Dealing with plantar fasciitis?

I’m dealing with these bouts of intense heel pain that most frequently strike after I’ve been stationary for a while—it's been about four months now. Curiously, once I take about ten steps, the pain starts to subside, which led my doctor to suggest I get a proper diagnosis for this. I’m 27 years old, I don't play any sports, and my job isn't one of those grueling roles where you're standing all day. My primary care physician handed me a referral to an orthopedic specialist, claiming this might be linked to a surgery I had on my right ankle over twenty-one years ago. The clinical note reads "contusio articulationis talocruralis et pedis"

What am I actually looking at here—custom orthopedic inserts, or perhaps an endless cycle of physical therapy and other treatments?

Has anyone here actually gone through shockwave therapy? I’ve just finished my second session, and honestly—holy crap, it hurts. Like, seriously painful. After the first round, I was fine—could walk around, get through my workday, no biggie. But now? After dealing with that initial soreness and then jumping straight into the second treatment... man, I barely made it through the session itself. Right now, I can hardly even stand up. Has anyone else dealt with this? Look, I can handle a lot of things, I really can, but I’m dying to know if this level of misery is totally normal or if I should be worried about what comes next. To make matters worse, I’ve got another appointment scheduled for next week. Any advice? Thanks in advance, guys. Peace!

Can anyone recommend some decent shoes for someone dealing with plantar fasciitis?
My right foot is absolutely killing me lately. I’ve realized I really need something with a bit of a heel lift to help out—basically looking for indoor/work footwear like clogs that have that extra support and closed toes. Any suggestions?

Linda Ward312 said:Can anyone recommend some decent shoes for someone dealing with plantar fasciitis?
My right foot is absolutely killing me lately. I’ve realized I really need something with a bit of a heel lift to help out—basically looking for indoor/work footwear like clogs that have that extra support and closed toes. Any suggestions?

Personally, whenever I try wearing thin-soled sneakers, my entire feet just start aching 😢 my ankles, my joints, my heels... honestly, I can't even tell
if it's officially plantar fasciitis or something else because the whole foot just throbs and burns, though I have had those sharp pains in my heels from time to time too. -.-

When I wear these, I don't feel any pain at all, so maybe give something similar a shot..

https://images-eu.ssl-images.amazon....DL._UX395_.jpg

They have that extra lift in the heel, so you don't feel the concrete beneath you.. I could walk in these all day without feeling a thing.

Is there anyone else out there who finds it impossible to wear flat sneakers? 🤔 It seems like everyone walking around town is rocking them, which clearly means they have perfectly
healthy feet, lucky them.. I only wear those types when I know I won't be doing much walking.
For the last two years, those thin soles have been absolutely murdering my feet -.- it's almost as if my feet are allergic to anything flat; the pressure builds up immediately and then turns into actual pain. 🙂

It feels like I'm destined to wear nothing but models like these for the rest of my life:

http://www.reebok.com/dwstatic/sits_...=2000&sfrm=jpg 😁

Do I really need to see an orthopedist even if I don't feel any discomfort while wearing these? 🤔
Or could it be related to my diet? I mean, back when I was 26, I could get away with wearing any kind of sneaker under the sun, but now that I'm 31...

silentpilot17 said:Has anyone here actually gone through shockwave therapy? I’ve just finished my second session, and honestly—holy crap, it hurts. Like, seriously painful. After the first round, I was fine—could walk around, get through my workday, no biggie. But now? After dealing with that initial soreness and then jumping straight into the second treatment... man, I barely made it through the session itself. Right now, I can hardly even stand up. Has anyone else dealt with this? Look, I can handle a lot of things, I really can, but I’m dying to know if this level of misery is totally normal or if I should be worried about what comes next. To make matters worse, I’ve got another appointment scheduled for next week. Any advice? Thanks in advance, guys. Peace!

Hey. I'm dealing with a splinter in my heel too. Did the shockwave therapy actually help you? Did the pain subside? How are you feeling now? Did you go to a private clinic for the treatment? Cheers.

Plantar fasciitis isn't quite the same thing as a heel spur!
While you might have a spur alongside it, they aren't necessarily linked.
I deal with plantar fasciitis myself, yet I don't have any spurs. Honestly, sometimes it feels like my plantar fascia is just going to explode from all the tension and intense pain.
If you're looking for some solid info, check out this article:
PLANTAR FASCITIS -- shared by UC Mini

For me, wearing a night splint was a total game-changer—it actually helped more than the exercises did.
That said, I still make sure to do the stretches.
Whenever the pain flares up again, I’ll wear the splint for a few nights and feel much better.

The only time I felt zero pain was when I was taking Medtronic. Once I stopped, the discomfort came right back.
Of course, nobody is crazy enough to rely solely on Medtronic just to manage plantar fasciitis.

