Plantar Fasciitis and cute shoes - YouLookFab Forum

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Plantar Fasciitis and cute shoes

froggiebecky

Veteran

I've been battling with an aching foot for the past several months, and I finally went to the doctor over it. Turns out I've got plantar fasciitis. As I'm sure many of you know, the remedy is to stop doing things to make it hurt (running, jumping, etc), and wear shoes that are nice to your feet.

Mine was probably caused by several bad exercise habits, with a little biomechanics thrown in. I'm hoping it'll resolve itself for the most part with a good (permanent) stretching routine and switching out my running shoes for a bicycle. I'm happy to toss out the ballet flats, toms, and cheap sandals, but I'm not sure I can give up my pretty 'vogs. I don't wear them every day...but I'd like a 1-3x/week option.

Here's my question: for those of you that suffer from it, do you find that you can switch out your cushy soles for "regular" shoes every now and then, once the inflammation goes down? Or do you wear orthotic-friendly shoes all the time?

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16 replies

Latest reply was from Nebraskim

Mochi

Veteran

Hi. My plantar fasciitis, which I had never had before, flared up out of nowhere about two weeks before our trip to Italy this April. I was, as you can imagine, really concerned, because I tend to walk 6 or more miles a day when I'm traveling. It apparently wasn't too bad of a case, since I had caught it early on--I heard from the doc that if you don't take action fast, it becomes really entrenched. So the pain wasn't too bad, but I remember being very cautious during the trip and for some time afterwards. For the trip itself, I went to a specialized running shoe store. They cater to marathon runners, in fact. This was the doc's recommendation. The salesperson was very helpful with the info I gave him, and I ended up with a really comfortable running shoe that mostly kept me going during my trip. (He also sold me an orthopedic insert that was very good.) I think that I stuck with this shoe almost entirely for the first two months, but gradually started getting back to other shoes....definitely not heels for a long time, but Converse, low sandals, etc. Trying to minimize time in a shoe with less support.

Your case may be a lot worse, so it might not be comparable. It's only very recently that I even remembered I'd been dealing with PF. I suddenly thought, hey, I haven't had any pain in months! It went away on its own, and I've been wearing a low heel and doing tango and a lot of walking. I hope you also have an easy rehab.

Mochi

Veteran

PS: I can wear my 3" chunky-heeled vogs without any problems. Just give it some time!

Glory

Veteran

Ugh sorry to hear that you have PF. I would stay clear of all but the recommended shoe until you are totally clear of the symptoms because once entrenched it is a huge battle.
Don't toss the shoes - keep them for when you are fully recovered and then as you mentioned - wear once in a while
Good luck and speedy recovery

Diana

Veteran

Go try some 3/4 length orthotics. Superfeet black are the thinnest ones I've found so far, and I can get them into most of my shoes (not sandals, obviously, and not some very low vamp pairs, but all of my boots and most of my oxfords). They make a kind for high heels too. I will add though that I have very shallow feet so I have extr a room in the instep most of the time anyway. you can try a cheap foam cushioning insole (from the drug store) along with the super feet too - I put the foam under the orthotic so I can easily take the orthotics out and put them in different pairs.

When my pf flares up, I honestly keep wearing my regular shoes. I'm more careful to switch out shoes each day, and I wear my Naots more, but that's about it. Oh, and I try to avoid really flat shoes since that is what aggravates it, way more so than heels.

ETA: I guess, after reading some of the other posts here, that my PF is/was pretty mild. But for me the cause - very flat feet - is obvious and correctable. I also don't run (never have, since I hate it and it's terrible for my knees). I do walk a lot (2+ miles every day) in my regular shoes, and work out on the elliptical (with cross trainers).

Laurinda

Veteran

I slip gel heel pads into shoes with minimal padding. I can even wear cons (just not all day). Shoes without padding that cannot hold a heel pad are banned from my closet. My doc warned me to NEVER go barefoot, but I do for short times such as going from the shower room to the gym pool. It took a month or so to heal up initially, but I have not had a flare up in years.

Kim

Veteran

I've had PF twice now and the last time it went on for over a year...sigh...I'm distance runner so you can imagine what a year of not running at all did to my morale...LOL

I spent a lot of money and a lot of time trying to get it worked out. 2 rounds of physiotherapy, custom orthotics, rest, ice, the foam roller, the Stick, and more I can't even remember now. Resting and stretching and avoiding anything plyometric for 6 months got me to the place where my foot didn't hurt ALL THE TIME, but the second I did even a couple of jacks it came right back.

Custom orthocis helped some as they addressed the loss of fat in the heel pad (presents like PF but hurts in the back of the heel instead of the arch) so I was able to walk, but still not run.

I finally went to a chiropractor and tried Graston. His explanation was that after 6 weeks from an injury the body no longer thinks the site needs healing and this is the new normal for you. Something didn't heal right along the fascia and it scarred, ending the normal flexibility it has. Every time you stretch it now you tear it more and it scars more.

The reasoning behind Graston is to re-injure the site and get the body to see it as a new injury and send the healing power to the area again. This time however with the scar tissue broken down by Graston your foot heels properly.

