Hi everyone!, I've got a question. Does pf. ever go away? I had 3months of pt. and it was feeling better, but now that I am down to only once a week...its hurting again. I have kept up with all the exercises exept rolling the frozen water bottle..I need to start to do that again. Tommorrow I go to a podiatrist..has anyone seen one for pf.? So, what can they do to help me? I heard that some people get inserts..Ive bought the already made over the counter ones, is it worth having orthotics custom made? Had anyone tried taping? Ive read about that online, has it worked for anyone? Once I stop pt. altogether is this pain going to get worse again?
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HELPPPPPPPPP!!!

this is really annoying me!!
thanks for any input,
cj.

I have had this for years and the ONLY thing that helped was the shots!

I have had PF for almost a year and a half -PT did help, custom orthodics helped as well as all the stretching and icing that you can do. Frozen water bottle really helps it feel better. I have not had any injections for my PF yet and hope not to.
Nancy

Gotta say the injections work for me too. about every six months or so I end up getting one or 2. I NEVER go barefoot, that helps me too........always wear padded slippers at home and good cushioned shoes. Also do the stretching and water bottle. I have had it for years...best of luck
dlh

I've also had pf for several years. Injections helped at first, then last one made it worse. Too many steroid injections can cause the plantar fascia to rupture, so the were reluctant to give me any more. I ended up having surgery as a last resort, as the pain was so severe it affected everything I did. I'm pleased to say the surgery was successful, had relief after about 10 weeks. Now I only suffer occasional twinges of pain. Mandy. :)

thanks to all who responded..I really thought I had gotten this under control with the pt. and stretches..My insurance wont cover any more pt. so this week I have stopped..and now, the pain is back..the pod. wanted to give me a steroid injection, but I am a little leary about that...I think I remember reading somewhere that there are things that can go wrong..and I know me, if something can go wrong...it will for me!! it wont be the first time!!
so I guess Ill just keep stretching, have to go back to the pod in 2weeks, hope its gone by then..
thanks all,
hugs,
cj.

I also have had pf for over 2 years now. Pt does not work at all neither does medication or stretching. It is the worst pain ever. I can't even stand for more than 10 minutes at a time without my feet swelling and hurting really bad. I am debating the injections. I don't care what they do I am just so sick of this pain. good luck.

HI,

I had pf, bursitis, and a bone spur in my left foot ALL at the same time. Thought I was going to CUT my foot off at one point. I did stretches, ice, pt, 2 injections, but I think the ONLY thing that helped.......I wore a night splint for about a year. It's a pain in the butt, bulky, & very UN-SEXY. I live alone so I really didn't care.....I also wear Walk Fit inserts in my shoes now.....

I would suggest getting a night splint. It really helped. You can do a search, and buy it online. From your orthopedic shop it will be around $250 but you can get them online for less than $100.

Sid

Hi Kye,wow 2yrs..you must be just about going crazy!! I thoroughly understand how you would do just about anything at this point to get some pain relief! would you ever consider the surgery? scary thought for me!
Keep me posted, would like to know if you find any resluts!
best wishes to you!

Hi Stick, Oh my..all those at the same time!!I can only imagine how horrible you must have felt! I have heard about the splint..I wore night splints on my wrists for a very long time for carpal tunnel, it took a long time to get used to wearing them..but after I while I couldnt sleep without them..sure took the night time pains away..I would bet they work well on the feet, my pod. mentioned them but says I have to try pt. and stretching first..I dont know what he thought I did at my physical therapy appt.s for the past 2 and a half months!! So maybe I can get him to reconsider..
Are the Walk Fit shoe inserts by perscription or can you get them in a store or over the internet??
thanks so much for your reply,
cj.

Hi I have pf and had 2 shots and taped foot. Now doctor told me to get New Balance shoes 800-900 series.

So I am looking for a good NEW Balance pair that I can afford.

Good Luck
oldhen

Hi Oldhen, in addition to hearing how good the new balance sneakers are for our problem...I have also read that we should never go barefoot! I also talked to my pod. who recommended crocs..so I bought 2 pair and wear them all day long..they are made out of some type of plastic, they wear well, come in many different colors, and are really very comfy.
Hope the new sneakers help to relieve some of your pf.pain,
take care,
cj.

cjammom,

The walkfits, you can buy at any drug store, or dept store. I love mine, and they have 3 different ache support sizes.......I started with low, and worked up to a med.. The splint you can buy on line. I REALLY recommend it....... It was explained to me that it is the Achilles tendons that NEEDS to be stretched, when we sleep it relaxes and thus the pain. Sleeping WITH the splint STRETCHES it, so when you first get up NO PAIN!!!!!!!!! New Balance sneakers too. They are great. The more support on the foot the better....