Nicholas Davis4 said:Plantar fasciitis isn't quite the same thing as a heel spur!
While you might have a spur alongside it, they aren't necessarily linked.
I deal with plantar fasciitis myself, yet I don't have any spurs. Honestly, sometimes it feels like my plantar fascia is just going to explode from all the tension and intense pain.
If you're looking for some solid info, check out this article:
PLANTAR FASCITIS -- shared by UC Mini

For me, wearing a night splint was a total game-changer—it actually helped more than the exercises did.
That said, I still make sure to do the stretches.
Whenever the pain flares up again, I’ll wear the splint for a few nights and feel much better.

The only time I felt zero pain was when I was taking Medtronic. Once I stopped, the discomfort came right back.
Of course, nobody is crazy enough to rely solely on Medtronic just to manage plantar fasciitis.

Sophia is totally hitting the nail on the head... most people with PF don't even have heel spurs. I've been struggling with this for about 6 months now. The real kicker is that I run recreationally, so just when things start settling down, I go out for a run and—bam—PF is right back there...

Sophia, where did you pick up that splint and how much did it run you? And hey, if you happen to be in New York City, any chance you could recommend a good orthopedist? I've seen three different specialists already and they all have completely different opinions and diagnoses, and honestly, none of them have actually helped... :/

Has anyone here picked this up yet? I'd love to hear some firsthand experiences before I pull the trigger.

https://hanksome.com/product/relaxing-toe-massager-2-pack/

mellowskipper52 said:Sophia is totally hitting the nail on the head... most people with PF don't even have heel spurs. I've been struggling with this for about 6 months now. The real kicker is that I run recreationally, so just when things start settling down, I go out for a run and—bam—PF is right back there...

Sophia, where did you pick up that splint and how much did it run you? And hey, if you happen to be in New York City, any chance you could recommend a good orthopedist? I've seen three different specialists already and they all have completely different opinions and diagnoses, and honestly, none of them have actually helped... :/

Better late than never, I suppose—I’m about a year behind on my reply! 🙂 ) 🙂 😁
Well, maybe this will be helpful to someone out there.

I ended up wearing just a standard, heavy plaster cast. They fitted me for it at the orthopedic clinic the very same day I saw my specialist—who, by the way, actually moved to Ireland recently. His name was Goran Bićanić, and now that I need follow-up treatment, I’m feeling a bit lost on where to go next. I might be a little obsessive, but I’ve decided to take a more academic approach this time. Instead of just bouncing between specialists like a pinball—which usually results in zero progress and a lot of wasted time—I’m going to dive into PubMed and Google Scholar first. I want to see who has actually published serious research on my specific condition before I even think about booking an appointment. It feels much better to find a true expert through their work rather than just picking someone at random. 😁 )
It’s essentially like a cot.
Goodness, what a mess... I honestly thought I was going to end up breaking my other ankle. If my memory serves me right, it’s been about nine weeks now, and I've gone from one leg to the other. They wrapped it up in a compression bandage to keep everything steady, but it felt so stifling and itchy that I couldn't stand it. I ended up grabbing some medical tape from the drugstore and cut it myself to secure the splint in three different spots instead. 😁 That was quite an enjoyable experience for me.
I was feeling a bit short-changed back then... honestly, I felt like I got a bit ripped off by them. I ended up having to head to a local orthopedic clinic just to pick up a brace for my PF, which was right around the corner in 2015. $267It’s basically a mix of plastic bits, fabric, and Velcro.
It’s tough when you're tossing and turning all night like a spinning top, especially since this cast feels like a heavy weight I can barely carry. To give some context, she wears it overnight to keep her plantar fascia from tightening up while sleeping; essentially, it keeps the tissue in a stretched position. I've found that wearing it for a few hours in the evening helps too—kind of like how you might stretch after a long day at the office. If I lounge on the couch to read or watch TV, I'll put it on then, which offers some relief even if it isn't quite as effective as wearing it through the night.
Whenever I’m feeling under the weather, I find it helpful to wear it overnight for a few days, then switch to wearing it for just a few hours in the evening. It’s a bit like walking on eggshells, though—you have to be extra careful when you're moving around so you don't accidentally crush it.

I truly hope this proves helpful to someone out there.

These night splints for PF look just like this (mine was made of plaster, but I added my own Velcro straps myself, which I mentioned earlier).
It cost a bit less than $233, and there’s a similar, though arguably lower-quality version available here in the States...
I don't want to turn this thread into an ad, but I did see a listing for one for $69 locally, and honestly, I wouldn't touch it.
The ones in the photos are about $30; I imagine there's a way to order something like this without getting hit by insane shipping fees.
Alternatively, you could just have an orthotics clinic make a custom plaster cast for you.
To find a specialist... try searching "plantar fasciitis" on the Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins websites to see which doctors pop up.
(Unfortunately, even though I haven't done a deep dive yet, it seems like many specialists have moved into private practice... I usually stick to major university hospitals, so I'll need to dig through those medical articles to find someone who specializes in this.)

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I’m personally considering trying out kinesiology tape—though I’m curious to see how my orthopedic surgeon reacts when we finally meet (my physical therapist just gave me a skeptical look when I brought it up...).
Another thing on my mind is the best way to wear this night splint for PF.