Plantar Fasciitis

DH swears by Hotter shoes, they have 30% off at the moment I think?

Very painful i know. I used insoles and wore ordinary trainers. You can have an injection at the surgery if it gets too bad, it helped me once, but not the second time.
It goes in the end but may take a year or more. Good luck.

rascal
I had Plantar Fasc. 2 years ago, & it lasted for a good year. Even now I can feel it sometimes, & it was soooo painful, & I honestly don’t think there are any shoes that will help it that much. Insoles helped a bit. I found my instep needed to be higher than my heel. Exercise may have helped a little, but I’m afraid you just have to grin & bear it. Sorry to be such a Jonah. I hope it starts to improve soon.

I have plantar fibromas on one foot and have had 2 bouts of plantar fascitis - both feet, it comes and goes and is made worse by walking around barefoot or wearing flatties, ordinary trainers and some decent insoles helped, I did not buy any 'special' footwear at all

Ouch, I sympathise with you! Things that helped me were to sit up in bed first thing in the morning and stretch my feet by gently pulling my toes towards me a few times before standing up.

Avoid flat footwear. I found slippers with a tiny, half-inch heel, and that also relieved the pain.

Orthotics (I think that's the correct term!) for shoes can help. I had gel heel soles and they made such a difference. They're not cheap but places like Home Bargains sell them so you could start with those for a trial before splashing out on pricier ones.

You can wear sponge insoles anything padded.ndo not wear flat shoes makes it worse. I bought Clarks shoes with padded insoles which did help. It's painful.

I had it a couple of years ago, and yes mine lasted for over a year - I bought some insoles which helped slightly, the only thing that eased it was the exercise, stretching the heel and calf, I hope it goes soon it is so uncomfortable. Good luck

Thank you all, I have it in both feet. Good I don't need to buy very expensive shoes. I have trainers. Good that insoles will help. I have worn flat shoes for years, that could have caused the problem. Shoes with heels are no good for my back. Thank you again for your help it's very much appreciated.

I can’t walk around barefoot now unfortunately.

My podiatrist said that mine was caused by tight calves and indeed stretching them was the thing that eased the problem plus getting rid of my beloved very flat sandals.

Some 30 years ago I had plantar fasciitis diagnosed by my GP and she suggested going to a podiatrist which I did but all he suggested was a heel cushion. Actually it cleared up quite quickly when I cut down on walking.

My left foot became uncomfortable last May and in June and most of July last year it was excruciating. Knowing what it was I didn't go to the doctor and self-diagnosed. I bought insoles from Superdrug and got exercises from the internet - from podiatry/NHS sites and also downloaded a booklet from 'Heel that Pain'. My foot is much better now but is very stiff in the morning when I get out of bed so I roll my foot over my Elnet hair spray on the floor - any cylinder will do. DH goes to NHS podiatry regularly so I mentioned it last month to the podiatrist and he stressed the importance of stretching the Achilles tendon - in the Heel that Pain booklet there is a stretching exercise against a wall. He didn't seem keen on my plantar fasciitis insoles without a proper diagnosis.

I wear inner soles in my shoes (from Superdrug), they help to cushion my feet because I do a lot of walking not having a car.

Buy the hard insoles from Boots - the ones that fill about 2/3 of your shoe and cost approx £25 a pair. They are the only thing that did the trick for me and believe me I tried everything including expensive physiotherapy on BUPA etc. They were amazing - I had the blasted plantar fascitis for approx 2.5 years and it made my life a misery. Within a very short time I was (and continue to be) pain free, but I always wear my insoles as I wouldn't want it back again.

I think I got it from wearing crocs incidentally.

p.s. and yes to the calf stretching

I first had that about 15 years ago, in both feet. I had special insoles, and exercises from the podiatrist. No use. I tried lots of different painkillers, none any good.

I was advised to wear trainers. I ended up having 10 weeks off work (my job involved lots of driving at the time, and I couldn't do it), and the only thing that worked was steroid injections in the heels.

Good luck.

I had PF a couple of years ago......it disappeared as quickly as it arrived. I was advised to put a cold , full lemonade can under the foot and roll it backward and forward. It worked for me. Hope you feel better soon.

I sympathise.I have had it for nearly four years in both feet, last year I had shock wave therapy which helped a little. I wear sketchers with insoles in when it’s raining but mainly I wear orthopaedic flip flops all year round, they are the only thing I can really walk in.
Like Nannytopsy I have been told it’s my calf muscles that are too tight.
I have been offered an operation, but that’s not an option for me at the moment .
My husband is really good he massages them for me when they are particularly bad.

Horrible condition.. Feels like your heel has a sharp pin in it.. Get prickle balls (used in pilates) and step hard on them, push down and roll them along the length of your sole, do that as often as possible. Dont wear flat shoes, flip flops or ballet pumps. It's a condition common in older age as the fibrous band in your foot becomes less flexible. Being overweight also contributes. But the good news is, it can be treated but you must be aggressive with the treatment.. Prickle balls

My specialist recommended crocs and fit flops, both quite reasonable and work a treat, I wear them all the time and don’t get that awful pain anymore.

Mine has been with me for about two years now. I went to my doctor and asked to be referred to an nhs podiatrist.
I had custom made insoles, and was given exercises to do.
So,it is manageable, so long as every pair of shoes I buy I can fit my orthotics in. It's most painful in the morning and as others have suggested rolling balls under the feet and excercises do help. As do any sort of small heel... I have been known to say of an evening on getting up after a sit down ' pass my boots with the heels so I can get my feet comfy'. I don't think it will ever go away for me, years and years of walking miles in wellies did it. But nhs insoles and appropriate footwear do make it a lot more manageable.

I had it so badly - then a friend recommended Fit Flops and I bought a pair and wore them all summer and the pain disappeared and (touch wood) has never come back. I am sold on Fit Flops now and even have Fit Flop pumps and boots. Good Luck.

It is so painful isn’t it. The things that worked for me.
Scholl heel gel pads you can move from shoe to shoe cheaper ones didn’t work for me
Never flat shoes
Ask your GP for a cortisone injection mine worked
Do the exercises really helps
Hope you get relief

When I had PF I tried most of the above. The only shoes I could wear were Skechers, rather expensive but you can find bargains on Ebay. I also used a Heelease, after which the condition went away, but may have gone anyway! On their own website you can avoid paying VAT just by stating that you have PF and there is also a money back guarantee so what would you have to lose? Here is a link:
Heelease

I was cured, one session of acupuncture and gone???

After reading all your posts, very kind of you all, I'm now wondering if the Podiatrist's diagnoses of Plantar Fasciitis is correct. The Podiatrist was very young! In fact she looked like a school girl! She gave my a sheet of exercises to do. I'm not having terrible pain in my heels as some have mentioned. I'm having horrendous pain in the balls of my feet and the joints of my toes. It's worse when I begin to walk after resting. It's like electric shocks to begin with, then it's difficult and painful walking. I also have horrendous pain in the top of my feet that wakens me during the night and I can't move my feet for the pain. It feels like the duvet is far too heavy but I know it isn't. I will try the things you have all mentioned. Thank you for the very helpful advice, it's very much appreciate.