My son has it. Actually, I was told I have it too, and I had trouble for a while, but it's been better lately. There are exercises and stretches you can do that will help, if that's what you've got. You shouldn't need painkillers if you do the stretches-we don't anyway.

I stretch my heels a lot,it does help! I stretch my feet in bed, when I first get up and last thing at night. This morning isn't too bad. The left foot feels fine, only the right hurts. I just came back from shopping for milk and cereal. It's rainy and cold, my feet are wet.

That's why it hurts more in the mornings, because it needs to be stretched out. Keep doing that.

I have one and went to physical therapy for it, and haven't had a problem since. That was three years ago, they stretched it alot and worked on my calf. I felt relief after a few days.

Doreen

Go to a good, WOMAN podiatrist. And don't wait--the condition can get worse and worse. By the time I was able to get an appointment, when I was first diagnosed, I was practically unable to walk at all for the pain, and had to be on medication (that was REALLY hard on my stomach) for 6 weeks. The exercises help a great deal. And do follow your podiatrist's recommendations as to shoes. Mine recommended a few brands that she felt would be good for both the PF/heel spurs AND the individual configuration of my feet. And woman podiatrists understand about women and fashion--her recommendations weren't ugly orthopedic shoes at all--but stylish trendy ones. I lucked out last weekend, fought off the hordes at Boscov's and picked up a couple extra pairs of my favorite brand. There's no point in me recommending the specific brand to you, because your feet may be different than mine, and your dr. may have a better choice for you. If your podiatrist writes her footware recommendations on a prescription pad, you'll be able to take the cost of the shoes off on your taxes, as a medical expense.

Please--go, get a diagnosis, and get started with treatment as soon as possible. There's no point in being in pain, if you don't need to. After that one, intense episode, I've been more or less fine. If I feel things tightening up, and starting to get painful, I go back to doing the exercises and in just a day or two, get relief--and have never had a repeat of the extreme case I started with.

Good luck, hope you feel better soon.

I had an attack of gout about 2 years ago, that was much more painful. Thanks for the info, Azzalea. IWill find a good podiatrist.

I've had that too, and it took months to go away. The thing that helped me was two trips to a massage therapist. Like Dorio above. I stretch my feet a lot now, usually in bed before I get up. I never felt the need to take pain pills because then I won't know if I'm getting better.

You can also roll your foot on a bottle or a tennis ball to soften the area.

I had it a few years ago and it lasted seven years. I opted not to have surgery because I found out the scar tissue was as bad as the problem itself. I had it in both feet and my doctor told me I had one of the worse cases he had ever see. I think that was because of the kind of work I did. I had to climb on ladders several times a day that had rungs made from metal bars. They were like a piece of rebar. That was such agony.

I know someone who had it for a week and someone who had it about two weeks. I hope yours doesn't last long.

Linda

I was diagnosed with the PF years ago when I worked in a food sore ans spent lots of tome on hard floors.

Me female podiatrist had me do the exercises and also was on an anti inflamatory prescription for a bit. I also had to buy a certain kind of shoe and purchase inserts to wear in them.

Since I no longer stand all day, I can do with out the inserts and wear just the shoe she suggested.

Keep doing the stretches and always wear shoes, even in the house. They help prevent your instep/arch from stretching too much.

I had heel spurs - tried everything.
My doctor suggested cortisone injections in both heels.
I agreed!!!! Didn't work instantly (maybe 1 week).
This was about 10 years ago and (knock wood) - never returned. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again should they return!!

You might want to get checked for hypothyroidism. PF is VERY common in people with thyroid disease. I have more of a problem with Achilles Tendonitis (pain the the back of the heel) - when it flares up it means I am in need of a raise in my thyroid meds. Raise my meds and the pain goes away.

Mine kicks up when I start taking walks, darn it all. For me, it's the hard cement or any hard floor that I may walk on regularly for an extended period of time. I too use a certain shoe which makes it bearable. That's interesting about the tie-in to hypothyroidism, Lidia.

Oh yes, I have had that. The best thing you can do is the stretching exercises before you get out of bed. I wore a brace at night that I got at CVS. Never, ever, go barefooted and wear shoes w/ a good support. I gave all my flip flops away (my BFF loved that). I even put shoes on to go to the BR during the night. I wear New Balance almost all the time. One time I forgot to change and ended up at a funeral w/ my "tennies" on. Embarrassed my sister!! Google that and you'll find a lot of info. Just remember, stretch, and no barefeet.

I have had it for about 7 yrs. Its not so bad now it comes & goes. My Dr. made me orthotics about a yr ago. Before that I was using super feet which helped.
Stretch before getting out of bed, I take Ibuprofen when I have pain, or ice your heels. Its a ongoing thing.
Hope it gets better for you, its not fun.

I've had it twice and lasted several months....can't remember how long now...has been about 10 years ago since it last bothered me. I just wore shoes with thick soles and good support. Friend has surgery and his came back. I didn't have insurance, so just got along as best I could. I also couldn't walk barefoot at all. But, with good shoes, it was bearable and eventually went away.

My story is similar to others here, I had it and suffered with it for a long while, a few years. The type of pain that after walking for a time, then sitting down (as to eat) I almost went to my knees from the pain when I stood up again.

