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plantar fasciitis- is it permanent since it involves the foot? accelerate healing?

was always a couch potato and recently within the last few years ive combated this in order to lose weight and be more active. i wanted to take up running, and it was going great, then i noticed pain on my left foot

I never had a problem that recurs for a long time before. Ive had this for over a month so far, first talked to my gp a week after i noticed it and was recommended paracetamol and stretching exercises. going past a month, i talked to a different gp, and they recommended the same thing.

At this point, i got the feeling im just a moaner, and i need to acknowledge that it is a long healing process. But then i worry about some people who say they have had issues over the span of years. since my problem involves a part of my body that is constantly in use (i.e. walk to lectures, walk to tescos, walk to bathroom, socialising etc), i worry about it never getting resolved.

i have to get off my feet as much as possible for it to heal better, but since i am at uni, i feel like im being hindered by this.

Are there anyways i can accelerate the healing process? for example i saw this:
http://www.completecareshop.co.uk/physiotherapy-aids/plantar-fasciitis-supports/3pp-plantar-faciitis-lift-large-xl-view-large/?gclid=COOol-_Im7wCFVDLtAodkyEA1A

but it seems quite expensive. can i really do something to heal faster?
Original post by 00100101
was always a couch potato and recently within the last few years ive combated this in order to lose weight and be more active. i wanted to take up running, and it was going great, then i noticed pain on my left foot

I never had a problem that recurs for a long time before. Ive had this for over a month so far, first talked to my gp a week after i noticed it and was recommended paracetamol and stretching exercises. going past a month, i talked to a different gp, and they recommended the same thing.

At this point, i got the feeling im just a moaner, and i need to acknowledge that it is a long healing process. But then i worry about some people who say they have had issues over the span of years. since my problem involves a part of my body that is constantly in use (i.e. walk to lectures, walk to tescos, walk to bathroom, socialising etc), i worry about it never getting resolved.

i have to get off my feet as much as possible for it to heal better, but since i am at uni, i feel like im being hindered by this.

Are there anyways i can accelerate the healing process? for example i saw this:
http://www.completecareshop.co.uk/physiotherapy-aids/plantar-fasciitis-supports/3pp-plantar-faciitis-lift-large-xl-view-large/?gclid=COOol-_Im7wCFVDLtAodkyEA1A

but it seems quite expensive. can i really do something to heal faster?


I had it in my right foot and it has taken about 18 months to heal. I still get the odd twinge now and then but at one point I could barely walk first thing in the morning. I have some support socks that I wore at night and I got some inserts to put into my shoes to support my arches. It can be a long process because, like you say, you can't really stay off your feet.


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Reply 2
Original post by myblueheaven339
I had it in my right foot and it has taken about 18 months to heal. I still get the odd twinge now and then but at one point I could barely walk first thing in the morning. I have some support socks that I wore at night and I got some inserts to put into my shoes to support my arches. It can be a long process because, like you say, you can't really stay off your feet.


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Thats what i heard from other people too. that even though the main problem has been resolved (after a long time), they still get the odd twinge here and there... it sounds like a scar, something that never goes away :frown:

how active were you during those 18 months?

it feels like im being punished for trying to not be a lazy sod all my life and trying to get out and be fitter :frown:
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by 00100101
Thats what i heard from other people too. that even though the main problem has been resolved (after a long time), they still get the odd twinge here and there... it sounds like a scar, something that never goes away :frown:

how active were you during those 18 months?

it feels like im being punished for trying to not be a lazy sod all my life and trying to get out and be fitter :frown:


I had to give up running as it was too painful, so I bought a bike and went swimming instead. I swam 2-3 times a week and went out on my bike at least once a week. I am on my feet all day at work though so I really struggled to heal.

I plan to start running again soon though, once the evenings get a little longer. I am going to start walking the 2 mile track round the golf course and start alternating running and walking and build up from there.

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(edited 10 years ago)
Reply 4
Original post by myblueheaven339
I had to give up running as it was too painful, so I bought a bike and went swimming instead. I swam 2-3 times a week and went out on my bike at least once a week. I am on my feet all day at work though so I really struggled to heal.

I plan to start running again soon though, once the evenings get a little longer. I am going to start walking the 2 mile track round the golf course and start alternating running and walking and build up from there.

