Hi Kurt,
I do have custom orthotics from my MD (insurance paid for them) but they have always been very painful to wear. They make my arches ache. The high-top idea sounds interesting but it sounds like there would be no cushion. Thus far I haven't managed to wear any shoe without a heel cushion as it is just too painful. Pretty much any time spent on pavement or concrete sends me to the couch for a day of recovery.
Hi Erika, I'm guessing your orthotics aren't right, I think you should get a second opinion. I had my first ones redone because of arch pain. Basketball shoes are rubbery but on the firm side. I tried the crocs and soft gels and they did help my heal but it didn't solve the pain, and created other foot issues for the lack of side support.
Hi Angela, how is your foot? I am back at work now full time. I am finding it difficult and painful doing my full time shifts. I am on the top dose of amitriptyline which is helping but the pain in my toes has still not fully gone but I don't get the shooting pain much now. My right foot is not really any better than pre op but my left is better but with the added new pain. So still not sure how to summarise how successful it's been. I'm still doing my stretches and icing. I'll be 6 months post op in a month. I hope you are getting on better than me! Amy X
Hi Amy sorry to hear your still having problems,, it's been just over 6 weeks after op for me and everything going really well still have some surgical pain at site of the op but otherwise it's feeling so good I have no pain in my heel at all just still a little sore at op site but the pain that I had before which was excruciating has gone ....
i saw my surgeon on Monday who was pleased with the progress and I go back in another 4 weeks to see him but I'm so pleased I had it done .ill be having the other foot done later in the year but want to make sure that this one is fully recovered as having to bear more weight on one foot is hard work for the poor foot that you use especially as I have Pf in that one as well. it's worked well for me but I think that the advice and help from your surgeon goes a long way I've been on crutches for 6weeks and a boot which I think may of helped with the recovering,.My advice is go private the specialists and care are much better .. I hope you feel better soon .take care xx
Hi Angela, you must be having your other foot done soon? I am 8 months post op now. I recently went on holiday where we did quite a lot of walking and I was really pleased with my feet! My right foot is still painful at times and my podiatrist said the plantar fascia is still abit tight unlike my left foot which he said is quite loose now so in that sense my pain is a reflection of the success of each foot individually. He said I can have it done again but I don't want to go through it again! On holiday I had a lot of times even after walking a lot where I had no pain! I do calf stretches 4 times a day which greatly helps and I am still on Amitriptaline as I can still feel niggling nerve pain at times. Anyway let me know how you are doing. Amy.
Hi How are you feeling now?
For all of you who suffer from chronic pf for years here are some things that may help:
If the pain's so bad at night, try a pair of dorsal night splints they will help relieve the pain and you might be able to walk normally in the morning.
Same for during the day, you can use strapping and compression socks to cope with the pain, but just for quick relief short-term.
Okay if you've tried all these things, here's the important one to actually treat the root causes of your plantar fasciitis:
Have a specialist examine and correct your walking/standing/running postures. 90% of the cases if not because of overweight it's the wrong posture that causes pf in the first place, since it creates negative repetitive impact on the arch. Work on your postures! go to youtube you can find some videos to start with. They'll guide you doing some exercises to strengthen your hips, your foot, and legs muscles and have a healthier walking gait.
I'm getting myself in a fix trying to respond to this, this is my third attempt !! I am completely clear of PF and have been for about 7/8 months now. I still wear the Vionic slippers and have a jel heel in my one shoe still but am completely free of any pain. I put it down to the ultrasound treatment, rest, massaging my calves (initially they felt so tight you wouldn't believe it, massage and get right into the muscle and feel it (use moisturising lotion) to help get that muscle nice and relaxed and soft. I also massaged under my foot the same way......gave it a real rough massage and felt every bone and muscle in my foot! Really get in and feel the muscle and massage it roughly! Also rolled my foot over a tennis ball whilst relaxing during the evenings which gave me immense relief and made me feel real good, at least until I stood up !!! I stretched my calves umpteen times a day by stepping forward with my best foot and keeping the bad leg straight backwards, bending your good front leg knee and stretching the calf of the bad foot. Do it as many times as you can throughout the day. I still also loafah my calf every single day when showering and give it a real big rub! i will probably always continue to do this as I think it is important to keep those muscles soft and relaxed. I have had no further PF twinges or anything. I feel like a new woman (or rather back to my old self!) again. Fantastic as PF pain is the worst anyone can experience. I did also lose a little weight about 5 to 6 lbs which must have helped. My weight still seems to yo yo depending on holidays etc. I also found the Volterol 12 hour cream a complete relief morning and night time which you can use for 10 days I think then you have to have a week's break from it before using it again. All this definitely worked for me.
I hope you will try all of this and get the same relief I did and eventually become PF free. You really do have to persevere with the excercises, massaging and rubbing and Volterol and of course resting the foot before you gain any relief. It's down to you to do this. I must admit the steroid injection was my last resort or even surgery but I was determined not to go down that road so I just got on with it and persevered! It's the only way!
Let me know how you get on......don't give up and use the cream for relief it really is a god send.
best wishes,
GDM
Hi GDM
Thank you very much inded for this valuable detailed information. I am very grateful as I am at the end of my tether over this PF business.
