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Plantar Fasciitis

(68 Posts)
Buffybee Thu 19-Nov-20 09:12:16

My foot became sore over two weeks ago, the day after a particularly long walk with my dog.
The pain in my heel felt as though I had stood on a sharp stone so I thought it would go away but after looking online I think it may be plantar fasciitis.
I bought some heel inserts for my walking shoes and sent for some jelly like heel covers, which you pull on like socks but they aren't helping, in fact I think it's getting worse.
Can anyone give me advise on what else I can do, it's driving me mad as I'm limping along trying to walk the dog and ignore the pain.

B9exchange Thu 19-Nov-20 09:13:37

I would advise ringing your GP for an urgent appointment, you shouldn't be in that much pain, and there are options for treatment.

FannyCornforth Thu 19-Nov-20 09:17:09

I've had it - and it was extremely painful.
I didn't find anything that helped either.
The GP suggested insoles.
I'm not sure what else they can do, as B9 says.

Onthenaughtystep1 Thu 19-Nov-20 09:29:06

A steroid injection worked for me but 10 months later it is on the way back.
A friend had a shock treatment years ago and has had no trouble since.
Exercises help, a rigid boot worn overnight helps some, personally I couldn’t sleep with it on. Rolling a chilled can under your foot or a tennis ball, foot massage.
Do not walk barefoot, on getting out of bed wear a shoe such as a good quality trainer and never wear high heels.
Put proper orthopaedic insoles into your shoes, the £3 ones from Lidl work as well as the £20 ones from scholl.
Once you get to the crying because you can’t bear to get out of bed and put your foot on the floor you will try anything.
Good luck.

Grandmafrench Thu 19-Nov-20 09:38:16

Poor you. I had that years ago, I couldn’t walk, sit or lie without pain. GP, Painkillers, Podiatrist, Special insoles, Special shoes, Osteopath, Shiatsu....no help. Eventually on a friend’s recommendation, 2 sessions of Acupuncture and no pain since. That’s just my personal experience.

Don’t stagger on, do rest it and don’t walk barefoot or in completely flat shoes until you can get a proper diagnosis.
Good luck.

shysal Thu 19-Nov-20 09:38:27

I bought some Skechers memory foam slip-on shoes. They were the only ones I was able to walk in. I tried all the inserts and socks to no avail. I froze a small bottle of water and rolled it beneath my foot when getting up in the morning, also did downward stretches with heel overlapping the edge of a stair. Lots of exercises on Youtube.
It will get better but may take a year or more. Good luck!

Witzend Thu 19-Nov-20 09:40:32

I had it some years ago, could hardly walk.

I bought some special Scholl inserts from Boots - about £25 - and they really did help a lot. I wore them religiously for several weeks. The PF eventually went and touch wood I’ve never had it since.
I do understand that this may not work for everybody though.

Might add that two brothers in law who had it, both paid an awful lot of £££ for specially made insoles, with no better results.
Maybe I was just lucky though.

faringdon59 Thu 19-Nov-20 09:46:04

Last January I went to a Ceilidh, great fun, but after a day at work as well, I probably overdid the exercise.
That night I got up for a trip to the loo and virtually fell to the floor with the agony in my left foot.
From that point it definitely established a pattern over being fine in the day in trainers, or shoes with insoles, but then worse at night and first thing in the morning.
Tried putting ice on it, painkillers, the lot.
Coped with it until March, was thinking about a visit to GP, but then at the end of March the world changed so I thought better of it.
Bought a night splint for my foot, cut my exercise to small of bouts of walking and touch wood nearly free of it now.
However, getting used to a night splint is not easy!

LadyGracie Thu 19-Nov-20 09:55:30

Fit flops and Crocs shoes, boots and slippers worked for me. I also bought gel heel insoles from Amazon.

Buffybee Thu 19-Nov-20 09:55:40

Thanks for all your suggestions Onthenaughtystep1, I will get a proper insole today and try some of your other suggestions.
I have made an online appointment with the doctor but I have a feeling he will just suggest pain killers, which don't seem to touch it.
I have been walking barefoot to the loo, so putting a trainer on straight from bed is a good idea.
May I ask, what was the treatment your friend had and how would I access it.

silverlining48 Thu 19-Nov-20 10:11:29

The advice here is good. It’s unlikely the doctor will be able to do anything other than if it’s still a problem in a few months which could be a steroid injection. It may help.
It usually gets better on its own but will take up to 2 years so it’s long haul.
Trainers, insoles, no heels, exercise the foot by stretching on stairs, check online, and using tins to roll your feet over, it needs patience but will go on its own. Eventually!
I have had it twice and do sympathise.