Sid

I would also get checked for thyroid problems. Carpel tunnel(I have in both wrist too) and PF can be related to thyroid issues.....

thanks for the info! I was considering heel cups, have you ever tried those? my pod spoke about the splint...ummm may have to consider that..I have carpal tunnell too and wore splints for my wrists , they really helped, I have stopped using them and I really think the problem has gotten better..most of the pain is in the base of my left thumb..my fingers also get very stiff..

thanks again,
cj

cjammom,

I was under the impression that the heel cups were for heel cups???? Anyway, I would consider the night splint for your foot. You won't believe the difference after using it. When you get up in the morning do you DREAD that first step???? I remember when mine was so bad, I would wake up and cry just thinking about trying to put weight on my foot. It was awful. But I also had the bone spur, and bursitis too.:eek: :eek:

I had 2 injections too. MY GOD those things hurt....I kept telling my pod, that I was going to swear. On the second shot, he said to me, " If you want to swear, please try to do it quiet, I have patients out there." I didn't on either shot, but I WANTED to.

I did a search, and saw splint for around $60. Not bad. My insurance covered mine. Good thing $250.

Sid

After many many years of thinking that I had hammer toes and one doctor said that he would do the surgery that would cut my toes and the other would stretch the muscle in the back of my heel I was so confused. After many many nights of crying after working 55 hours a week on concrete floors I went to yet another foot dr and he said that I had PF. We went the route of taping the feet which was awful because I broke out from the tape which I didn't realize at first but then due to that my feet hurt even worse. We finally went with making the shoe inserts formed right to my feet, don't remember how they made the form tho. I was told that buying over the counter doesn't take into effect the shape of YOUR foot or your WEIGHT. I think mine were around $200 but they have last for over 7 years and have no need for new ones any time soon. At first it is so weird having this hard plastic in your shoe so you have to take it slow breaking them in. I would so that it has helped so much except for when I get so busy with my baby that I forget to put my shoes on even tho i might still be in my jammie's.
When ever I have been sitting or just getting up from bed I stand in one spot for a minute or two to slowly stretch out the muscle so that it won't tear. I always have a hard time finding shoes that fit me right and the first few times wearing the shoes is a killer but nothing like before I got my inserts. They were the best thing that i ever did for me.

Kristin

Yes I would definitely consider surgery. I would consider anything, except the injections. i heard that it could rupture something in your foot, and there is no need for added pain. I see my doc on the 18th so I'm gonna ask about the surgery.

I may have come down with this. Last Saturday my heel was such in pain, I cried. Then Sunday, it was so painful to walk and even stand so I stood in bed with an Ice Pack. Today I went to my doctor and believes there is inflammation. So now I have been referred to a podiatrist. I told my neighbor about my problem and told me not to let them do surgery. She told she had the same problem and one day she went to the mall and came across the Walking Company and she went in and tried on these shoes call Merrell. She stated that the heel pain went away. The shoes were so well cushioned that her heel was no longer in pain. Now she will wear no other ones, except those. So now I am planning to buy 1 pair to see.

Man, though these things can be painful, that I broke down and cried last Saturday. Today I called in sick, because it is painful and I live on the second floor of my apartment, and just painful to walk down or up the stairs. I wonder if any of you had to take time off work for this. I know it sounds babyish to do that, but being overweight doesn't help. Today when I drove to the doctor, everytime I stepped on the brakes, I could feel the pain, but nothing compare to Saturday's.

You probably have heel spurs. It doesn't sound like plantar fasciitis. Usually the pain is in the arch of the foot, and the pain is horrible when you take that first step in the morning. I have this problem, and I've had it for about 2 years now. Its not fun. Medication doesn't help at all. I just avoid standing for more than 10 minutes at a time.

Can you tell me what pt. stands for? I have pf. for the last 2 months, had a cortisone inj. but didn't help. I tried ice, heat, some stretches, but no result. help!!!!!!!!
paxton

pt= physical therapy. ive had cortizone injections for other issues, but I was told it wasnt good for the plantar fascia because it makes the tendons, particularly the posterior tibial tendon, more likely to tear.

I just had Topaz surgery on my pf and am doing great. Its a really new procedure, but so far is extremely promising.
I'd recommend getting a good pair of supportive shoes, make sure the heel is slightly higher. You might want to look into getting custom orthotics. I just got scanned for mine. Theyre expensive, but sometimes insurance will cover them. My doc bills insurance the $700 for them, but if insurance declines it, then the doc only charges us $400. Still waiting to hear.
Another thing you can try is foot massages. With baby oil or lotion, use your thumb. Start from your heel, and while adding as much pressure until its painful, run it all the way up to the balls of your feet/toes. Make sure to cover the whole pf. This will help stretch out the pf, as well as helping to lengthen it. Do it once in the morning before even getting out of bed, and then before you go to bed, maybe even periodically during the day.

Sounds like you're doing the less invasive things, which is a great start. I would recommend a night splint. If you can find one with cold therapy included, that's even better because you get the combination of ice and stretching. One that I know of is called N'ice Stretch, and it's very comfortable. Good luck!