Plantar Fasciitis
Author
Discussion

BigGingerBob

Original Poster:

1,989 posts

207 months

Yesterday (07:50)
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I believe I have Plantar Fasciitis. Nothing confirmed because I'm not going to bother a doctor about this but my feet absolutely wreck in the morning in the arch between the heel and ball of the foot. And ache during the rest of the day. The pain is slightly closer to the heel.

Anyway, it really rather hurts and I would like to do something about it. I've seen online some insoles but some reviews seem a bit scummy.

I've also seen lots of forum posts about it but nothing seems to actually get done about it.

I've got some other insoles a d they semi work but this morning going down the stairs was very painful indeed


Any experience here or any recommendations?

Thanks

HTP99

24,226 posts

157 months

Yesterday (07:58)
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I get it, mainly on my right foot, it comes and goes, currently it is giving me a bit of grief, but has been very bad at times then just seems to clear up.

I find calf stretches and similar help, problem is I start them it goes away, I stop them and it comes back, I really need to get them to become a thing I do everyday.

It's worse first thing and tends to ease off but it's always there, it doesn't stop me doing things unless it's really bad, which it rarely is, this morning I can feel it, it won't stop being going to bootcamp though whill I'll be leaving for in a few moments, we are out for a long dog walk later too.

I've never tried insoles or anything else other than stretches.

Mabbs9

1,444 posts

235 months

SaulGoodman

281 posts

89 months

Yesterday (08:52)
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Everyone differs, but when I got insoles it immediately made a massive difference. It had got quite debilitating and I was limping about a lot. These days it is ok for the most part but I can feel it if I don't use them.

I have the 3/4 orthotic insoles and use them whenever I'm in shoes, boots, trainers etc. They really help. I have a foot roller - spiky oval one, sand filled rather than hard plastic. This can help with pain and is also good to use regularly. I live in the desert at the moment so also have Archies flip flops that have a built in arch support. These are great and I am in them all the time. Basically you want to limit the time you are in bare feet.

The exercise of standing on a step on your toes and letting your heel drop is also good. There are socks you can wear at night that stretches everything out while you sleep, but I've not needed those.

There's no catch all cure that works for everyone, but give insoles a try as they made a 90% difference as soon as I used them.

Huntsman

8,877 posts

267 months

Yesterday (08:53)
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I switched from deck shoes with a thin flat sole to Merrel MOAB walking shoes, that sorted it.

grumbledoak

32,220 posts

250 months

Yesterday (09:09)
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Kneeling like this for 1 minute a couple times a day fixed mine.

BigGingerBob

Original Poster:

1,989 posts

207 months

Yesterday (09:38)
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Excellent, thank you everyone. I'll try the methods mentioned and see what works

I don't fancy it getting any worse.

Tommy Razzle

786 posts

187 months

Yesterday (09:53)
quotequote all
Calf stretches, good arch support nsoles, stretches and stretches.
I used to suffer quite badly but haven't had any problems for a long time now.
Did a spell of pilates with a fascia specialist in 2019 and she taught me some useful stuff (before disappearing back to south Africa during covid and not returning).. might well be worth giving that a go for a bit

Edited by Tommy Razzle on Sunday 28th September 09:56

Glassman

23,888 posts

232 months

Yesterday (09:56)
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I think I've had symptoms of PF in recent years, on and off. Is it something that's always there, or comes and goes randomly (which is what I have experienced).

Most recently had it in both feet and it lasted about a week.

The Mad Monk

10,746 posts

134 months

Yesterday (10:28)
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BigGingerBob said:
Excellent, thank you everyone. I'll try the methods mentioned and see what works

I don't fancy it getting any worse.
Why don't you go and see the quack?

gus607

972 posts

153 months

Yesterday (11:13)
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I suffered with this until I discovered the cause. Flat canvas shoes I bought with almost no heels. Went back to shoes with omore of a heel & no problems since.

