Oh, yes, I had it. I did the exercises and I wore the brace at night, but I think what helped the most was not going bare footed, and not wearing flip flops. I have a pair of slip on tennis shoes that I even put on at night to go to the BR. I mean, no bare feet. We have wood and tiles floors mostly, and I never used to wear shoes in the house, but I do now, and the flip flops have no support, so that's what I did. It took a while to go away, but I did the stretchs before I got out of bed--I had to or I wouldn't have been able to walk. Google it and read all you can. I talked to a podiatrist and chose to try it my way b/c I've had shots in my feet before and I would have done anything to avoid that. Go to the drug store and get one of those braces and give it some time before you resort to getting help.

I have had it more than once but never had surgery. I got something for in my shoe and did exercises. Never had surgery or a shot. It takes along time to get over it and I feel for you-it is painful.I did go to a foot Dr. though and all the above was recommended by him.

I have it currently. It started last summer. Some times are worse than others. But as stated above, I try not to go barefoot at all. I bought inserts for my shoes. That has made the biggest difference. I wouldn't have surgery or get shots. I think this is something that comes and goes and the inserts have done the trick for me. They were expensive, but much cheaper than surgery or shots, I'm sure. I got mine at a Good Feet store. Good luck.

Planters Fasciitis is also a symptom of Hypothyroidism and will go away with thyroid treatment. I have Hypothyroidism, but had Achilles Tendonitis (pain in the back of the heel) instead. A raise in my thyroid medicine made it go away.

I had it for almost a year. I agree with other posters that one of the most important changes I made was to never, ever go barefoot. I now wear shoes with an arch insert always, yes, even to go to the bathroom at night. I was one of those people who never wore shoes in the house and it has been a difficult change to make, but no more pain!

I had it for quite a few months when I was on crutches. The weight-bearing foot developed it, so I had a broken leg on one side and PF on the other side. Not a happy memory for me.

What helped: not walking barefoot on hard floors. Even stand on a soft wash cloth in the shower. I gently flexed the foot if waking up in the night and before rising in the a.m. Wear slippers if up in the night for a trip to the bathroom.

What helped the most: 3 trips to a massage therapist who worked the whole foot/calf/thigh. I would say this is what made it go away.

What didn't help: the soft heel cups the orthopedist gave me. Also could not sleep with one of those contraptions which keeps the foot flexed at night.

Do you have it in both feet or just one? If just one, why? Are you doing something with that foot and not the other? Do you need orthotics for your shoes, maybe?

The most important thing to relieve the symptoms and avoid a recurrance is to wear shoes at all times that have a good arch support. My slippers don't have any arch support, so I need to just wear shoes. The last time I had the problem, I wore genuine Crocs. The cushioning makes the foot feel better, and they do have arch support. The podiatrist said I was wearing good shoes for avoiding plantar facitis.

DH developed it after having surgery for 'Turf Toe'. MD fused his big toe. Massage therapy worked. He does have to be careful to wear shoes with good support. (BIG shoes: 13 EEE -- lol)

In case anyone is seeking men's casual shoes with good support, DH loves his Nunn-Bush leather 'boat shoes'. He ordered them from Kohl's website; around $70.

Yes, many years ago. I had a heel spur, which you may or may not have. Terrible pain. My Ortho Doc gave me one injection of cortisone directly into the spur. That was extremely painful, but only for a minute or two. No more problems since then.

Be sure you learn exactly what the problem is and then decide on the treatment.

Sue

Oh Yes, off and on for many years....I've had the shots and they do give relief, temporarily...The best thing I found, was doing the stretches and not going barefoot, which was the hardest thing for me...I wear a pair of sneakers and don't seem to have any problem...My doctor doesn't like to operate....

For a few years now. I'd strongly recommend that you not hesitate to go to a good WOMAN podiatrist. This is one specialty, that I feel it's imperative for a woman to go to a woman dr.

Anyway, my wonderful podiatrist worked with me. She treated my condition with medication and by giving me a panel of exercises to do at home, as well as recommending a few specific brands of shoes based on: the plantar fasciitis, the configuration of my foot, and what might be acceptable to me stylewise. Women drs, DO understand women's shoe issues better than men, and are more familiar with brands of women's shoes, IMO.

Anyway, it took a few weeks, but the treatment worked. Yes, I've had flare-ups since. But I go back to being careful not to go barefoot, and to doing the exercises, and they're easily treated.