The thing that finally seemed to heal it was when I had a job that required that I go up and down a set or two of stairs several times a day. It kept getting better until it finally went away, that was over 5 years ago.

I had it, too and I remember posting about it here and asking if anyone ever got over it! It took about 18 months but mine is pretty much gone now. I had a bad, bad case and thought I would end up crippled at one point.

I recommend "Heel that pain" inserts. Now there are lots of foot pads and inserts out there, but "heel that pain" are designed for PF sufferers. Within 72 hours, I was able to walk again - and that was a big deal. Within two weeks, I was back to normal.

I had tried $150 shoes and special orthotics and everything else, but these little $25 inserts (from amazon.com) gave me back my life. Really and truly.

You need to wear a really good walking shoe with a hard back. Also they should not be easy to bend. New Balance is good for this. I have been through this and the shoes with stretching exercises really help.

These are the insoles the Dr. prescribed. There is also a little pad for extra support http://www.healthyfeetstore.com/powerstep-arch-support.html

I use them both. A litte pricy but well worth the price.

Here is a link that might be useful: Arch support

Also try resting as often as possible, that helped
Me when I had it. and it seem to have went away on it's own.
I hope You find a remedy.
Olga,

I use to have them off and on really bad when I worked standing on hard floors,but "knock on wood" haven't had them since I retired.I agree,they are very painful,but the exercises really help a lot...but I remember that "ouch" when my feet hit the floor in the mornings.
Hope yours goes away soon.

Yes I do I was wondering if it was from too much calcium...I bought shoe insoles from dr.scholls just for this can get them in grocers or drug store,helped alot.I was wondering how you were doing.

I am having heel surgery January 6th for what my two dr's call a pump bump AKA a long medical word. They say it is from wearing too tight of shoes which I do not:( It is not at the bottom of my heel, it is a large bump right on the back and hurts like hell and I can only wear flip flops and teenies right now. The dr says most ladies it does not bother them, but it kills me. He will cut my heel open sliced down the bone deformity that is there~~I will be totally off my feet on crutches for 3-4 weeks then about 5 more weeks off work after that:( POOH!!

I've had PF off and on for 24 years. At its worst, it kept me from walking much at all, but for years, I've controlled it with a combination of stretching, ice, arch supports and (as so many others said) never, ever going shoeless.

I did have cortisone shots once, and they helped for months, but then the pain came back.

Good luck.

I have chronic Achilles Tendinitis which is treated in much the same way. The best thing I can tell you is to wear a night splint while you're sleeping, or better yet, anytime you're off your feet. I bought one at footsmart.com.

Here is a link that might be useful: night splint

I've had plantar fasciatis several times. Once it lasted a whole year. I did the stretches, rolled my feet over a tennis ball regularly, also did frozen water in a coke bottle...I tried everything and I will tell you that I found the most successful thing for me and as soon as I feel it coming on (just had a recent bout) I start wearing heals...not real high...about 1 1/2". I put them on as soon as I get up in the morning (even if I still have my p.j.'s on) and wear them until I go to bed at night. I feel like Donna Reed vacuuming in heels. but within a couple of weeks I'm fine. It takes the pressure off your heel and stretches the arch at the same time. Also, Dr. Scholls gels are fantastic. They're only about $10.00 at Walmart or Target. Good Luck...I know how painful it is.

I have had PF for 20 years.

Get supports if you can,stretch your feet properly,and wear proper shoes--you'll be ok

See, this is why I suggested getting good recommendations from a really good, female dr. My case was quite severe, but she was able to recommend FASHIONABLE shoes for me that took care of the problem--WITHOUT needing inserts, orthotics, etc. Sounds like a lot of people on this thread are spending a lot of 'stuff' to put in their shoes. The right dr. will make all the difference in the world, and will probably be less expensive in the long run than trying to handle this yourself, with OTC remedies (some of the gizmos that are being sold for PF are QUITE expensive), and certainly less expensive than going to the wrong dr.--some of them are big on selling/recommending expensive stuff, too.

It is a painful condition, that you want to treat as quickly as possible, and that you want to prevent getting a good hold on you again, certainly. I wish everyone on this thread who suffers from PF finds the relief I have. Good luck.

I developed PF last year. It took several months to get rid of it. One thing I did was to not wear flats anymore except for very brief periods. I did buy inserts & that helped a lot. Also stretching first thing in the morning helps. I find that now it tends to flare up if I do a lot of walking or standing on something like concrete. I have very high arches & have read that that contributes to the problem.

I find walking on hard floors or even standing in the hard floored shower make it worse. I always walked in shoes, slippers, or on carpet. In the shower, I had a soft rag cushioning that foot.

I had a heel spur 20 yrs ago. I injured my tendon at a picnic. In a softball game, I made a hit and ran to 1st base. By the time I got to 1st base, I was a cripple. I hadon my office shoes.

The condition continued for a couple of weeks without any improvement - Went to the doctor. Xrays of my heels clearly showed the problem - heel spurs. My doctor said it could be dug out by surgery but he did not recommend it because the cure was a bad as the malady. My spurs were calcium deposits that were agitating the achliies tendon - trying to punch through it. My cure was effected by a change in diet, some weight loss, and changing shoes. I have been wearing shoe-boots with side zips. Those looked good, but had a slight heel elevation. I changed to a shoe with soft crepe heals and my problems were over.