Plantar Fasciitis: How did you get rid of it?

Posted by peggyn @peggyn, Jun 22, 2019

I don't know if this is where this should be posted, but I have a few questions. Almost seems like it goes hand and hand with neuropathy.

Have you had it and how did you get rid of it. I have done 2 injections.. I use ice and ice bottle almost nightly, I've massaged, I've purchased special shoes, and I've worn compression sleeves, plus I've done the night splint.. It just won't go away. I know it's because of the atrophy on that calf.
If you've had it please share what worked for you to get rid of it.

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@ripley

I bought the Strassburg night socks (available on Amazon) which help keep your foot at a 45 degree angle at night. It keeps the facia or tendons in your foot from relaxing at night. I also wore Vionic sandals or shoes during the day. They have great arch support. These methods cured my plantar fasciitis in a few weeks.

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I’m a Vionic convert too. I don’t wear their walking shoes though.

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@bb1123

Hi Peggyn. I’d love to share my journey with Plantar Fasciitis and hope it helps. I suffered from plantar fasciitis for 12.5 years. I damaged them running on super tight calves and then walking barefoot for weeks (didn’t know it made it worse). I had pain most days for years. Intensity came and went. Sometimes I’d feel like I was getting a handle on it after PT or stretches or taping but it always came back. I found many things posted here gave me relief from a flare such as icing, gentle stretches, night splints, etc never lasting. It was depressing. 3 podiatrists all saying it is life long and only $$ inserts are the answer. Then my son, a pro runner, started educating me on foot exercises and biomechanics. Then I found Katy Bowman’s book, Simple Steps to Foot Pain Relief. It changed my life! I addressed the more short-term problems with icing, anti-inflammatories, gentle plantar and calf stretch anytime I laid or sat for long, etc. But the long-term plan included solidifying my anti-inflam diet (I have a number if autoimmune diseases), I did exercises from book spreading my toes and lengthening my toe ligaments. Over time I replace shoes with ones where toes can spread like Topos, Keens, etc. when plantar fascia not inflammed I would do toe, ankle, calf exercises with dynamic stretching. It took about a year for complete recovery, but I have only had one flare in the last 2 years when I ran using an old pair of shoes and didn’t warm up or stretch. I didn’t stop the moment I felt the old familiar twinge. I thought I would be struggling with it again for weeks, but it was almost gone by the next day. Tight calves was a key component for me and dynamic stretches are key..especially if you sit a lot. I can now wear low drop shoes and lift weights barefoot. I use a balance board and walk and hike a lot to strengthen feet. Strong feet are so important. Hope some of that helps. Good luck!!!

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I am so sad. A Dr. talked me into surgery for plantar fascilitis and he shortened my bone too much! No coming back from that. Should have done physical therapy. That was after a bad bunion surgery! I'm alone and don't make good decisions. Has anyone made a mistake like me? Ruined my right foot. Maria.

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I've had pf. I found a hand held, manual foot massager at the drug store. Four prongs of varying sizes. I massaged the area as often as needed and depending on where and how deep the pain, I selected the prong that massaged the painful area the best. This was hit and miss at first but I soon found the right combination. I found other methods of massage not helpful such as rolling foot on frozen water bottle, soup cans, etc. I also have made-to-measure insoles which are extremely helpful with general foot and ankle pain. In addition wearing a rocker shoe may help with both pf and OA. Sometimes less is more.

In addition to OA(painful 24 hrs per) I also have chronic lymphedema (its a challenge to avoid infections (spent 3 weeks in hospital fighting an infection I didn't know I had); fibro and A-fib. Of these, lymphedema, for me, is the scariest and most life changing; OA which I have had for many, many years is progressing in areas of the body and intensity of discomfort/pain. In the past it would come and go, now it is constant and limits daily activities.

The fibro took two years to diagnose. It was at the time when fibro was not recognized such as was migraines at one time! Thank heavens for science and researchers!! I tried acupuncture but results were short lived as was cortisone injections for OA in knee. The first injection gave such relief I thought I was in heaven - but no, hell came back in three weeks' time. The second injection resulted in no help at all.

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