Plantars Faciitis??

Hi Lisa,
I've not had that condition myself, but a friend of mine did and he took Isontonix OPC-3 (a POWERFUL Antioxidant)and Aloe Vera Juice (anti-fungal/anti-viral) from Market America and it went away, he was amazed at the results! I sent him this so he could contact you with an e-mail to explain his experience, his name is Chuck (I know he's not a Mom, but he is the only one I know of who has had this condition). He said the pain is gone and his feet are back to normal again! He has a web portal (just like me) for buying market america products that you can go to for information: www.marketamerica.com/jendiehl (that's mine)to read more, or go to: marketamericascience.com for scientific studies & info.
Thanks,
J.
###-###-####

I haven't had it but my husband has. If you go to an orthopedic doctor they can give you an anti-inflamatory and stretches to do. It will get better.

I have that same problem as we speak!! I have go to the podiatrist for this in the past and he suggested some simple exercises for me... When in the Shower, stand with your feet in the middle of the tub,shower,whatever. Whichever foot it is, take the other foot and place it like you are doing a lunge... hands on the showerwall and lean into the wall stretching the muscles in your foot. It kills but it works!!! Meijer has a machine back by the pharmacy that you can get a reading of the pressure points in your feet and they recommend certain types of orthodics that they sell right by the displayer. Or... you could go to a foot doc and he would be willing,most likely, to sell you a pair of orthodics for about $350.00. Gazelle sports in GR and Holland can recommend to you a insert also that will run you about 60-80 dollars. HTH!!

Yes! I've been dealing with it for about a year now and I allowed it to get very bad. Don't delay! I suggest you get a good physical therapist that specializes in this problem(it took me a while to find one). Also, be prepared to spend some money on good shoes and orthotics, but make sure you do your homework on the orthotics types before you order them. It can get better if you do these things. I was a pretty bad case and the pediatrist wanted me to do surgery, but I'm happy to say that I won't have to go that route.
C.

Hi Lisa,
I also have Plantars facitis. It is so annoying. What I have found REALLY helps me is before I get out of bed in the am or if I have been sitting for a long time is to stretch. You take a hand towel, roll it up, place it on the ball of your foot and gently pull toward you keeping your knee straight. You can also just flex your foot without the towel. It hurts a little at first and then you can feel it loosen up and it will feel so much better! You have to get that tendon loose to keep it from rubbing on your heel bone. Mine goes away for a few months and then comes back and I just do my stretching again. I sure hope this helps you. It works wonders for me!

plantar faciitis comes from shortening of the Achilles tendon on the back of your ankle. It is excruciating. A couple things help: use somthing round-baseball, tennis ball, even a frozen juice can, and roll the arch of your foot over it with some pressure. Wear flat shoes---heels make it worse. Toe touches help. If you sleep on your back, make sure blankets aren't pulling your toes into a pointed position.... some people even wear high top sneakers in bed to help hold their feet at right angles to their ankles. I just need to un-tuck the blanket. Most important.... get shoes with arch support and wear them all the time. You may have to spent $80 or so, but arch support that doesn't reach the arch of your foot is no support at all. Most shoes are made in China these days, and don't have the kind of support they used to have. Mine went away after a kind podiatrist told me to get different shoes. (I wear New Balance, but I stress, it is all about how your feet are shaped which brand is the best for you). If push comes to shove, there is surgery that helps (see a podiatrist) but I hope the other cures will get you there first. Good Luck. L. U.

My husband does stretching lunges, I rotate my ankles. I tried some arch supports and they did okay. When we went to DisneyWorld in early April I took my Skecher mules which have great arch support for me. I was in agony every morning, though, because they also have a very well-cushioned raised heel. I'd hobble around for a bit until my tendon stretched out and then I was fine for the day.
When I got back, I looked into Earth Shoes with a negative heel. Bought the Encounters, with a high back and nice heel support, but had horrendous blisters from the back (get a gel heel hugger if the back is high). Just got a pair of Missions (they're a mule) too which are fabulous. I'll be wearing these most days. Earth Shoes take some getting used to if you've been wearing heels - it feels real funny when you first take them off because your tendons aren't stretching as much.
I have also thought of getting a brace for night, but the pain isn't nearly so bad in the morning as before I started wearing Earth Shoes.

Hi Lisa, I have a friend that was having this problem and she started wearing Crocks all the time and she is convinced that is what took the problem away.

D.-SAHM of 4r old girl and 1 1/2yr old boy- I also do childcare from my home and I am a Independent Stampin up! Demo

I hear you loud and clear! My podiatrist wrapped my arches and ankles, but that made wearing shoes difficult! He said to ALWAYS wear shoes with arch support, heels a bit higher than toes. No more running around the house doing chores in your slippers! It took almost a year for the healing to be noticable, and I still have to be careful. Soaking in warm water helps alleviate the pain for awhile.

Have had it and it is indeed unpleasant. Hurt so bad I didn't even want to go shopping and that is really bad for me :)
The doctor told me to use a heel cup but that didn't really help. I also had an insert support made for my shoes but had a problem changing it from one pair of shoes to another. Then I bought a pair of Birkenstocks and have been wearing them ever since. They are expensive but there is a shoe store in Midland where you can have the soles replaced and the upper part of the sandals and shoes seem to wear forever. There are other good orthopedic shoes that can be bought in stores and online. I just happened to find this brand one day and have stuck to them since. Now I can wear other shoes at times but still come back to my original shoes for everyday wear.
M.

I have the same problem--I started wearing crocks and my feet never hurt! I can walk miles in them and they do not bother my feet at all!

