To Whom It May Concern:

I have been diagnosed with Plantar Fascitis. I have been prescribed Advil 3 times a day and to apply ice for 20 min 3 times a day, as well as some stretching exercises by my regular doctor. In addidtion, I am thinking of going to a podiatrist to get orthotics because I have a job where I work 3 hours standing and walking and I think this would help, since I still have pain, though less.

Further, for your info., I am 37 years old, 15 pounds overweight, I have pain in my heels, which started about 4 months ago but was not really a problem, till I decided to loose weight and started doing some exercises and running at home, with socked feet only. The day after I did this, I was in so much pain it was very difficult to walk. The pain went even up my calf in my left leg, though this was no longer a problem after a week.

To remedy this, I have bought shoes specifically for walking, and inserted a Dr. Scholl's heel insert in addition.

Now my question is, what orthotics do I need or is this the best route to go. The reason I ask, is because I have seen different products advertised on the internet, and I don't know which ones are better. For example, Theta-orthotics. Or the "natural alternative" to orthotics, etc.

If you could help me with this, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Sylvia

It is not in your best interests to self-direct your treatment., as successful conservative (non-surgical) management of plantar fasciitis generally requires a multifaceted approach aimed at first eliminating the internal inflammation and subsequent pain, and then provided mechanical treatment with in-shoe supports of some nature, the use of proper heel heights, the reduction of weight and possibly the modification of activities to accommodate your problem. To go hunting for orthotics now makes no more sense than purchasing a saddle for a horse which you've yet to buy. Other than for weight loss and possible modification of activities, the orthotics are the final stage in the conservative treatment, and in my experience, unless and until the pain is relieved by other means, such as anti-inflammatory, either by mouth or local corticosteroid injections, and rest taping of the foot and stretching, orthotics are generally not successful.

Podiatrists see this condition as one of if not the most common foot complaint in their offices. I would therefor advise the selection of of a good podiatrist and allowing him/her to direct your treatment.

Thank you for your advice, I have an appointment booked for tomorow and will go based on the Dr.'s advice.

I am not in total disagreement just a point. "orthotics are the final stage in the conservative treatment" if their is a structural mechanical problem with the foot in my experience it needs to be addressed at the same time as the other conservative treaments.

The plantar fascia of the foot is strong conective tissue and does not heal quickly so Don't over treat plantar faciitis. Example skin in general minor injury will seal in 24hrs heal in a week, muscle 2-3weeks, bone 6-8 weeks tendons and conective tissue(including plantar fascia) can take months, cartilage months to a year.

Why, is because of a combination of circulation and cell metabolism which are derectly related.

The plantar facia can become no longer painful to activey before it has heeled completly.

You have done what many people have done started an exercise program that your body was not ready for. Walking first then jog protect you feet with proper shock absorbtion.

Finding a "Good" podiatrist is like how you would find a "good" anyone. The advice your Doctor has given you might worktime.

Let us know what the podiatrist said to after the appoint? please

I, too have been diagnosed with plantar fascitis and bursitis over a year ago. It was recommended by my podiatrist to have custom orthotics made at the cost of $400.00. At the time this was not in the budget. I was also in therapy for $90.00 a week, this too soon became out of the question, financialy speaking. Today I am calling back my podiatrist with a new complaint, the area from inside my ankle around to the top of my foot is now also causing me severe grief ( and all conditions are in both feet). I believe this new pain to be related to the the old diagnosis's. Question: will getting the custom orthodics relieve all my pain or are they just for the plantar? And am I correct to believe that this is something I will deal with for the rest of my life? I spend 8 hours a day on my feet, I have changed my shoe choices to birkenstocks, wich by the way are almost a little piece of heaven. Any advice? Thanks

Dear All, This is my first time here, this site was suggested to me by a shoe repair person where I live. He said this is a great site to find out about a lot of things about feet.

I went to my GP a week ago with a lot of pain in my right heel and arch. He said I have Plantar Fascitis. Since then I have been taking the prescription he ordered for me, naproxen, ice, using some over the counter orthotics.

I can hardly walk first thing in the mornings to let my dog out. My sister-in-law is a nurse and has had this herself. She suggested shoes immediately in order to just get out of bed. That has helped a little.

I am a Realtor so I am on my feet a lot during the days to show houses or run errands. I am overweight, way too much and am trying to do something about that and I am 51 y/o.

I am pretty shocked that I am experiencing increasing paid when I am out showing houses. This, of course,scares me to death since I am single and this is how I make my living. Sometimes just sitting down for a bit helps, but it is scary to be in such pain. I feel that I am doing way too many pain killers in any given day though all are over the counter pain killers.

I really appreciate reading about others' experiences. I do know of a podiatrist because I had a plantar wart removed some years ago.

I have a couple of pairs of Birkenstocks that I could wear, though I have greater comfort with Merrell's of which I have 3 pairs.

Obviously I want the pain to go away as soon as possible. I am very concerned about getting old and crippled way before my time.

