I find that wearing the shoe type Crocs will help, not their sandles. My doctor says a good arch support is what helps prevent and solve this problem. The Crocs are kind of a clog, and that gives my heel space. Some tennis shoes are too tight on my heel when I have this problem, so the more open heel of the covered Crocs works best, and they are a shoe that you are supposed to wear with lots of extra space all around the foot.

I had that a few years ago, and ended up getting Sole Supports, that fit into your shoes to balance your feet/knee/hip into the right allignment. Worked wonders, but the only shoes they feel right in are the athletic type.
My doctor told me to fill a water bottle 4/5th full, lay on side and freeze. Roll foot over bottle on floor several times a day. The cold makes the foot feel better and the rolling/pressure movement stretches the inside of the foot and relieves the pain.
I have recommended this to several others who found excellent relief. Hope you can try it and that it helps you...I couldn't even sit for 30 min at lunch and walk when I stood up...

I also had that in my left foot and found if I stretched out my feet before I got out of bed in the morning and each time before I stood up to walk it helped. Instead of pointing, imagine your toes tryng to touch your shins. My doctor also recommended the frozen water bottle.

As for shoes, could you try the Earth spirit mules or boots? My doctor basically said anything with a good arch support should help. At the peak of my pain, my feet would ache every few hours no matter what I did.

I try to wear running shoes a lot more and if I have to walk for any longer distance. Crocs also helped. I got orthotic shoe inserts from a running store. They weren't cheap, but I've seen more generic ones like Dr. Sholls etc, which might help.

Do you go barefoot in the house? Maybe keep your sandals on in the house.

Good Luck-I know what a pain it is!! Literally!

My mom has it. She finds Clark's brand to be comfortable in styles with a low heel, not flats. J.C.Penney usually carries them.

I have had it several times. Once I had it in both feet for a year. It's most painful. What helped me was to wear a low heel all day long (I love to go bare foot and still do even though I know it's one of the causes). The frozen water bottle gives relief as does foot exercises...picking up a towel with your toes, standing on a stair and letting the heel drop down, and calf stretches. But the one thing that finally cleared it up for me was wearing a shoe with a 1 1/2 to 2 inch heel. Whenever I get the slightest hint of plantar fasciitis, I put on my heels...I feel like Donna Reed vacuuming in heels!

I had it for several years but I got rid of it by walking stairs daily. Now I work on preventing it from returning, Clarks are a huge help in winter, I love them. Summer I wear Clarks and Bare Traps. Thanks for the link to another option!

I think it's a matter of degree of pain and length of period of pain. Almost all of these things mentioned do nothing for my foot; I'm with georgysmom! And that too, isn't enough. I stretched like crazy for awhile and didn't really fell it helped. Sometimes it even hurt more. Z-Coil shoes used to help, but now they don't. All summer I've worn Echo sandals and some Born sandals that have a higher heel. I too am starting to worry about what I will wear this winter! It's funny, (NOT ha-ha funny,) because certain shoes I think will work make my foot much worse. I'm about to order custom orthotics which work well for some people, but not all, so it's a crap shoot! My best day recently is when I sat at the computer much of the day watching the miner rescue--couldn't pull myself away. The next day my foot felt darned good! So the ideal is to stay off one's feet until the fascia heals, but of course this isn't possible. I'm open to all suggestions too, except for the dreaded cortisone shot. I'm a big baby when it comes to pain.

I have it in both feet and would not have been able to get through the past few years without the Croc's flip flops, even in the winter. But Clark's are usually a great replacement for them in cold weather.

Last year I bought a pair of Asics and they have served me well. I probably need to invest in a pair of orthodics (sp). I hear a lot of good things about them from people who suffer with the PF like we do and have had them made.

Sometimes I have to switch out shoes off and on throughout the day if I'm on my feet for hours at a time. And, I never leave the house without an alternative pair if I think I'll be shopping longer than usual. Just in case. Good luck, I hope you find a brand that will allow you some comfort.

I've had plantar's fasciitis on and off for years. It's not bothering me at the moment. Went to a podiatrist several years ago who gave me the cortisone shot in the heel. And OMG! I've never had anything hurt so bad. And to make it worse, the darn shot didn't even help. What finally did help was a combination of faithfully stretching, taking anti-inflammatory drugs, and getting some custom made orthotic inserts, which were hideously expensive, for my shoes to give really good arch support. That doctor told me to never again wear flip-flops or go barefoot (but I still do on occasion)

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I've gone to the Dr. and he even told me about the stretching, it really didn't help and like Sjerin, it hurt more. I was disappointed and went back to see him and he tried to get me to buy a special kind of ortho shoe. He never did mention the frozen water bottle. I just now put one in the freezer to try tomorrow.

Teresava, I put my sandals on first thing in the morning and take them off when I go to bed. I have wood and tile flooring and it's a killer on my foot.