My pod. wasn't in a big rush to do injections--she felt that was a last resort, if the other treatment hadn't worked. And from what I'm hearing, the medical community today is pretty much against surgery for PF, in almost all cases (at least the drs I've spoken to have been adamant that surgery was NOT appropriate).

PF is uncomfortable, but luckily, it's not something that's life-threatening. Get the right treatment from the right dr. and you'll soon be feeling much better, I imagine. Good luck.

Everyone who has ever had plantar fascitis has my sympathy - it is sooo painful!

I did have the cortisone shots - twice, a couple of weeks apart - and it really helped. I tried the orthotics, but they were a waste. They caused more pain than the original problem.

The stretching also helped, along with buying good sneakers and wearing them most of the time. Ryka was the brand that worked best for me.

Also, I never ever go barefoot, as others said.

Good luck, and I hope your PF goes away fast!

I bought shoes the bone doctor recommended, he gave me a shot and it worked. He said probably for the rest of my life. I had a similar problem years ago and it was diagnosed as tendinitis of the heel which went away on it's own. The doctor was very serious about not walking on cement. He has plantar in both heels from walking on concrete office floors. I quit walking on the streets and that probably helped both problems. I now walk on grass or dirt paths.

I've had it off and on for over 20 years. I used to describe it, at it's worst, as feeling like someone drove a railroad spike up my heel. And yes, it does get that bad!

Mine started with a heel spur. I went to a specialist. Back then, they made custom inserts for your shoes. He made a plaster cast of my foot, in just the position he wanted it, then made the inserts from that. They cost $375 which was a small fortune for us at that time. They also took weeks to get used to...almost as much pain as the heel spurs to begin with. He recommended wearing them with shoes that also had good support. I did get used to them and they fixed the problem. So long as they were worn all the time.

Like others have said, going barefoot or wearing flip flops aggravate the problem. But I love going barefoot and wearing flip flops.. I have found one kind of flip flops (expensive) that give my feet the support I need, and I can wear them. They are actually river rafting shoes, made by Teva, and they fit and feel like fine hiking boots, even though they are flip flops. They cost in the area of $60-70 but to me, are well worth it.

Also, I still have those same inserts but tend to go without them when things are going well. Then it comes back and I have to use them again. They don't make the custom made inserts for this problem any more. Now my doctor recommends going to a good set of inserts made specifically for plantar fascitis and sold everywhere, even at Walmart. Dr Scholls makes them, and others too, I'm sure. I got the Scholls Heel Pain Relief Orthotics. They are inexpensive so you can afford to buy a set for each pair of shoes that you wear a lot. If you don't have to swap them around, you're less likely to forget them. The doctor tells me they do wear out and should be replaced about every 6 months.

Here's a site with exercises. My doctor recommended the one with the tennis ball, but I haven't tried it yet. I will though...

http://www.heel-that-pain.com/plantar_fascia/plantar_fascia_exercises.php

Here is a link that might be useful: Dr Scholls inserts for plantar fascitis

I've had it off an on for nearly 30 years. IME, once you learn how to treat and prevent it, it never gets as bad as it is at the beginning. I agree with everyone else - the big things are ice, stretches, and good arch support always. Night splints help, too, when it's worse than usual. I just use one that I got at the drug store.

As an aside, this thread is a great example of why I hate shoes-off houses. Just on this thread, in only a couple hours, you have more than a dozen people saying that they need to wear shoes all the time, even in the middle of the night when going to the bathroom. (I'm in that group, too.)

And on the subject of shoes, here are my recommendations for arch-support footwear: Brooks running shoes, OrthaHeel shoes (including flip-flops with good arch support), and SuperFeet Green insoles (as good as any custom insole I've had, for only $35).

Good luck. And the cortisone shots do work, though only temporarily.

AS the above posters have said....

Wear good shoes!

Don't wear cheap shoes from a discount store....and replace them a couple times a year if you put a fair amount of miles on them.

Talk to you shoe salesman and tell them what you are dealing with. I have found that going to a store that specialized in athletes - especially runners - will have a person that knows about shoes and can help you. I don't necessarily mean a chain store like foot locker, but they might have someone who knows what they are doing. Have them measure your foot - you may be put in a larger size!

I have found that wearing the Croc's indoors (I don't really wear them "out" any more - makes a huge difference also.

I did the stretches and took Advil. Took a long time - but I haven't had any pain in a long time.

I NEVER EVER EVER go barefoot anymore though.

I have, and I know it's painful. I get an "attck" about once a year, usually April-May. Hurts like he** to walk. Wearing shoes helps a lot, as does simple Dr. Scholls shoe inserts. I'll limp around for a while, then it goes away on its' own. I Have not (stupidly) contacted a doctor.