Radec

5,130 posts

64 months

Yesterday (12:58)
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Roll a tennis ball or similar around your foot arch while sitting, it really helped me when I had it.

MC Bodge

25,293 posts

192 months

Yesterday (13:36)
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Radec said:
Roll a tennis ball or similar around your foot arch while sitting, it really helped me when I had it.
Agreed. And whilst standing.


I would advise the opposite to arch supports and orthopaedic shoes.

I have/had very flat feet. I had arch supports on the NHS when I was younger.

A few years ago, I changed to wearing thinner soled, flatter shoes and trainers. I concentrated on walking and running with a better gait. I further strengthened my feet with exercises, including rope skipping. I developed some arch in both of my feet and much stronger calves and shins.

In my late 40s I am fit, in good condition and I do not suffer the knee issues that I did in my 20s.

Bill

56,251 posts

272 months

Yesterday (14:25)
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The Mad Monk said:
Why don't you go and see the quack?
A physio would be better, either self refer or private. They'll be able to say what's tight/stiff/weak.

The best thing I find with people is to spend a minute or two getting your feet moving before you get going in the morning. Whether it's a bit of stiffness in the foot that overloads the PF or getting some blood flowing it really makes a difference.

Nick Forest

320 posts

100 months

Yesterday (14:33)
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Get a plantar night boot as shown…wear that in bed for roughly a week and it will make a big difference.

The problem is caused by your tendon shortening at night as your foot falls forward and as it’s the further tendon from your heart it gets poor blood flow as you age (I’m guessing you’re roughly mid to late 40’s?)

After a week or so it will improve and also switching to silicone heel cups for daytime use will,also bring benefit.


Wheel Turned Out

1,685 posts

55 months

Yesterday (14:41)
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The Mad Monk said:
BigGingerBob said:
Excellent, thank you everyone. I'll try the methods mentioned and see what works

I don't fancy it getting any worse.
Why don't you go and see the quack?
I did, years ago. Wouldn't waste the time. The physio I ended up being referred to said there is surgery but it's extremely painful, leaves you a long time off your feet, and doesn't even come with a reasonable guarantee of working.

His advice was good insoles and some of the stretches that have already been mentioned above. It's about as good as it's going to get.

MC Bodge

25,293 posts

192 months

Yesterday (14:52)
quotequote all
MC Bodge said:
Agreed. And whilst standing.


I would advise the opposite to arch supports and orthopaedic shoes.

I have/had very flat feet. I had arch supports on the NHS when I was younger.

A few years ago, I changed to wearing thinner soled, flatter shoes and trainers. I concentrated on walking and running with a better gait. I further strengthened my feet with exercises, including rope skipping. I developed some arch in both of my feet and much stronger calves and shins.

In my late 40s I am fit, in good condition and I do not suffer the knee issues that I did in my 20s.
Further to this, it is obvious (but widely disregarded) tha being generally active and fit, supple and strong in the body and limbs goes a long way to helping with these niggles. The body is a system.

Jimbo.

4,117 posts

206 months

Yesterday (18:01)
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I had this a year ago. And it was awful. Weirdly, I found that moving from (most likely ill-fitting, fancy-pants) Merrell hiking trainers to old-school, cork-filled, welted leather boots and shoes made a huge difference, as did losing 20kgs.

BobSaunders

3,102 posts

172 months

Yesterday (20:03)
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Had this, and get it on occasion.

Stretching, hydration, and rolling calves and feet helped a lot. Couple of amazon links below. The little roller and spikey ball helped a lot.

I work from home a couple of days a week with a standing desk so could do this on video calls and make weird faces at people.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RPLXVW7?ref_=ppx_hz...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003V1VIM4?ref_=ppx_hz...

Also swapped to Brooks trainers as well.

MC Bodge

25,293 posts

192 months

Yesterday (20:29)
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Jimbo. said:
as did losing 20kgs.
I would suggest that this would solve a lot of different problems for many people. Far more so than a pair of new shoes.

I have had various pairs of Merrells that have not caused me any issues....