RubyBluebird aka Susan

I have spent thousands of dollars on shoes, orthortics. Go to the Birkenstock store and get fitted for Birks. Do not let a pod talk you onto buying orthortics. You are throwing you money away. I have been a PF sufferer for 6 plus years and I'm almost painfree. I had ESWT 2005 and can know walk without pain. I went to 7 pods before I got relief. Do not let a doctor cut on your feet. Best of luck!!

Epf failed surgery
http://heelspurs.com/bbs/bbt.cgi?n=186827

I have been diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitius after dealing with about a month in pain. Anti-inflammatorys has become my best friend lately. I also suffer from fibromyalgia so they told me that this condition will never get better. I also bought those ortho things for my feet get them next week but in the meantime dealing with all the pain. The pills dont do anything but make me tired that's it also putting ice makes my fibro act up so its a lost cause for me. Any suggestions Please Help the pain is driving me over the edge.

[size=7]try a Strassburg sock, you wear them at nigt. It gives you a lot of relief in the morning.

Did you want some sugestions? If so try comfort berkenstocks. Aslo Dansko some with a wedge and a rocker bottom.

I did not see Stretching or exercises in your recomandations. First thing when you get up massage your feet strip with your thumb from your heel to the ball of your foot 5-10 times then put on your shoes.

Stretch serveral times a day. straiten a leg then lift your toes to wards your head until you feel a stretch then hold then relax do this about five times about 3-5 times a day. This is a lite stretch to promot healing when your can not feel a stretch then progress to a wall stretch then a curb stretch. When your standing figgit all day stay still pop up on your toes then move a round. When your walk don't pound your feet glide around like your dancing.

Plantar Fasciitis take along time to heal. If itakes two months for your pain to subsided then continue doing what you are doing for at least two months. The pain will subsided before you are completly healed.

Get well soon

Dear all:

In talking about heel pain and what helps it. You must first properly understand what causes it.

The meaning of "Equinus" in relation to the foot is, any restriction which limits upward motion of the foot at the ankle joint called "dorsiflexion.' When we walk, our leg and body passes over our foot that is on the ground. The ankle joint must dorsiflex to allow this to happen. When the calf muscles are tight, the leg cannot pass over the ankle when your foot is flat on the floor. This tightness of the calf muscles limits the motion of your ankle joint.

There are several ways that the body compensates for this. One way is to turn out, or "AB-duct" the foot, which gets the foot out of the way of the leg which is trying to pass over the foot. This also creates an increased demand for pronation (foot collapse). Another way is compensated dorsiflexion at a joint in front of the ankle joint which operates in the same direction. Being that the ankle joint primarily operates forward and backward, the next joint which is ready to compensate in the same direction is the Mid Tarsal Joint, right above the arch. This joint then collapses downward, pulling at the Plantar Fascia

So, this is what causes the Plantar Fascia to tear at the heel. The fascia is like a fiberoptic cable, with lots of tiny little strands. when lots of them tear this is called "Micro Trauma"
In helping the Plantar Fasciitis patient giving him/her something that stops this tearing mechanism is essential. Heel lifts, therapy, night splints and orthotics.

For immediate use a heel lift is recommended, as it enables the leg to pass over the foot and reduces the demand for the foot to collapse.

By using a heel lift, you are decreasing the demand for dorsiflexion at the ankle joint and helping the leg pass over the foot. The repetitive heel trauma subsides, but are you really curing the problem? You aren't. it's like putting a Band-Aid on an infected cut. The same is true with orthotics. They may help the foot from collapsing, but are they curing the problem? No. Furthermore, if you put an orthotic under a foot that is chronically collapsing because of a powerful force outside the foot (the calf), the foot will not like that orthotic. It will feel like a $400 rock in their shoe

The real cure for Plantar Fasciitis is Physical Therapy. That is, increasing the flexibility of the calf muscles of the leg. If therapy is too expensive, then a dorsiflexion night splint works well. This is a boot that one wears at night that keeps the foot pointed up towards the leg and passively stretches the leg for 8 hours at a time. Only after flexibility has increased, then some kind of arch supports are indicated. And about arch supports, anything is better than nothing. Arch supports work well in supporting the foot from further collapse. Heel lifts also work well in temporarily helping the foot. Therapy, orthotics, and heel lifts all play a part together.

Be well,
Spencer B. Weisbond, C.Ped.
Orthotic Solutions
www.orthoticsolutionsny.com

Dear Sylvia, Rubybluebird and Guest
Unfortunately, there is no one solution to solving plantar fasciitis. The treatment is a combination of stretching, physical therapy, RICE, proper shoe gear, orthotics/heel lifts (OTC/custom made), injection therapy, and in recalcitrant cases Extracorporeal shock wave therapy and surgery. The outcome, depends on the indiviual patient and their response to the treatment presented in their specific case. The proper treatment also involves treating the patient as a whole including a proper gait analysis, inspection of shoe gear and making sure that the patient is compliant. It also takes time, healing does not occur over night.

Good-luck and thank-you for contacting foot.com,
SBarlizo, DPM, C Ped
foot.com expert