Sounds like a great amount of experience here and our household is no exception. I had orthotics made, and wear excellent shoes 98% of the time. DH went to the "Good Feet" place in a mall...got inserts ($$) and good SAS shoes and has been "cured" for several years. When I had my problem in the 1980's, my Podiatrist did not believe in surgery and the hammer toe he corrected is not the most beautiful. Nanny

Yes you need good shoes, but how do you know which shoes are good. Price doesn't mean their good or bad, neither does brand. I bought a $135 pair of shoes because I thought they were good. Ha! My doctor was right on when he recommended Merrils "Mesh" slides for me, only the mesh. I found them for $69 a pair a one place, $70 and $80 and another site. They come in colors for women.

These may not be what everyone else needs but they work for me. It's all I ever wear even in the house.

Here is a link that might be useful: Merrils

I'm linking to the product that helped me. I could hardly walk, and after wearing one of these, the pain went away in a relatively short time. And it is a low cost option that you may want to try before going to more expensive treatments. Good luck, I know how painful this is!

Here is a link that might be useful: arch brace

I got mine in 2001 (I think). It lasted about 3 yrs, on & off. I have a slight problem with it every now & then. Stretch your feet before getting out of bed in the morning and wear good shoes, NO barefeet!. Inserts or orthotics might help with it. I lived on the heelspur message board the first year! I did everything I could think of, and saw the Dr's many times. Nothing really helped but time.

I'm linking to the product that helped me. I could hardly walk, and after wearing one of these, the pain went away in a relatively short time. And it is a low cost option that you may want to try before going to more expensive treatments. Good luck, I know how painful this is!

Here is a link that might be useful: arch brace

Pammy, honest, I haven't read all the replies... and I don't know if that is what I had or not... but I don't have any pain anymore.

Mine went away with the stretches, and no more barefoot walking around. Like Vannie, not even to go to the bathroom at night.

It's great being pain free.

Moni

My best friend has the same problem with her feet. She recommends eating six cherries a day. Can't hurt and I do love cherries, even at $6.99 a pound. Problem is, I can't stop at six!

Shoes with good support and that encourage you to bend the foot when walking are absolutely vital. Hammacher Schlemmer offers a few shoes and slippers that really do work, I have the slippers and wear them a good 50-60% of the time because I work from home. A few years ago it was bad that I nearly fell to my knees from the pain more than once. Walking steps is what finally rid me of it, up and down 2 flights of steps several times a day.

Just a couple more comments about shoes.

As someone else said, price does NOT automatically guarantee a good shoe. My Podiatrist played around with the $10 pair of cheap sneakers I wore to her office, and said they were made well for my problem. I've bought $100 sneakers that gave me fits (actually PAIN).

Not only are you dealing with a medical condition, BUT everyone's feet are a little different. A shoe that's good for one, may not be for someone else--even though they both have PF--that's one of the big reasons why I never post what brand my dr. recommended for me and why I always suggest to anyone suffering from PF, that they consult their own, woman podiatrist. Get the right recommendation for your diagnosis AND your own foot. Good luck.

Jannie, what does your friend do when cherries are not in season? Not those horrid things in the jar I hope.

Thank you, all, for sharing your experience!

A couple of months ago, I was experiencing some different foot feelings between walking on the hardwood floor (LR level) and the carpeted levels, so I did buy a pair of cozy slippers (Daniel Green's). I think they do make my feet feel better on the hardwoods. It's gonna be hard not to go barefoot, tho! We'll see if I can manage to remember to slip on the slippers during that middle-of-the-night bathroom trip!

Socks: I have it just in my right foot. No idea why that one vs the other!

I have been looking for a new pair of sneakers for a while now. I'm sure my current ones should be tossed (they look OK, but I think the arch support was lacking from the start). So to Sheila, MrsSmith, Joann, IowaGirl, Vala, Jel -- thanks for mentioning some brand names, because flipping through page after page on Zappos was getting exhausting! Maybe one of the brands that helped you will work for me-- never can tell!

Don't know what the "Good Feet" store in your malls is--I don't think I've ever seen that in my neck of the woods, but I'll check.

(and I don't really know what my tolerance for the cortisone shot pain would be -- all I know is I don't want to find out!)

Today was a good day (not totally pain free, but close) -- Advil, slip-on loafers with a higher heel than my sneakers and double-thickness Dr. Scholl's pads.

Next stop: Researching some stretching exercises!