I ill try the things you have described and will kep you updated if that is okay .
Once again many, many thanks.
Thanks lillyderrah
Would you mind sending a link to these exercises by PM.
Thank you
Hi Icecool,
I know now exactly how you feel and the unbearable pain, the Voltoral 12 hour cream was amazing relief for me. The jel heels I bought from Amazon where Sorbothane Heel Pads Shock Stopper Amorti which are auto adhesive if this helps. There are two in each pack. As they are self adhesive I bought a couple of packs so I didn't have to keep taking them out of each shoe. I originally bought full shoe jel inserts but soon discovered that you can't get your shoes on as with those you need an extra size of shoe!! Whereas these heel pads just slip into your shoe and make no difference to shoe size.
Be patient it's not going to work overnight and you will wonder if it will ever work but actually the pain subsides eventually then completely disappears! It's not gradual at all it just happens and you get up one morning without the pain! Rather strange really but I think it's all about relaxing and working on your calf muscles. I read an article on Internet somewhere(did loads of research) and it said if you have pain in your foot you have to work on your leg muscles, which make sense really!
Dont give up, do everything I mentioned and keep doing it without fail. When the pain subsides you still have to rest your foot and continue to do everything, as you still get twinges every now and then. Just continue to do the work for months after too. It will disappear but you have to do the work!
Good luck and do let me know how you get on.
Thanks for getting in touch. I hope you get relief soon.
best wishes,
GDM
Hi Angela, I was wondering how you are doing--I read all your posts. I had surgery almost 4 weeks ago, getting anxious as I want to travel and visit my son the end of next month. I'm walking without assistance, but I do get pain in the area of surgery (expected) and on the outer part of my foot but also on the outside of my foot now--I'll be discussing with my podiatrist on Tuesday. So, questions for you: are you walking normally with shoes? did you have any physical therapy after surgery? do you do any exercises? when does the surgical pain go away? Thanks for any encouragement!
I have PF both heels. Yes, no one understands what it is like till you have it.
Did you try PRP injections? At this point it is no longer inflamed but damaged tissue. This would bring blood back to the area of concern.
You could also roll a highlighter under ur heel and arch to reinflamm or reaggravate the area so it resets the healing process again.. much like shockwaves tries to do. Keep in mind ur foot will be sore till it reveals.
If those fail.. rest ur foot as much as possible. The fascia has limited blood supply and needs to rest
Good luck
Hi Aberzerk72 I know what it's like to have PF in both feet, I've had it for over 10 years! I had the plantar fascia release surgery on both feet in Nov 2016. Now almost a year on I can finally say that I think it was a success and certainly not a disaster as I feared. My right foot is the worst one, but with a mixture of stetching with a stretch band for 10 mins before getting out of bed in the morning and 4x 10 minute standing calf stretches daily, holding for 1 minute, I believe I am managing the condition. Surgery is a last resort but after 10 years it was the only option. I agree with all of the comments and advice on this forum which everyone should try first.
I had surgery on my left foot for plantar faciitis in February 2017. The surgeon extended the ligament and now it is too long and my foot is collapsing. The pain got gradually worse. I went to another surgeon for a second opinion. He has told me that this over-lengthening cannot be rectified. There is nothing they can do for me. So now I am faced with having orthotics made for me, which may help.
If you are thinking of having surgery, make sure your sugeon is experienced with this type of surgury and has a good reputation in this area.
My surgeon told me just prior to going into theatre, that this was the first one he had done.
He has ruined my life as I can hardly walk, and am in constant pain, especially at night in bed.
If anyone knows of any treatment or surgery that can fix my foot, please let me know.
I'm sorry things did not work out for you, but I agree about making sure your surgeon is experienced. When I finally decided on surgery after 15 months of pain, the orthopedic surgeon I went to told me he did "a handful" a year. I went to a podiatrist who told me he did hundreds in his career, so I decided to go with him. I had surgery on August 1, and he said it would be 3 months until full recovery. I'm 7 weeks from the surgery and it's 80% better. If you read my story, I didn't exactly have plantar faciitis, I had a tumor on my fascia. They had to remove my tumor and took a big chunk of the fascia out. I will have to wear custom made orthotics for the rest of my life, but it beats the non-stop pain I had.
Hi David,
The shoes that have been a godsend to me are very thick spongy thongs in OOFOS brand. They are like walking on clouds! I wear these as soon as I finish work and around the house always. I hope this helps..
Hi there, I have just found this thread.. 😊 I've been reading most of the comments and didn't see much about anyone trying the PRP (plasma) injections? Has anyone had these? I had one this morning and am hoping this is the answer! I can't put my foot to the ground at the moment but am hoping that this is finally the end of my pain. It takes a few weeks to work apparently.. Fingers crossed!
Hey there
You had PRP for your PF and it worked???
I have had it in heels for 6 mos and my surgeon wants me to try this.
How long did it hurt?
Did you wear walking boot?
How long till it fully healed?
One shot or two?
I'm looking for the same info too!!
6 mos pain mainly in heels only. Surgeon wants me to try this.
Are u in a walking boot? How long?
Did he suggest one shot or two?
How long to rest??
I heard PRP is great! Let us know