, no relief from treatments what so ever. Could barely walk for months at a time!! Recently my young son joined a soccer (football in UK) team. I forced myself to help in with the kids practicing.. retrieving errantly kicked balls etc. It was painful! The next day...experienced a pain "reduction"!!! I continue to help and am doing massage and ice still.. but my pain is down to "discomfort" most of the time. I can even run short distances! I cannot be sedentary! I think it allows the condition to tighten and tighten. Try doing something crazy like that. come home and stand on ice packs a bit. See what happens. You might be suprised!!!
There is another forum about PF, with some interesting views. I myself have recently purchased a FS6 compression sock (£12.99 of the net) and have found this helpfull.
Thanks so much for your reply. I have two compression socks almost identical to those. They really help relieve heel pain in my left foot, when I have it. I started wearing them all the time, but didn't notice any sort of serious improvement. After a month, I started to have significant pain in both great toes, which I think the socks had something to do with, so I stopped wearing them. The toe pain was starting to cause a limp.
Regarding activity, I went for a 15 min walk in the woods on a soft, lumpy grass path in December, and ended up bedridden for 5 days (and missed work). I felt relatively OK during and afterwards, but by that evening my feet and legs were terribly painful. I had to shuffle to the bathroom the whole time. So, I'm very wary of setting it off again like that.
Another odd symptom is that after walking or standing, my feet and legs (up to my knees) twitch constantly in direct proportion to the pain. Specialist did a nerve study to rule out neuropathy or ALS.
This came on after some mild travel last summer. I've had PF about 4-5 times in the past 15 years (age 48) but it's never been this bad or lasted as long.
I guess the thing I don't understand is that PF is degenerative - so with every step I'm causing more tearing and more damage...which my body seems to confirm with increased pain, twitching, etc. Has anyone ever had a doctor tell them to run or walk despite the pain? (Mine didn't.)
Sorry, Martin, most of the post below was in response to your reply.
Kate, where is this other forum?
Try clicking on my name, see if it takes you there, as I have commented in them.
Kate,
Sorry, I'm a bit thick. I clicked on a few but didn't see a different forum name. Is there a certain approach that seems effective?
Thanks!
Sorry for delay. Click on my name, then on rightb hand side of screen, it should show what I have commented on. Look for someone called soreheel.
Joe. I do realize that many cases are very different. I am feeling so good but not "cured". Last year I could barely walk. I wish I could help everyone get here... 
Martin,
It's encouraging that you found relief. The body can behave in some pretty surprising ways.
I've started to wonder if this bout of PF is permanent. Over the last 5 years, I've had a few health issues suddenly become permanent. The first thing was chronic pelvic pain, then neck pain, and then TMJS. Each appeared suddenly, or after being occasional annoyances. They may wax or wane in severity, but they are always there.
Thanks Joe.. please, eat a great diet of veggies, fruit and lean meat.. and become an excersice freek! I went through several chronic pain issues.. smim a million laps in a pool!! and eat good..mulitivitamins. you will improve!!!!
Thanks for the tips. My doc has put me on a gluten free, high protein, fruit, veg diet for the last few months, with tons of vitamins and supplements, so I've got that part down. I'm starting to get back into gentle yoga because I have arthritis almost everywhere, shoulders, knees, etc. and its very easy to overdo it with exercise and cause a flare up.
Hi, sounds to me like you have been misdiagnosed... have you had a blood test? I was diagnosed with PF originally, but eventually got correctly diagnosed once i explained pain in arch and achiles and asked for a blood test. PF pain is really in middle of heel (only). Once it goes from there, then something else happening. Go back to GP and insists on appointment with Rheumatologist and blood test to rule out other things. GOod luck
Hi Joe, Sorry to hear your troubles, Ive suffered for approx l year now, mostly because I didnt rest and carried on my sport ( golf ) - Ive been resting for 4 months now, well as best u can - and I was shocked to hear someone gave u advice to go kick a football or similar - I cant belive that would help you ?? I too have arthritis however I am 61 so expected I guess, its only in my hips and pelvis so I suffer sciatica on car journies and sitting long at my desk - luckily I work from home as a health coach so luckily I can work on my laptop from my bed. I suggest u use a good quality fish oil from deep sea fish and get a good quality multivitamin as high street shops only have food grade supplements and these quite often are sugar pills . I have wondered if you have worn your night splint during the day as Ive just started this and Im asking on here for advice. Anyway I do wish you well.
Sparkle, Yes, I've had some blood tests to look for rheum. problems and came back normal, but a variety of other things were off (Vit D, etc.). Prescriptions and supplements so far haven't had any effect. I do see a rheumy every 6 months for widespread osteoarthritis, and my family is plagued with diagnosed autoimmune diseases, except it doesn't show up in my blood tests. I do have a weakly positive rheumatoid factor but not enough to diagnose or treat as rheumatoid arthritis.
Like you, pain is in arch and Achilles tendon, rarely ever in the heel, and gets worse throughout the day. May I ask what your diagnosis was?
Thanks for the good wishes. The same to you. I haven't worn a night splint. None of the doctors I've seen have recommended it.
Hi have you tried massage? Not cure but gets me back on my feet ..I find certain areas on my legs and feet to be excruciating when softly massaged but then temporary relief lasting hours...I usually have tightness and sore legs..had plantar fasciitis for 3 years now tried everything like yourself...
I am a 6 year sufferer, I have found a balance with this PF. I have a theory after dealing with this so long. It's that tighnes in all or part of the lower extremities causes nerve sensitivity in the feet. By loosening the muscles in the back, gluteous, thighs, hamstrings and calves I am getting relief in the feet. I am also doing a foot massage morning and night.. I am functioning, even play a mild version of football with my son on occasion. Dont be sedentary!! al lease go somewhere to swim laps in a pool. Get busy with stretching, even yoga..get on you tube and search "yoga leg and back stretches"..Now!! Good luck.
It's good to know you've found balance. I've had this for 15 years, and there are times when I think I've achieved this. It mostly just went away on its own, except for one good PT course 5 years ago that stopped out in its tracks.
I agree that swimming is a good option for many people to stay active, especially because it's non weight bearing.in my case, my shoulders flare up if I rotate my arms over my head. you can actually hear a loud popping sound, followed by several months of pain. for that reason I scratched off swimming from my exercise list a few years back. thanks for the suggestion though.