haven’t been running for a few months now due to plantar facitis. It’s starting to annoy me that I can’t go run. It would appear been out for a run helped clear the head.
been to doctors and all they recommended was rest, insoles and ibuprofen :/
How the fluff am I supposed to rest? Wife, 3 kids and a job that all require me to move about.
I’m doing the stretches but it seems to be getting worse.
I’ve seen an operation that can be done privately but seems a little costly and again request 6-10 weeks recovery and ZERO weight on the foot for the first 4 weeks. Not likely to get that time off work until middle of next year.
Does anyone have any suggestions that will ease the plantar fascia so I can get back to running.
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Shaunie75
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Have you seen a podiatrist or physio? You've probably already read the NHS page re plantar fasciitis, but here's the link anyway: nhs.uk/conditions/plantar-f...
Haven’t seen a podiatrist. Was hoping NHS doc would refer me. Instead they just printed me the stretches off the NHS website.
I’ve got pretty good medical insurance with work. They usually cover anything thats classed as outpatient service I may look into that next year when I’ll be able to get 10 weeks off work.
Hi there, I went to see a GP for my plantar fasciitis and was just given exercises as well. The pain got worse so I went back to the GP who referred me to podiatry. The referral did take 6 months. I was given exercises to do (3 exercises, 3 sets, 45 secs, 3xper day) which I am still doing. They gave me some orthotic insoles as well and analysed all the shoes I wear. They also gave me tips for gym such as performing low impact exercises and cutting out calf raises. The podiatrist said plantar fasciitis is made worse by tight calves and stretching them is key rather than strengthening them via calf raises. They gave me tips on running e.g. using shoes with lots of support. It's only been a couple of weeks since that appointment so I haven't seen much of a difference yet. I hope this helps in anyway.
My husband had it quite severely for about a year, it did keep him off running for a time. He persisted with the stretches and stopped wearing Vans type of footwear, he now only wears them for short periods of time.
I had a colleague with it, she had lots of physio and eventually ultrasound guided steroid injections, but was still struggling to stand for long periods of time.
Each case is different. Sports physios are worth speaking to. I hope you get back to running soon. 😊
thanks Jell6 I didn’t want to go the route of steroid injections. They helped marginally with my tennis elbow but when the pain came back it came back with a vengeance
Definitely look into seeing a physio, and don't put it off.
Experiment with heel drop in shoes. Sometimes having less heel drop can help, sometimes it makes things worse. Note that any insoles a podiatrist might give you will raise your heel, which might also make things worse.
PF is one of those odd things that can respond differently depending on how it was caused.
It can be a "too much too soon" injury where the foot is being asked to move in an unnatural way.
Support may give short term relief but may not fix the underlying problem.
Some folks have seen major improvements by going to "barefoot" shoes. However that transition if done too quickly can cause a shock to the system which can trigger a bout of PF.
The best thing is for someone with the requisite knowledge to prod, poke and flex the affected areas.
I got cured. Please don't bother podiatrists to get treatment. Read a great book called Plantar Fasciitis Survival Guild third edition, by William Errol Prowse IV. I used athletic white tapes to tape on my right foot, follow the photos from book. I use tape everyday in morning then remove it before bedtime for 4 months. Poofs no more pain so I can able to walk or run normal. Read that book.
Have suddenly got a bout of PF but think it is hormone related (as everything for me is, eg knee osteoarthritis).
Wear barefoot shoes. Have hospital podiatry dept orthotics but they dont make it better.
8 hr queue for the Queen made PF really bad!
Get considerable ease from infra red device (really for my dogs) and after zapping with that often enough (3x day + for a few days) it is almost gone. Agree with @runbrianrun shock wave or IR is a game changer.
Realised that running does not make it worse as mine is in heels and I dont put so much pressure on heels when running, compared to standing/walking. Probs the barefoot shoes help here. So I am back to running as realised abstaining was not making any difference 😀
Oh great - thanks for that. I have just bought one for my dog for wound healing and saw that it can help arthritis for both dog and human. I'll use it for my plantar fasciitis too which sometimes flares up with running.
Got it from our dog Physio in UK but think they are American. Handheld device pulses a certain wavelength of uv light on to inflammed area to promote healing. Physios have much stronger ones, but for general public Photivo are offered as you won't do much harm with them that you might with a stronger one.
There are different models marketed for different purposes but all that seems to vary is the length of the pulse, so just use any.
You don't just do 1 x 30 second pulse and forget about it, I usually do 5 or so, 3 x day. But don't go mad as having tried it myself, you can make the area hurt a little if you do too much in the one place. Dog will squirm to tell you if it is uncomfortable.
Daughter has used on her sore back and said helped. Used on dog sore joints and bad cuts to promote healing. Just harder to tell with a dog just where to put it and when it is helping.
Would try some turmeric too (golden paste) in dog meals
I can't offer advice on PF, as that's what I thought I had, but after so much pain and saying to the GP I could hardly walk , never mind run, they sent me for a x ray. Turns out I have osteoarthritis in both my big toe joints. But, I did want to say, I really do find turmeric helps, I take a good strength tablet which also has black pepper and pepper (which Im told is essential) and my eldery dog (almost 14) has really sore back legs, to be expected I guess at her age, and I put turmeric powder on her food every morning and she really helps her too. Worth a try...
I've struggled with plantar fasciitis and also was mad about the advise to rest! How was I supposed to rest when I walk everywhere?! My feet are my main means of transport...
A couple of things that helped me:
* Good shoes! I went to a running store (On the Run in San Francisco CA; god, I miss them!) and they fitted me with a pair of Hoka One One. I also exchanged the shoes I wore that had little support with those that support my feet (here in Germany, I found Waldviertler to be especially good...). (So, unlike for AKatieD , barefoot shoes and/or close to them made my PF worse...)
* Calf massages! I found a spot up my calf that is probably a trigger point - it hurts like heck to massage it and then the pain on the plantar disappears. It's really weird. And kinda cool. And since all the muscles are connected down there, it kinda makes sense.
* Foot roles before getting up. I have a little routine of gentle stretches to slowly get out of bed. I've added a few for my feet, which wakes them up before they hit the ground.
* Ignore it. I honestly don't know if that really is a good thing, however, at some point I got so tired of massaging, rolling my foot over a ball, icing it... I just stopped all that - and "somehow" the PF went away. Tbh, I think it was the more supportive shoes, which I continued to wear.
Sadly, I think there isn't The One Cure, so it'll be a bit of trial and error for you... It really sucks - and it can get better!
I saw a physio who confirmed I had plantar fasciitis and marvelled that I could do the things she was asking. The conclusion is that I have a very high pain threshold! It may just be coincidental, but I started taking Glucosamine some months back and my PF went away and has stayed away. Worth a try, anyway...
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Plantar Fasciatis 😥☹️🤬
Plantar Fasciitis. 
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Plantar fascilitis 
