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plantar fasciitis help
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Hi all,
I know there is some older advice on here about plantar fasciitis but wanted to see if anyone has any recent suggestions! I’ve been dealing with plantar fasciitis in both feet for 7 months. The pain in the morning is the worse but it hurts any time I walk for more than a mile and stand for more than 5 minutes. I've totally stopped running, and even walking is painful. The pain started in the heels, and has spread to the arch. I have custom orthotics, straussberg sock night splint, have gone to PT, acupuncture, ART, worn a walking boot for 3 weeks, and even done low-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for 3 sessions. I tried cortisone shots, which didn't do anything. I never go barefoot and I do daily stretching and rolling. For those who have done low-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy, how many sessions did you need for it to work? I've heard some people take more sessions, so maybe I need to try more?

I’d love any recommendations on things you tried, how long it took to heal, and any encouraging words!

Specifically people who have tried prolotherapy, dry needling, PRP, high-energy shockwave- what worked?
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Re: plantar fasciitis help [mollyrun] [ In reply to ]
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So I did everything you are talking about. Got the MRI as well which showed PF. Finally went in for RFA (radio frequency ablation) of the nerve that is involved with PF. While not a "cure" it stopped the pain coming from my PF and it's never re-appeared. I think the issue with PF, is different things work for different people, and in a lot of cases I think it just eventually burns itself out, and whatever someone was doing when it finally just calmed down becomes what worked for them.

I do think mine is tied to overly tight calves and stretching and foot strengthening has also helped, but the RFA stopped the pan in about 2 weeks.
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Re: plantar fasciitis help [mollyrun] [ In reply to ]
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Mine showed up in both feet in May of 2018. Oddly, it didn't bother me when cycling. Some days, I could barely walk. I tried all kind of inserts, different shoes, even gave up flip flops. ThenI found OluKai slides and flip flops. The left foot came around in about 3 months. The right foot isn't quite right yet, but it's 90%. Best part is I don't have to wear shoes! But I don't run, so this might not work for you.
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Re: plantar fasciitis help [FatandSlow] [ In reply to ]
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Started having massive pain in the mornings in June, it got worse and then I realized it started the same week I bought new cycling shoes. Threw the shoes (Sidi, a bit tight for me) and no problems anymore. Did you change anything around the moment your pain started ?
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Re: plantar fasciitis help [mollyrun] [ In reply to ]
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Best advice I ever received was right here on Slowtwitch and it boils down to this: except for sleeping and swimming wear supportive shoes or sandals. Birkenstock Arizona work great. Wore them everywhere, had couple of pairs and even wore them in shower 🚿. Could barely walk due to PF and doing this cleared it up in 3 weeks. Hope you feel better.
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Re: plantar fasciitis help [mollyrun] [ In reply to ]
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Some great advice so far - biggest one is never walk bare foot - ever..... Birkenstocks or similar - never crocs ... also see if you can find a lower limb ART Specialist in your area - most PF can be treated utilizing ART - Active Release Technique - I am a very big proponent of this process and all my clients have benefited from this.

Hope this helps

Graham Wilson
USAT Level III Elite Coach
http://www.thewilsongroup.biz
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Re: plantar fasciitis help [strangename] [ In reply to ]
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This is going to sound silly, but it's what happened. I was confined to bed for 2 weeks. No TV in bedroom. I read a lot or read/watch stuff on my mac. Book or mac in lap with knees up and feet flat. By the 3rd day, my feet were killing me. It took me another 2 days to figure out the cause. My DPT did the diagnosis. Told me I needed to give up slides and flip flops. That's like telling me to quit riding my bike as well as give up chocolate and ice cream.
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Re: plantar fasciitis help [mollyrun] [ In reply to ]
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My experience was only in one foot, but was caused by an accessory soleus muscle. I did the standard range of treatments - foam rolling, stretching, strengthening, custom orthotics, etc. I actually preferred Pedag holiday inserts over my custom orthotics - much lighter. In the end, I had surgery to have the accessory muscle removed, and it was instantly apparent post surgery my plantar fasciitis issues were gone.
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Re: plantar fasciitis help [mollyrun] [ In reply to ]
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I would agree with the folks advocate always wearing supportive shoes. I did the Strassburg sock, golf ball rolling on my feet, etc. and nothing really helped until I always put shoes on. I had a pair of running shoes beside the bed I would put on if I had to get up and pee in the middle of the night. I shied away from any sort of sandals as well. No Birks, Crocs, Teva, Chaco, only running shoes or supportive dressy shoes for work. Hope it gets better for you.
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Re: plantar fasciitis help [mollyrun] [ In reply to ]
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My friend has had great success with this exercise.
https://journals.lww.com/...reat_Plantar.13.aspx

Team Zoot So Cal
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Re: plantar fasciitis help [mollyrun] [ In reply to ]
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I’m new here to Slowtwitch. I was a regular a few years ago but haven’t been around in ages.

At about 43 I had a really bad case of PF. I did all the things that have been suggested here and nothing worked. I talked to someone and they implored me to strengthen my feet by doing the barefoot thing. I stopped running but walked barefoot as much as I could. After a few weeks I was able to walk around the house barefoot and able to start walking some distances.

After a few months I switched to barefoot style shoes for work. I’ve worked myself up to walking my dogs 1.7 miles a day in bare feet when the weather allows.

My current running shoes are Neutral (not minimalist) but all my daily shoes are barefoot style.

My feet have never been stronger. My left foot, which was basically flat now has an arch. I run about 30-40 miles a week and haven’t had a problem since. I know this is not a popular opinion; it’s just what worked for me. Good luck PF is the worst.
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