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I was wondering if you can help clarify some exercises my gp recommended?

with the pic above, im not sure i understand what they mean by raise the arch. is this basically just going on your tip toe?



with this pic, just to clarify, you are on the floor, with your injured foot stretched out. you are facing (looking) at the door. you tie some tubing around your food and the (shut) door. you move back, stretching the tubing.

if this is correct, why is does it give a picture of the tubing being tied around the leg, leading toward the person? shouldnt it be leading in the opposite direction (from foot going in the left direction)?

my foot felt fine before hand, but doing the exercises, i can now feel a little aching when i rotate my foot upward (its fine in the normal position)
Original post by 00100101
I was wondering if you can help clarify some exercises my gp recommended?

with the pic above, im not sure i understand what they mean by raise the arch. is this basically just going on your tip toe?



with this pic, just to clarify, you are on the floor, with your injured foot stretched out. you are facing (looking) at the door. you tie some tubing around your food and the (shut) door. you move back, stretching the tubing.

if this is correct, why is does it give a picture of the tubing being tied around the leg, leading toward the person? shouldnt it be leading in the opposite direction (from foot going in the left direction)?

my foot felt fine before hand, but doing the exercises, i can now feel a little aching when i rotate my foot upward (its fine in the normal position)


In all honesty I've never used those exercises! I used to just roll my foot over a golf ball! It was painful but in a really satisfying way!


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Reply 6
Original post by myblueheaven339
In all honesty I've never used those exercises! I used to just roll my foot over a golf ball! It was painful but in a really satisfying way!


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Did it cure you? Mine has got progressively worse and I was unable to walk for a few days. I can't jog for more than a few minutes. I heard a strassburg sock can help.
I work in the podiatry department of an NHS trust. My advice would be to get yourself referred to the podiatry service. GPs can only do so much but a biomechanic podiatrist will be able to look into arch supports and other orthotics as well as podiatric surgery if the pain hasn't eased in a year or so.

To be referred you'd need your GP to send your details to the podiatry department or, if they won't, you can self-refer (to the Trust I work in anyway) but this is not the recommended route. In my Trust you'd probably have to go to a talk with a number of other PF sufferers and then decide on a course of action afterward.

Good luck!
Reply 8
Original post by Norfolkadam
I work in the podiatry department of an NHS trust. My advice would be to get yourself referred to the podiatry service. GPs can only do so much but a biomechanic podiatrist will be able to look into arch supports and other orthotics as well as podiatric surgery if the pain hasn't eased in a year or so.

To be referred you'd need your GP to send your details to the podiatry department or, if they won't, you can self-refer (to the Trust I work in anyway) but this is not the recommended route. In my Trust you'd probably have to go to a talk with a number of other PF sufferers and then decide on a course of action afterward.

Good luck!


Ah I'm sick of bungling NHS staff (no offence). The GP treated me as a time waster, (probably because I'm under the age of 60) threw painkillers at me and sent me out the door, I won't be in the country long enough to get through the ridiculous waiting list. Besides, from what I've read the podiatrists don't appear to be too well informed. I can't afford private treatment so my only option is to find a solution myself.
Original post by Jebedee
Ah I'm sick of bungling NHS staff (no offence). The GP treated me as a time waster, (probably because I'm under the age of 60) threw painkillers at me and sent me out the door, I won't be in the country long enough to get through the ridiculous waiting list. Besides, from what I've read the podiatrists don't appear to be too well informed. I can't afford private treatment so my only option is to find a solution myself.


If you keep bugging the GP about it, they'll refer you, especially if the painkillers aren't doing anything to assist you. Although, I have just spotted something on NHS choices about being able to go to a podiatrist without a referral, so that might be worth knowing - http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/foothealth/Pages/Foot-problems-podiatrist.aspx

If you do go down the referral route though, so long as you're on a waiting list, you're going somewhere. I managed to get an appointment within 6 weeks (including Christmas), although it would of course vary from place to place (I live in London, so it may be a shorter wait for services elsewhere) and the severity of the injury itself/how long you've had it for.

It's the re-referral process which is an absolute nightmare, GP referred me in early February and I haven't heard a single thing...
Original post by Jebedee
Did it cure you? Mine has got progressively worse and I was unable to walk for a few days. I can't jog for more than a few minutes. I heard a strassburg sock can help.


No, just temporary relief. My pf took about 18 months to heal. I wore supports during that time and special socks at night meant to help.


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Original post by myblueheaven339
No, just temporary relief. My pf took about 18 months to heal. I wore supports during that time and special socks at night meant to help.


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Were you able to run at all in that time? I have some sport events coming up in the next few months and I'd rather cut off my feet and get some pistorius flippers than back out of my obligations.

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Original post by Jebedee
Were you able to run at all in that time? I have some sport events coming up in the next few months and I'd rather cut off my feet and get some pistorius flippers than back out of my obligations.

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I didn't run in that time and have run very little since. I took up cycling which I much prefer but am looking to start running again when my sprain is healed. If I were you I would take a look on forums dedicated to running to see what other people have done.

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