Georgysmom, A big LOL on feeling like Donna Reed vaccuming in high heels. I'm pretty darn cute too in the mornings with my PJ's and sandals on.

I'm going to try the Clark's and Croc's as mentioned. We have a JC Penny's here in town and I'll go there next week to get a pair. If these don't help I'll probably have to wear socks with my sandals or get those special ortho shoes.

Summer tx, were did you find the Asics at?

I found the Asic's at Academy Renee.
I have to agree with vicki7,Ibuprofen or Aleve (anti-inflammatory OTC drugs) do help with my condition when it's really acting up. I've done the frozen water bottle and the stretching too. All of it helps to a degree. It's very difficult to put your foot on a frozen water bottle, but you'll be glad you did in the long run. I've also heard not to EVER go barefoot with this condition. I have though and got away with it. But, for very short distances like from bed to bathroom or just around the house some. However, I can see why they say not to since your arch is not supported in anyway while barefoot.

I think the orthotics that were recommended by a Podiatrist I went to ran around $400. I have since discovered that another show store in my home town offers their version for around $200. I'm still debating. My friend uses theirs and is very satisfied. I've not tried Dr. Scholl's not version.

Again, very best of luck to you and I hope you find a brand of shoes that you can switch over to during the season changes.

OH, and before I forget. If you have an Academy in your town, they are very lenient on their return policy as far as time is concerned. Of course the shoe has to come back to them in the like new position it was sold to you in. But, it does give you more time to try them at home for a longer period of time in order to see if a certain brand of shoe works better for you than another. Whew, that was a long sentence. :)

I forgot to mention that the Dr. Scholls gel inserts felt mighty good. I put them in my golf shoes and managed to walk 18 holes in comfort. For me it was wearing heels from the time I got up in the morning until I went to bed at night for about two weeks that finally cured me. For someone who is barefoot 90% of the time, this was difficult. I would also like to mention that the rolling of the foot over a frozen water bottle or even a tennis ball is very soothing but it is not a cure.

When I had it I wore New Balance. I always wear a good support shoe now with my orthotics. I don't need that stuff coming back.

I'd make one suggestion to you that I didn't notice anyone else mentioning. Get a new podiatrist. In the case of women with foot problems, I have found it's imperative to go to a WOMAN podiatrist. They know feet, but they also 'get' women's shoe issues. Mine is great--she explained why I should and shouldn't wear certain brands, and following her medical AND fashion advice has brought me relief.

You can't really go by what works for others, of course, because different people's feet are constructed differently. It really takes a good dr. to advise what shoes will work best for both your feet, and your condition.

Your best bet, truly, is to find a really good pod. who also knows women's shoe brands and listen to their advice. Good luck with it. I find it comes and goes--is worse in the summer with sandals (for me, at least) and gets much better once fall arrives and I go back to wearing better shoes. New Balance? usually recommended for those with PF--I can only wear them very briefly before I have to get out of them. They don't help me a bit. But as I've already said--everyone's feet are different.

My doctor advised me to purchase New Balance tennis shoes 801 or above. I was never to wear flats, go bare footed, and the best shoes for dress wear are wedges, never heels. He or had me to put my feet on a package of frozen butterbeans for 15 minutes at the time several times a day, they conform to your feet. Refreeze and reuse.

I developed PF when I was on crutches for several months. One leg broken and PF in the other foot--that was not a fun time.

I tried many things, most of which are mentioned above. The one thing that did help was two visits to a therapeutic masseuse. I noticed a marked improvement after that. It was a full body massage; the masseuse said the whole body has to be done to be helpful, not just the foot. Foot bone connected to the knee bone type thing.

I've found that MBT shoes (the ones with the curved bottoms) have helped and Birkenstocks. My New Balance went out the door once I found the MBT's. They don't give them away but worth every penny to me.

There are stores called "Good Feet", I think, poping up in malls. DH went there after his PF diagnosis, was fitted with shoe inserts like an orthotic. They carry a whole line of different sizes, and the one we went to in Ca. seemed very knowledgeble at knowing what they were doing. /that was 7 or 8 years ago, and coupled with good SAS shoes, he is cured. It was $130 well spent, and now he uses what you can purchase at the pharmacy.

Hi
Maybe you will get many answers from people who want you to buy their favorite kind of shoes but believe me good shoes for one individual are bad for the other. I have plantar fasciitis and I have been through a long journey looking for a good shoe. A good shoe for one is not good for the other. An expensive shoe is not necessarily good for heel pain.
You should find your kind of shoe, one that feels comfortable and give you support. If you like the Earth Spirit so you should try to find a shoe with the same characteristics. It depends on many factors such as wide or narrow foot, high or low arch, your favorite kind of sport etc. You should try to use good cushioning shoe which has motion control and is not flexible in the middle. There is a good website that I use to take a look at from time to time. Many good ideas that I took from there -
http://plantar-fasciitis-elrofeet.com/plantar_fasciitis_shoes.html
Take care & Good luck

Here is a link that might be useful: Plantar fasciitis shoes

I put Dr. Scholl'sî Adjustable Arch Pain Relief Orthotics with the stiffest insert into athletic shoes. Because the orthotic adds height, I have to buy a wider shoe. I never, ever go barefoot which I miss terribly, but if it keeps the pain at bay, it's a small price to pay.