As far as I've read, it's about too-tight tendons across the bottom of feet, which is why it tends to be horrible first thing in the morning. When my dad had it, what really helped (he'd tried all the usual theraputic stuff -- expensive inserts, anti-inflammatories, rest, ice, compression, special shoes, wearing shoes all the time) was stretching his feet several times a day, particularly before he got out of bed in the morning.

Just pull your toes toward your knees (probably initially, it will be enough to just use the muscles in your feet) while stretching your heels down. Do it before you get out of bed and several times throughout the day, particularly if you tend to wear heels. Who knows, it may go away really quickly.

I had this in both feet over a period of about 3 years, luckily not at the same time! For one heel, it seemed to go away after taking vitamins, losing weight and finding a good pair of shoes. It took about a year but it went away. The other heel was not so easy. After dozens of tapings, shots, expensive orthotics and physical therapy, I changed podiatrists. I told him that I had tried everything and since nothing was working, I wanted to have the surgery. He did it and I have not had any problems since. My regular dr had never heard of anyone to not have some sort of pain even after the surgery but I guess I lucked out. My podiatrist was great.

Lisa,
After I broke my foot and started walking on it I had that problem my orthopedic surgeon gave me a pamphlet on it which had some exercises it and it worked great. For the most part the pain from that is gone. one was to flex your toes back and forth try to make them more flexible. The other one was to take a towel and try to grab it with your toes and crunch it up. to add more resistant you can use your other foot to hold the towel down. There was one more exercise But I never did becouse it put to much pressure on the ball of my foot were it was broken and I can not remember what it is. Hope this helps.. M.

I have had this on and off for a few years. I actually went to a podiatrist for it because it got so bad a couple of years ago. He gave me a cortisone shot in the heel. It really helped but only for a while.

What I think really made a difference was wearing good walking shoes the majority of the time with arch support insoles. I use Powerstep insoles and they really work. I got mine at Gazelle Sports in Grand Rapids, but you can probably get them online. The other thing that I did every day during my "flare ups" is fill a 20 oz pop bottle with water and freeze it. Then several times a day, while sitting and doing something else, you can roll your arch and heel on the frozen bottle. It does hurt at first, but if you don't do it hard enough to hurt, it doesn't help. This reduces the swelling and helps loosen up the tendon. The stretching before getting out of bed also works. You can also stand on the edge of a step with your heels hanging off and push your heels down.

I only have pain once in a while now. I can tell when I've been wearing non-supportive shoes too much, but a couple days with the Powersteps and it feels better again.

I had to have orthotics made for my shoes which cost me about $350. You would need to see a foot doctor.

I got this during my first pregnancy. I had gained too much weight (oops!) and it was too much pressure on my feet. On top of having to losing the weight after my son was born, I can no longer wear shoes that don't have built in arches (ie. flip flops are out of the question). I also found that yoga was the best exercise - lots of stretching and keeping the surrounding muscles strong and flexible. Also, as unavoidable as it is, cold weather is my biggest trigger now. Good luck!

Yes. I know all too well! It hurts so bad especially in the morning and before bed, right??? Seek a Foot doctor (a Podiatrist). If its really bad I had to get cortizone shots in the foot. WOW!!!!!! What a relief. It stings for a second but man your pain free for like 6 months and yes you can get another shot only if you need it. I also got a very comfortable running \walking shoe with great cushion. You need that with plantar fasciatis. It doesn't help if you have old shoes. Also roll your foot back and forth on a can of soup or something that shape. That also relaxes the tendon that cramps up and causes that pain. Mine is all gone. Pain free. Good Luck to you

I also have plantars facitis. I started taking really good vitimans from Shacklee with good quality Omega 3 fatty acids and the pain is gone. This was a suggestion a nurse friend of mine had and it really worked and is not that expensive. You don't have to use shacklee but make sure they are a good quality Omega 3 fatty acid. good luck

My right foot started to hurt last year and went to a foot doctor, who gave me a shot, which made it hurt more, wrapped my foot in tape, which made my foot smell disgusting, and told me to see a physical therapist, which helped short-term. I still have pain if I wear a shoe without proper support. Icing helps, but heat helps more?!? Yeah, it's a confusing and frustrating pain that I just deal with...and not very well! Please let me know if you come across anything that helps relieve your pain.

Lisa,
I have Plantar Faciitis also, I have tried many things, but the biggest thing you need to have is very good arch supports in your shoes, don't get the real hard plastic ones the Dr. gives you. You can check at special medical supply stores. Getting cortizone shots helped also, but they don't last very long. Hope this helps.

Lisa,

I thought I had it but after going to physical therapy my problems stemmed from tight calfs and hamstrings. I use to get out of bed, put my feet down and shrek in pain. Once I started stretching and properly using my muscles I felt better. Now when my feet hurt, I know I need to stretch.

I recommend good shoes too!

Try stretching first and see what that does - however you really should see your doctor if it persists.

I do not have this, my FIL does. It can develop into spurs if not treated or if it gets overly severe.

One thing that triggers it: Shoes. The clog-type, sandels we women wear in the summer. The best shoe to have on is something that also includes a strap as you need the support (or something so your foot is not 'compensation' to keep itself in the shoe.

Reflexology and massage (focused massage) on the foot can GREATLY relieve the pain and help this go away without the use of cortisone shots and other medications.

Unfortunately, I was not certified for my FIL in time before he had to have a bone spur removed. However; many clients I have worked with dealing with PF have reported to me that they do have limited pain and it does last for a while so they are pleased they can walk without cramping feet! :)

Best of Luck!! (Definitely do check your shoes!)