The best advice anyone can give you is to go to a woman podiatrist and take her advice. Someone else mentioned that there's NO one answer for PF--everyone's feet are built differently, so it's impossible for anyone not familiar with your feet to be able to 'prescribe' the perfect shoe. Your podiatrist should be able to. But this is the one field of medicine where I truly believe it makes a difference whether you go to a man or woman. My pod. is a woman and she understands not only feet, but women's fashion issues, and her recommendations have been life (or foot-) savers for me. I will say this--I know New Balance is often recommended for those who suffer PF. I bought 2 expensive pairs of them and cannot wear them for more than about an hour at a time. Another difference? I've seen a lot of PF sufferers recommend Birkenstocks--a shoe my pod. says NEVER to wear. So as you can see, your best bet is to follow your own dr's advice. HOpe you get relief soon. The excercises and meds your dr. will prescribe are probably the best thing you can do for the condition. Really helps me.

Joanne I didn't know you had had that problem for 12 years. My problem is clearing up. I have done much of what you said, but one thing I was told to do was to stand on a step (the ball of your foot) and let your heels go down. I was told that a major problem with PF is that the back of your leg and the achilles tendon need to be stretched. gandbb, I have heard that you should not allow surgery if at all possible, and it looks like you are proof of that. However if a doctor told me that I needed surgery, I am not sure that I would resist. I have heard and read that heel spurs form when you have PF, but they can go away on their own - that they are not the problem. I am so sorry your heel is numb. Does the doctor think you will regain full feeling? My sister had a Plantar's Wart removed, and it was so huge that they messed up the nerve on her foot. I think she is ok now. That was about 15 years ago. I often sleep with my feet hanging over the bottom of the bed - especially when I think my legs are tightening up. Another source for good shoes is the online shoe stores. You need to ask an involved question to the first person you call so that he or she will put you in touch with the manager. I said that I am a pronator and need shoes that have the grey on the inside from the heel to the arch. I also said that I wanted real good running shoes. The manager told me the best brands for me, but said that you should not get a running shoe for walking. I had wanted a running shoe thinking that the wear and tear from running would require a shoe with better support. He said that when you run you land on the ball of your foot, so all the support in the shoe is for that pressure. But walkers need good support on the heel since that is where they should land. So now I know to get pronator walking shoes. Asics fit me well since my toes arch and I have a high arch. But I still put inserts in them. Sammy

Bigbaby, this is just my opinion, but I would like to suggest that you do wear your Birkies to get to the bathroom from the bed and perhaps buy some crocs to wear to the pool. Water can't hurt them. About the exercises: Before you get out of bed every morning, sit on the side of the bed and move your feet in circles, then write the alphabet with your toes. The doctor didn't tell me this, but before doing that while I was sitting up in the bed I bent my leg so I could easily reach my foot. I massaged the arch of my feet ( I had it in both feet )with my thumb and then just gave my feet a general all over massage. Once I got out of bed or when I stood up after sitting in a chair I stood about two feet from a wall. I put both hands on the wall. I can't remember if you have it in one foot or both. If it is one foot, put that leg behind you. Keep it straight and stretch til you can feel the back of your calf stretching. While doing this you will need to slightly bend the knee on the leg in front. You don't want to stretch that one. I cannot remember how long to hold that stretch, but I would say maybe 20 to 30 seconds. Do not bounce while stretching. Just do it slowlly. It will help alleviate some of the pain you normally feel when you first get up. You can do that stretch several times a day. I still do it occasionally. When I had PF I found a message board , but that was a few years ago and I have no idea what it was or where it was.Sorry I can't help you there. Linda

I'm still in the midst of my second bout of plantar fasciitis which has been with me more than a year. I just don't want a cortisone shot (I'm a big baby,) so I finally found some shoes that have been by far, the biggest help. Clarks, New Balance, Berkinstock arch supports, none of these did the job. These are Z-Coil and I bought them because I spoke to a friend of a friend when I saw them on his feet. He had such luck with them when he was faced with surgery that I gave them a try. The sandals were fantastic and the tennis shoes have been good, though in the last couple of weeks my heels are hurting a bit. I don't know if I'll have to eventually have to pursue the shots, but for now I'll take the shoes, as they allow me to take walks and stand for long periods of time again. I also find that stretching my feet (toes toward leg,) before getting out of bed helps those first painful steps in the morning. Good luck!