Renee, I had this for a year, and am now pain free. I read up on it, mostly on line and did everything I thought made sense. I don't go barefooted ever, which I ALWAYS did, I don't wear flip flops, which killed me to give them all away. I remember how much that hurt, and after a year of this, and some stretching exercises I found on line, I'm pain free and I appreciate it so much!!

My DH had this problem after having toe surgery. (He had "turf toe" from too much tennis as a young man.) We found a really good PT who massaged his feet, stretching the tissue. This was twice a week for several weeks. She AND the foot surgeon told him to throw out his orthotics. Neither of them held podiatry in high regard.

The 'whole body massage' sounds great, but DH didn't need that to feel 100% in a short time. Our PT said it was a matter of stretching the fascia. I'd think any massage therapist could do just your feet. Worth a try!

Chisue, I noticed a great improvement even after one visit to the masseuse.

I think Vannie is right about no bare feet. Maybe a little on carpet, but otherwise no. I even stood on a soft washcloth in the shower because the surface is so hard there and it hurt more. It's a long and painful condition. I stretch my feet often because I never want it again.

socks -- Well, *I* think we should all have regular massages! Preferably in a cabana on a beachfront on Maui, with a soft Trade Wind blowing. Oh, and music, of course! And a mai tai close to hand. While *somebody else* prepares dinner!

New Balance.

Linda

chisue - I know that would make MY feet (and everything else) feel better!!! LOL

I agree about finding a new foot doctor. I have a friend with this problem and she had custom orthotics made that made a huge difference.

I have arthritis in one of my feet and I also have to wear orthotics. I discovered Drew Sandals that have a removeable footbed. I can slip my orthotics under the footbed. It's so nice to be able to wear orthotics with sandals. They are very comfortable and would be very supportive even if you don't need orthotics.

I bought 4 pairs on the internet.

Linda's right--New Balance is the only kind of tennis shoe I wear. I usually (if I'm awake enough) slip them on before going to the bathroom. That pain is so awful it really got my attention, and if never going barefoot helps, then that's what I'll do, but I sure miss it.

Sorry I did not read all of the replies, but wanted to share my experience with planter. I went to my bone doctor with this and he said he had it in both feet. He recommended Merrills (mesh slides) shoes. He told me he would not be working on concrete floors if it were not for those shoes and shooting up occasionally. LOL I bought a pair and they do help but what helped the most was the shot in my heel. It has not hurt since I received the injection and it's been at least 3 years. He said it would probably last the rest of my life. The shot did not work in my knee but has been a miracle on my heel. You can buy these shoes at Dillards and some of the specialty shoes stores. The last time I saw him he told me I could get the shoes in colors online at Herringtons. I posted the URL below and the shoes he recommended are the mesh air slides. Those are made differently than the rest of the Merrills. I bought lilac, the green shown in the photo, lite blue and the Palamino at 20% off but that was a long time ago. They are all I wear. I think walking on concrete at the mall is what caused my planter.

Here is a link that might be useful: Merrills

Both feet here, and I wear New Balance walking shoes number 576 for everything but work. For work I wear Easy Spirit comfort soles, with a 1 1/2" heel.
Couldn't be without them.

Thank you everyone again for the opinions on different shoes for PF. I'm excited now knowing that there is something out there to help me. I forgot to mention before that I even tried the gel inserts from Schols and that didn't help at all. Hopefully this week/weekend I'll be able to spend all day shoe shopping and trying on the different ones mentioned here.

Vala, great informative post on the shot in your heal. It's a cortizone shot, right? I'd like to check out those Merrills too.

You all are a great group! I asked for advice and that exactly what I got! Thanks again!

As everyone says, what helps is different for each of us! When you do go to try on shoes, try to walk on them in the store as much as you can, especially on a hard surface. I just bought two pairs of Keen's and the one I thought felt best in the store gives me more pain now that I've brought them home and walked around outside in them. :( Merrils don't work at all for me, no Clarks. But Echo's seem to help. I guess it's all in the arch support (in each individual's feet,) as well as the heel height. Good luck!

yes it was cortizone. I really don't know the percentage of help from the shoes and from the shot, but I love the shoes anyway. I can walk in them and I mean really walk, 3 or 4 miles. I wear them all the time except reclining in my chair or in bed. I had to replace the inserts, but thought I would try store bought ones before I order originals from Herringtons. They feel fine now.