Plantar fasciitis ladies

[zitiqueen]

I have joined the club. I've had all of the symptoms for a few months and I finally decided to see a podiatrist (my appointment was this morning). He took x-rays and confirmed my self-diagnosis. I have it in both feet, but it's worse in my left foot. He gave me a cortisone shot in each foot (which took the pain away for about two hours) and took plaster casts of my feet for custom orthotics. My insurance likely won't cover them, but I'm tired of being in pain so I'll gladly pay cash if they help. He estimated $300 for the pair. I'm also going to do the stretching exercises he and everyone here has recommended. He and I both agreed that surgery would only be a last resort option.

My problem is I have high arches (thanks, Mom!). I've read the other threads here about plantar fasciitis, and a lot of you said that Vionics made great shoes for people with it, so I ordered a $75 pair of slippers online from DSW since I knew my slippers were crap (Skecher scuffs) and offered no support. Well, I haven't been impressed with the Vionics slippers either. They do have higher arch support than most shoes, but still not high enough to give the support I need. The doctor agreed that having high arches can make finding shoes challenging sometimes. He recommend Birkenstocks and New Balance or Asics gym shoes. I've always found Reeboks have good high arches, so I'll most likely go shoe shopping this weekend (yay! Although my H isn't thrilled; he thinks I already own too many shoes!) I also bought some OTC orthotic inserts that were recommend, and again, they didn't offer enough support.

If you have high arches, I'd love to hear some recommendations!

[lovelyshoes]

The only sneakers I can wear are NB and I got a pair of Brooks last year. I like the NB with a mesh type top. I never tried Beekenstocks, but wear Mephisto sandals that are similar. I've heard good things about asics too, but none worked for me. Maybe try a store where they can fit you and are actually knowlegable about sneakers.

[pretzel]

I have PF and lots of foot problems. Getting Birkenstocks or similar to wear as slippers (no barefoot time at all!) is helpful. I've sworn by danskos for years (not the clogs), but recently found that Clarks, even though they don't have a high arch, are amazing, and recommended by my podiatrist and foot surgeon.

Good luck!

[noodleoo]

Ugh, I'm sorry. I've been dealing with this since Feb and it has sucked. I got a cortisone shot and it helped a lot. I went from limping to being able to walk. But I've still had pain off and on since then. I recently found this article in an old post and I've been doing the stairs exercises and I think it actually helping! My foot isn't hurting nearly as much. I hope it maybe helps you too!

mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2014/09/15/heel-pain-treatment/?referrer=

I also really recommend icing it by rolling on a frozen water bottle. I was surprised how much that seemed to help and it feels really good.

[kath16]

Wait until you have your orthotics before you buy anything. When you get them, take them with you to a running store and get properly fitted.

It will be worth it. I have extremely high arches and ran a marathon with orthotics and a shoe specifically recommended for me.

[polarbearfans]

Keep up with the stretches. Change your shoes throughout the day to different heel heights. Stretch and do the rotating your foot around thing throughout the day. I couldn't wear my orthotics all day every day but they did help. I had a slimmed down 3/4 version to fit my skinniest flats. I personally preferred over the counter supports over my custom orthotics for athletic shoes. Not ones you buy at Target but from actually athletic stores or specialty shops.

[pixy0stix]

My pf was never a foot problem. It was a hip/pelvis tilt problem diagnosed through PT. For a lot of people it's a hip/glute problem. Before spending a lot on shoes that may or may not work, I'd try PT.

[bunnies]

The elastic bands that go around your foot help to keep the arch lifted when the shoe isn't giving enough support.\

[alleinesein]

May 3, 2017 23:57:54 GMT -5 farmvillelover said:

Stretches and exercises never did much for my PF TBH. The only thing that helped was laying off high impact, which was really hard for me.

The best sandals I've found are Olukai. These are the BEST: www.olukai.com/eheu.html

Also, Saucony guide running shoes have been the best for ME, but Brooks and Asics kayano have been great too

Another vote for Olukai.  I live in mine and wear them for everything.  

My PF was only fixed by putting my foot in a cast for 3 weeks so that I could not move it.  I did that 7 years ago and have been pain free ever since.  

[lostrn]

What helped me was the custom orthotics and switching to vionics for flip flops, new balance for sneakers. Also at night wearing a splint the doctor gave me to pull back my toes, or a strasburg sock...I alternated between the two. My mom (a nurse practitioner) recommended taking a MSM supplement as well, which I did for years. I've been pain free for a long time now. Good luck!

[thelurkylulu]

Honeatly, the best shoes I have found (that do not aggravate my PF) are Skechers. I can even wear their Go Walk flip flops and not be in pain the next day. I had to ban flip flops from my wardrobe for a long time because it aggravated the hell out of my PF.

[noodleoo]

May 4, 2017 5:08:43 GMT -5 lostrn said:

What helped me was the custom orthotics and switching to vionics for flip flops, new balance for sneakers. Also at night wearing a splint the doctor gave me to pull back my toes, or a strasburg sock...I alternated between the two. My mom (a nurse practitioner) recommended taking a MSM supplement as well, which I did for years. I've been pain free for a long time now. Good luck!

What is MSM?

[lostrn]

May 4, 2017 9:21:36 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

May 4, 2017 5:08:43 GMT -5 lostrn said:

What helped me was the custom orthotics and switching to vionics for flip flops, new balance for sneakers. Also at night wearing a splint the doctor gave me to pull back my toes, or a strasburg sock...I alternated between the two. My mom (a nurse practitioner) recommended taking a MSM supplement as well, which I did for years. I've been pain free for a long time now. Good luck!

What is MSM?

www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/msm-methylsulfonylmethane-uses-and-risks

[toepick]

Don't let the slippers turn you off of vionic. Definitely get the flip flops. I can wear Olukai too now, but my PF is a lot better than it used to be.

What saved me was a sleep splint. You can get one on Amazon for under $30.

[ciescalove]

Has anyone tried myofascial release? I am in a FB group for a tool called a fasciablaster, and according to the lady who developed it, one of the issues it helps is plantar fasciitis.

Here's a video on it:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=QAx1V3UiP4w

Don't worry it's not a mlm or anything. I just see people post about their PF on the page a lot.

[nextbigthing]

I have super high arches too and on top of the pf I have tendonitis in my Achilles.

Brooks adrenaline running shoes (I wear these pretty much all the time if I'm not at work) with custom orthotics
Fitflops
I wear the original ugly crocs around the house


I sleep in a night splint on my left foot and that helps a lot too

[wanderlustmom]

I also have super high arches and scoliosis and I run three times a week to feel human. I get custom inserts for my running shoes at Road Runner, Brooks is my favorite running shoe and I have the Vionic flip flops (though they are really ugly.) I also like boots and wedges. Hot yoga really helps my lower back and hips and I foam roll even though I hate it. I also do a series of hip strengthening exercises once a week and they help. I also like hot stone massages and PT helps. Basically my body is all jacked up but I have found ways to keep running

[zitiqueen]

Thanks for all of the replies!

The cortisone eventually kicked in. My H (retired RN) said it can take a day or two to work. This morning when I woke up and got out of bed, I went to grab the wall out of habit and realized I could actually stand and move right away. I didn't have to do the old lady walk to the stairs and go down them one at a time (about halfway down is when my feet would start to feel better). The pain in my right foot is gone but there is still slight pain in my left foot. I've also been doing the stretches and using the frozen ice bottle. 

That's a great idea to wait until my custom orthotics come in before buying any shoes. I don't want to spend money on shoes that may not fit once the orthotics go in. I also find Skechers Go Walks to be pretty comfortable. I need to upgrade my collection of those.