If you can't get some orthotics, get "Super feet" they are really good and under $30. (they are the green ones)

Try New Balance shoes, Birkenstock for sandals. BTW The Dr's don't rec commend sandals at all, slippers aren't too good either. I used crocs as my slippers and outside for a long time.
I think I have a bunch of info & exercises, email me.
go to the welcome page its at the bottom.

Pammyfay, I haven't read your other posts, but I only wear New Balance shoes. I gave all my flip flops to one of my BFFs and she loved that, b/c I had A LOT. Good luck to you. Those exercises are on line--try WebMd, or just google it--there's a lot of info out there.

As Vannie said, there are lots of stretches online. Here's a quick, simple one - just sit in your bed, or on the sofa or recliner, flex your foot as far as possible, and hold it. That's all. I do this all the time, and always do it before I get out of bed. Helps a lot.

I have PF much worse in my left foot than my right, too, btw.

ARRRGH!
This morning, woke up with an excruciating charley horse in my LEFT calf (not the leg with what I think is the PF).

I've gotten these before -- never tracked which leg or any change in behavior or diet, so I don't know what my triggers are.

But the only difference this past week was I wore the loafers all day yesterday at work, the shoes that are higher than my everyday sneakers and have some arch support (and I do wear the sneakers prob 75% of the time -- work apparel is relaxed).

I guess my legs are rebelling!
Like they say, if it ain't one thing...
(Tho I know other folks have a lot more serious medical issues.)

My chiropractor fixed my plantar fascitis!

I got mine from wearing a $117 pair of New balance shoes. I use the frozen bottle of water and roll my feet over it when it hurts and do the calf stretch on the step (toes on the edge of the step and lower the heel) that seems to help.

My friend had to roll something with her foot, but that was for a spur not planter. The rolling would wear the spur down. I don't think that would have helped my planter. My bone doctor didn't recommend anything except my shoes. He had it in both feet and I think he knew it wasn't curable with treatment. He gave me a shot and haven't had a twinge since. My pain was like a stone bruise, painful but not a sharp pain like a spur would be.

Oh my goodness! I can't believe you asked this question! Seriously! Two weeks ago, my feet were really sore. I realized I had been wearing the same running shoes for almost a year. I wear them 8 hours a day at work, and I'm on my feet those entire 8 hours. The grips had worn away, so i figured it was time for new runners. I searched high and low determined to find just the right pair. They had to have thick cushionie soles. I find runners these days have NO arch support like they used to. Salesclerks now point you to the Dr Scholls inserts which cost another $20+ on top of the price of the runners.

Anyways, I wore the runners to work and my left foot was still sore. I just figured it was from the bad runners and would feel better soon. That night I was in bed and my foot felt 'tight'. I pulled my leg up and rubbed the bottom of my left foot and not only did I hurt myself, I felt a big lump on the tendon in the middle of my arch! first thing I thought of was cancer. LOL

Next day I googled, "lump on bottom of foot" and a page full of 'planters faciitis' sites popped up. I read everything I could, then went to you tube to see what phyical therapy I could do.

I bought a set of "Barefoot Science" insoles. They retail for $50 where I work, but I get a discount. They still cost more than the $25 Dr Scholls at the shoe store.... But they are the only insoles we sell that list planters faciitis as one of the things it helps.

Let me tell you, step one inserts are very soft. It doesn't bother my right foot, but holy cow, my left foot gets sore. I have to force myself to walk normally, and not on the outside of my foot. What's the point of the inserts if I don't use them right? Right?

I also stretch my foot whenever I remember. (like now...) I roll my foot over a can of furniture spray. LOL I need to find a decent sized tennis ball (yeah, they're all the same size, i know. figure of speech) to roll under my foot.

I've only used the inserts since Friday and IMO, the lump does feel a little smaller and it hurts a lot less already.

I keep forgetting to ice it. But the thought of an ice pack on the bottom of my foot..... yeah, probably not going to happen. LOL

I don't see the point in seeing a doctor for this right now. I would have to go to a walk in clinic as there is a severe dr shortage in Alberta. Sit there for hours with people who are actually sick and contagious. Then have the doctor tell me he has to refer me. By the time I get the referal, my foot will be fine.

thank goodness for google and you tube!

Now that I've read all the responses, I suppose I'll keep my runners on until I go to bed at night. I take my shoes off at the door.

I could also try to put a bottle of water in the freezer to roll my foot on. Key word: could......

Here is a link that might be useful: Barefoot Science inserts (shows a video)