Having had Plantar Fas for 4 years now on and off, I can walk a bit, I do physio exercises daily wear the right trainers and inset. Can anyone recommend best form of exercise, that isn't walking or swimming, I have an exercise bike but worry is the PF going to flare up again if I use that?
Deborah, I am a retired physician and plantar fasciitis patient. I got plantar fasciitis around February 2016. After about four months, it completely resolved.
Here's what I think. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone, and/or some minimal tearing of the plantar fascia - just a few fibers - that results, naturally, in inflammation . . . like a "pulled muscle." Inflammation hurts until it heals and resolves. So what's so difficult about curing P.F.? Well we walk on it!!! Let's say we take 5000 steps a day. Imagine inflammation of your elbow, (i.e. tennis elbow). Imagine taking your sore "tennis elbow" and wacking it against the wall, 5000 times a day. Think it would heal quickly? I don't either.
So my cure for plantar fasciitis is cushion, cushion and cushion!!! That's right - cushion the heel. Here's what I did. First, I wore the plantar fasciitis "relief bridge" gel-heel innersole in my shoes - that I got at Walgreen's for about $11. Make sure your innersoles are soft and preferably made of gel. (I plan to use mine indefinitely in my shoes.) Then I wore a pair (usually) of nice thickish sox. On my heel I wore fasciitis therapy wrap padded supports that I got on the internet for about $13. (I don't wear them any more.) So when I had my PF, under my heels I had 3 cushion layers. I wore this about 24 hours a day - except when in the shower or swimming. And after about 4 months, the PF was totally gone. And I would suggest to you, have patience, not surgery.
Deborah, that's what I think. I hope this helps you and the many other sufferers of plantar fasciitis. Good Luck to you, doknabox/JerryR
I have got the hard half insets in my trainers, I was told I was now flat footed, I'm trying to loose another stone in weight, my heel dosnt hurt its my arch that aches or hurts when Ive been walking say for 3 or 4 consecutive days, but I have had to reduce my walking. The Poidiatorist at the hospital recommended them. Thanks for your reply but your recommending Gel insoles, I see your in USA, so where would I buy those from if I had a flare up? in UK. I havnt had a flare up since last year. I do my stretching exercises from physio twice a day they really help. Thanks for advice
Search "gel insoles plantar fasciitis" You'll find several for about $15. I wear mine in all my shoes. I don't feel expert in "arch" pain but surely cushion should help. And the price is right.