Anyone have this, treatments? Outcomes?

Not too many people answering, anyways, I've got this. See my post about stiff big toe.

I've tried everything including injections, orthotics, PT, rest, ice, massage and can't get totally healed. My feet hurt and burn and I'm so frustrated because I can't take the medication, antiinflammatories which would help me the most.

Have you seen a podiatrist yet? Have you had any treatment?

No podiatrist yet but doing calf raises in the gym seems to help stretching the ligaments.

Hi Tom,

I have plantar fasciitis in my left heal for about 1 1/2 year now. I just started getting treatment for it again in October. I am seeing a podiatrist. He recommend getting some New Balance tennis shoes and some inserts. I got some called SOLE, they we're at the New Balance store for about $50 and they mold to your feet. My Dr also taped my foot, hard to say how he did it, but it helped alot, but only last a few days. I also have a night splint, to keep the fascia stretched. I am also NOT allowed to go without shoes. He said even if you get up during the night to go to the bathroom, put your shoes on. This has been hard, but I do think it is helping alot. I am also to ice my foot 2-3 times a day. I took a 20 oz soda bottle, filled it up with water and froze it. I then roll my foot/heal on it to ice and massage it. I was still having alot of pain, as I have let this go on for to long. I finally broke down and got the cortisone shot. Two weeks later I got my second shot that was stronger. I am pretty much pain free now. Sometimes in the evening it can get sore or if I spend to much time on my feet to many days in a row it will get to hurting again. This is what seems to be helping me at the moment. Thou I can't help to wonder if the cortisone shots are just covering up the pain for now. I would recommend you see a podiatrist to see what they can offer you. It is so nice to be able to walk around now and not cringe in pain. Shhh I even go without my shoes in the evening after my bath and my left foot doesn't hurt! Good Luck!

Oh yeah I am currently going to Physical therapy right now too.

Shannon :wave:

I'm dealing with PF and a resulting heel spur, in my left foot for about 2 years now. It comes in spurts. Right now, it's not too bad. Only hurts for a short while in the morning, right as I take that first step out of bed. Other than that, it's been ok. I've been able to run, bike, eliptical, everything I normally would do on a daily basis. But it took lots of experimenting to get me to this point.

Some of the methods I used (and still use today) are: icing with a frozen water bottle, wearing the Strassburg Sock to bed, rolling my foot on a FootRubz ball (a small, hard ball with bumps on it), LOTS of calf stretching (especially the soleus muscle), wearing shoes at all times (I wear Crocs around the house), I got a cortisone injection from my podiatrist (but relief only lasted 1 week), taping my foot with Kinesio Tape, and finally...custom orthotics. All of these "treatments" worked to some degree...but some worked better than others. But I'd like to point out something that nobody else has mentioned yet...you need to figure out what is CAUSING your PF. There is a reason (for me, it's extremely tight calf muscles) that it's happening, and the only way to treat it successfully, is to treat the cause NOT just the symptoms.

Anyway...hope this helps somewhat!

I had pf in my left foot and now have it in my right foot. My lf had it for 1.5 years, until I tore the tendon. My rf has had it for the past 10 months. I have been doing the icing and stretching, wear the orthotics, and never go barefoot, but it hasn't gotten rid of it yet. After my experience with my left foot I am avoiding the shot. I have been trying accupuncture. It has made a huge difference.
I sure wish there was a miracle cure.

There is no sure fire easy cure for PF. I am a massage therapist and deal with clients that have PF. One of the best things that you can do is stretch! Let your heels hang off the edge of a step. Don't do calve raises! The stretch at the end of the calve raises is great but when you press up it just tightens those muscles back up so you are defeating the purpose. I have found in all the cases of PF I have worked on they were all caused by tight lower leg muscles.( occuring mostly in runners ) If you can find a massage therapist that has taken a class in Repetative Use Injury Therapy they should know some great stretches for those muscles. Having a massage therapist work on the clave area is really great but just to warn you can be pretty intense/painful but will feel better later. My clients have had good success with this. I tell my clients the same thing with wearing shoes all the time. When you get up in the morning step into some shoes with arch support. Also if you wear flip flops or shoes that don't come over your heel find some different shoes that do come over your heel. That will help.

Sometimes PF goes away overnight. I know people that dealt with it for months then one morning they wake up and the pain is gone.

Well I hope this helps!

Lacie

I am a body builder and my calves have grown proportionate to the rest of my body which is substantial but I do go barefooted alot. I will look for a massage therapist and start wearing shoes more often.
Thanks

Thanks for the information Lacey. I do get foot massages weekly which really helps. I never go barefoot except while in the shower and then usually sit down on the seat in there. I'm doing everything right according to the doctors but I still have PF. It's just frustrating.

Yes I did have it. I had it removed about 3 years ago. It was very painful. It was in the middle of the bottom of my foot. I went to 2 different doctors. The first wanted me to do stretching exercise. Didnt work. I moved on to a different doctor. Its been 3 years now and my foot is fine. Sometimes it aches a little if I have been on it for to long but its better then that bump that was hurting on the bottom. Before surgery I couldnt get any shoe to be comfortable and couldnt walk without extra padding. Well this past summer I was able to wear flip flops and I was so excited. First time in several years. good luck and I think finding the right doctor makes all the difference in the world.

Anyone have this, treatments? Outcomes?

Yes I did have it. I had it removed about 3 years ago. It was very painful. It was in the middle of the bottom of my foot. I went to 2 different doctors. The first wanted me to do stretching exercise. Didnt work. I moved on to a different doctor. Its been 3 years now and my foot is fine. Sometimes it aches a little if I have been on it for to long but its better then that bump that was hurting on the bottom. Before surgery I couldnt get any shoe to be comfortable and couldnt walk without extra padding. Well this past summer I was able to wear flip flops and I was so excited. First time in several years. good luck and I think finding the right doctor makes all the difference in the world.


If you don't mind me asking, when or how was it decided to have the fascia removed? I have had mine for almost 2 years with treatment here and there (I know that is not good). In November I had 2 cortisone shots in it and it had started feeling better, but the pain is coming back. I have not got the custom orthotics, because my insurance does not pay for them, and I don't have $500 just sitting around. Plus I really wonder if they would work, I have read so many people having problems with them. I am going to see an orthopedic surgeon next week for my other foot and it's unknown problems and wonder if I should take to him about it? Thanks for any info.

Shannon

Momofoneathome, Did you have the plantar fascia removed or did you have a plantar fibroma (plantar fibromatosis) removed from the bottom of the arch. That would probably have been the "bump that was hurting" and the doctor would remove some adjoining tissue to be sure the entire fibroma was removed. If this is the case, then it was probably not plantar fasciitis but rather "plantar fibromatosis" and those lumps continue to grow bigger on a timetable of their own and HURT when you step on them! If they are extremely large and intertwining, the doctor MAY do a complete removal of the plantar fascia but that just leaves skin, bone and nerves to walk on and it is a difficult recuperation.....many weeks non weightbearing!:eek:

Stretching is the best cure for PF. I've also heard that the device that stretches uyour foot back while you sleep is very good.