Auntieflo Thu 19-Nov-20 10:13:02

When I had it, I found stretching exercises helped.

Stand facing your stairs, and step onto the first stair, with just your ball of the foot, balancing on the edge.
The rest of your foot will be over thin air!
Then, raise and lower your heels, holding on to the stair rail for balance.

Or you could roll a filled plastic bottle/ rolling pin, under the arch of your foot.
Good luck.

Auntieflo Thu 19-Nov-20 10:13:47

X posts Silverlining

Buffybee Thu 19-Nov-20 10:17:45

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, which appeared while I was replying to Onthe.
I’ve realised I probably need something better than slippers to wear in the house, I’ll buy some memory foam ones and get the memory foam Sketchers also.....this is going to cost a fortune.

silverlining48 Thu 19-Nov-20 10:21:09

Great minds Auntie flo.

Elusivebutterfly Thu 19-Nov-20 10:21:54

I've had it for over two years and is improving. At first I thought it was arthritis in the foot and just put up with it. About a year ago, reading about it on here made me realise that I probably had plantar fascitis. Doing the recommended stretches several times a day helps a lot. I bought stretch ankle supports which also help.
I only go out in lace up sensible shoes. I gave up my comfortable Clarks trigenic soft lace ups. I recently got another pair of firm lace up shoes for indoors and it's made a huge difference.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073BBWHD3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8
These are the ankle supports.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01BOYWI5U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8
I bought this for stretching, as recommended by my podiatrist.

I wear Ecco or Hotter lace up shoes. I haven't tried insoles as never know which ones to buy. (Not sure if the links work).

silverlining48 Thu 19-Nov-20 10:24:13

Buffy my podiatrist does not recommend sketchers as they don’t give enough support.
There is no need to spend a fortune, I tend to get my trainers and insoles from Aldi.

Onthenaughtystep1 Thu 19-Nov-20 11:14:23

Fitflops, an expensive brand of shoes and sandals make walking easier (as opposed to flip flops that cheap poolside sandal that make it worse)

With plantar fasciitis it is the first few steps after resting which are the most painful. Lie in bed with your feet straight out. Point your toes pressing them down towards the mattress. Keep your legs rigid and rotate your feet up, heels still on the bed and try to get your toes pointing towards your face keeping your legs rigid so you are pointing away from you with your heel. Continue to strain to bring your toes closer to your shin and hold. I have found that doing that a few times before getting out of bed eases the pain of those first steps then hamstring stretches a few times a day.

Onthenaughtystep1 Thu 19-Nov-20 11:22:45

To answer your question OP I believe the treatment is called shock wave therapy. She got it on the NHS. I asked about it but the podiatrist said let’s try the steroid injection first and after two days I was no longer in pain.
I would like another injection if it gets really bad again but I am trying to keep away from hospitals at the moment.

Sunlover Thu 19-Nov-20 12:16:25

I’ve been suffering with PF since March. Luckily I’ve felt an improvement over the last month. I wear a boot at night and try to always wear supportive footwear. I had PF once before and it lasted around 18 months. Very painful and really impacted on my life as I love walking.

Missfoodlove Thu 19-Nov-20 12:20:29

One session of acupuncture cured mine. Best £40 ever spent.

Buffybee Thu 19-Nov-20 13:01:54

I've been out and bought a Plantar Fasciitis insert and can feel the difference already.
Thanks all, I'm going to try all your suggestions ?

MayBee70 Thu 19-Nov-20 13:08:03

Years ago I hobbled into a Scholl shop a cripple and walked out a new person after buying a half insole. Since then I’ve lived in Nike trainers with fitsole inserts and Crocs. My doctor was useless. Unfortunately the insoles I bought no longer seem to be on the market.

mokryna Thu 19-Nov-20 13:12:46

My podiatrist had made personal inner soles for my shoes, since then I haven’t had any problems.

Buffybee Thu 19-Nov-20 19:29:09

You're the second person to mention Crocs MayBee, if they help with this problem, I'm thinking I could wear them around the house instead of slippers, unless you have a better suggestion.
My doctor was pretty useless as well.