plantar fasciitis ouch!

Cherish · Feb 27, 2007

Put your foot across your knee. Like cross-leg it and flex back and forth with your foot. Put your hand on your foot and assist your toes by pushing forward and hold the stretch and pull back. You can also put a towel down and scrunch it with your toes. Icing it helps too.

Go to an athletic shop where you can walk on a treadmill and they can see your steps and tell them you have plantar fasciitis. They will try to custom fit you for the best shoe possible.

I have had Plantar Fasciitis on and off for 3 years. I am a runner so sometimes its prone more when I run longer distances and when I don't rest. Do calf stretches those help too. Or use a tennis ball or water bottle and run your foot along the ball/bottle.

I also wear a sock at night that helps out with Plantar Fasciitis. Here is the link: http://www.thesock.com/runners_world.html

ann945n, RN · Feb 27, 2007

Put your foot across your knee. Like cross-leg it and flex back and forth with your foot. Put your hand on your foot and assist your toes by pushing forward and hold the stretch and pull back. You can also put a towel down and scrunch it with your toes. Icing it helps too.
Go to an athletic shop where you can walk on a treadmill and they can see your steps and tell them you have plantar fasciitis. They will try to custom fit you for the best shoe possible.
I have had Plantar Fasciitis on and off for 3 years. I am a runner so sometimes its prone more when I run longer distances and when I don't rest. Do calf stretches those help too. Or use a tennis ball or water bottle and run your foot along the ball/bottle.
I also wear a sock at night that helps out with Plantar Fasciitis. Here is the link: http://www.thesock.com/runners_world.html

How long does it take you to get under control? Ive been reading it can be up to 6 months!

Cherish · Feb 27, 2007

It can take a while to go away. The longest I had it was for 8 mths but I was training for a marathon so I didn't rest or take any precautions. Depends on the individual.

Do Not Walk Around Barefoot. It helps to wear socks at all times.

ann945n, RN · Feb 27, 2007

It can take a while to go away. The longest I had it was for 8 mths but I was training for a marathon so I didn't rest or take any precautions. Depends on the individual.
Do Not Walk Around Barefoot. It helps to wear socks at all times.

Ill remember that, it seems that my soft slippers are helping too.

chuckc, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2007

So Ive developed this lovely condition in my heels in both feet and my left foots arch is just killing me. Ive already said good bye to my nursing shoes and will be switching to a running shoe from now on during shifts at school (we do 12's) Does anyone have any info on how to get rid of this asap, i have some shifts coming up and i dont know how im gonna handle running around for 12 hours with my feet killing me. Ive been doing some dorsal flexion but thats about it, helps a bit. Im so frustrated I just want to through something in my house, I cant stand the nagging ache. Any help would be a life saver! Thanks from my feet

poor you! I had this when I was an aerobic instructor. I had to wear the walking boot/removable cast for a good 6 weeks, wore it at night too,got cortisone injections in the foot, big ouch. My foot hurt so bad, I could not stand for anyone to touch/press on bottom of foot. I can't imagine working with this. I don't know if there are different degrees of PF. my sympathies :cry:

Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2007

It was many years ago, but I think my doc used NSAIDs and, a few times, injections into my heels. I've had an ankle surgery since then for a completely different problem. After the surgery, I switched to Brooks running/walking shoes and I haven't had another problem. They are very supportive shoes and seem to ease the strain on my feet. Good luck!

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 27, 2007

I've been treated by podiatrists twice for this condition over the course of my career. The first podiatrists gave me orthotics to wear in my shoes. It took me 2 or 3 weeks to get used to them, but they worked and I wore them for a couple of years.

Then a few years later, I developed it again while living in a different city. The 2nd podiatrist did 3 coritsone injections in each of my heels. That worked too.

My advice: This is probably going to be a long term, recurring problem for you. Find a good podiatrist and work with him/her to develop a long term plan for you.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Feb 27, 2007

So Ive developed this lovely condition in my heels in both feet and my left foots arch is just killing me. Ive already said good bye to my nursing shoes and will be switching to a running shoe from now on during shifts at school (we do 12's) Does anyone have any info on how to get rid of this asap, i have some shifts coming up and i dont know how im gonna handle running around for 12 hours with my feet killing me. Ive been doing some dorsal flexion but thats about it, helps a bit. Im so frustrated I just want to through something in my house, I cant stand the nagging ache. Any help would be a life saver! Thanks from my feet

I've been told to freeze a water bottle and apply it to the arch of your foot and roll the water bottle on the arch.

MT RN · Feb 27, 2007

I'll second the orthotics, I've had the same problem on and off for about the last 20 years. When it first came on, I stubbornly waited until it was so bad that I could barely walk. I found a great podiatrist who spent a lot of time with me and custom fitted a pair of orthotics for me. It made an amazing difference almost immediately, I was pain free within about 2 days.

I think the key is custom made orthotics, some podiatrists will try to push a standard orthotic that isn't really any different than what you can buy in the drug store, just more expensive. Get some that are custom made for your feet and you should be happy.

sshannon · Feb 27, 2007

I had this condition about 6 years ago in both heels at the same time and it was nightmarish. I was crawling from bed into the kitchen in the morning.

I cured it short-term by taking NSAIDs, resting my feet on ice packs (bags of frozen veggies work, too) whenever I sat down, and stretching the tendons across the bottom of my foot by pulling my toes back toward me with straight legs (calf muscle stretch). It took about 4 weeks to get relief.

Long-term I lost 50 lbs. That helped immensely and I haven't had any recurrence.

I also make it an absolute habit to do the calf muscle stretch before I get out of bed in the morning so I don't "shock" and overstretch those tendons on the bottom of my foot. If I do any kind of bouncing exercise (i.e. step aerobics), my right heel will act up. So I've learned to go low-impact.

I feel for you!

oramar · Feb 28, 2007

My hubby just went to foot doctor today for this very problem. He has to freeze bottle of water and roll foot over it for exercise. Plus he was fitted for arch support.