I wouldn't have believed it myself but I was desperate and out of other options so I gave it a try (my insurance covered it too so that helped.) It was AMAZING. Hurt like the dickens to get it done the first few times, but gave me almost immediate and significant relief. After 8 sessions I was able to start (slowly) back to running and have just been back at it for over a 2 months. I ran 30 minutes on Sunday for the first time in 14 months!! And had no pain to speak of (I'm still at about 98% healed, he says that last little bit may take a long while, but as long as it stays the same and doesn't get any worse I'm essentially done.)

Get a sports chiropractor if you decide to do it, as they understand about the desire to remain active and know how to guide you back to running in a safe and healthy way.

As far as shoes go, discuss that with your therapist. I ripped a pair of Cons apart and put my custom orthotics in them. They are on my feet most of the time during the day and EVERY time I run or workout. I also have some heel cups that I wear now in my "cute shoes" but I went nearly a year without being able to wear them at all. Boots at least were somewhat better and any Flip flop type shoe was out completely. I had two different problems though, I had PF and my fat pad in the heel was injured or thinning. That may be a lifelong thing, but heel cups handle that so I"m good.

Debra

Veteran

Gee you must be loving all of these posts
I have PF too when it first flared up I went to the doctor and then a podiatrist. I had my feet taped for about 3 months, then had custom orthotics made. I have a gorgeous shoe collection and can't wear them, it just hurts too much.
I did wear a pair out one night, suffered all night and then had to cut them off as my feet swelled up......great
There is light at the end of the tunnel though.
I have packed away my collection and after lots of research have found a brand called Ziera. I started with their orthotic shoes that I could put my inserts in and as my feet have improved I am now able to wear some of their other styles. They are super supportive and comfortable and have some nice designs.
I just completed the global corporate challenge of 10,000 steps a day over the last 4 months, which I was pretty happy about, only 18 months ago I could hardly walk in the morning......so hang in there

Classically Casual

Veteran

I think everybody I knew who was active has/had PF in their 50's. Most cases I knew about were relatively mild. Not going barefoot first thing in the morning was a big taboo I recall. I try to remember to do negative heel raises at the gym as a preventive measure. And keeping athletic shoes in good condition is important. I worked with a manager who had to take an important sales trip in dress shoes. He had a cortisone injection to get him through it.

Eliza

Veteran

I had PF years ago. After it healed, I was able to wear regular shoes, but am conscious of having something between me and the pavement if walking for any distance. One important tip for PF sufferers is to never go barefoot, even around the house. Cushion those feet while it heals and perhaps it will help with recurrence prevention. Once mine left (aided by cushioned shoes and family health crises that kept me home care taking), it did not come back.

Good luck!

soobee

Veteran

I had this, quite severely, for eighteen months. Unfortunately for me, my feet have never been the same since and have become very "fussy". Good luck with yours, hopefully it won't be as bad

greycat6

Veteran

I feel your pain!

I have suffered from PF twice, both when I was in my late 30's/early 40's. Along with all of the good advice you have already gotten, I would add that wearing 'the boot' to bed at night was what cured it for me. If you are not familiar with the boot, it is a stiff piece of plastic that is secured to your foot/ankle with velcro straps. Not very attractive or romantic but hubby appreciated it when I stopped limping around!

Sarah A

Veteran

I have struggled on and off with PF for just over 20 years. My best recommendation would be to work now to ice/control the imflamation, roll out with a tennis ball gently and when you are out of the acute stage work as hard as you possibly can to strengthen by going barefoot for limited peroids and building back always keeping your self just a hair inside the envelope. IMHO all the orthotics (I wore rx ones for over 15 years) structured shoes etc. serve to weaken your feet and than make you more prone to re-injury/flare ups. They also change the alignment of your knees, hips and lowerback and after years of thinking my rx otrhotics were the best things ever b/c i culd keep running i got other problems (IT, lower back). Since joining the barefoot school of thought I have have many fewer problems in the last 3 years than the preceding two decades. The barefoot philosophy must be done very slowly and carefully listening to your body or it will make you worse off, but if done right seems to reap innumerable benefits (for me at least).

Sarah A

Veteran

ETA: I do also take time to carefully stretch and prepare myself fot the first steps out of bed in the morning. Tose first steps can be awful if your tendons are tight and you are unprepared for it.

froggiebecky

Veteran

Thanks for the insight, everyone! It sounds like most things--everyone's case is a little bit different, and you've got to just see what works for you.

For my case, it's probably "entrenched", as I've had pain in the morning for years.

I did find some ziera shoes, and it's not love yet. That or my foot just needs some time. To be fair, I was walking normally in them, which is an improvement.

I'll probably give the graston/needle thing a try. Surprisingly, my GP said it might help, and sent me over to the physios. Haven't gone over there yet, but it's on the list.

carolbee

Veteran

I pretty such only wear my orthotics now in trainers and hiking boots. But I never wear flat shoes, even my thongs are from Orthoheel with a "built-in" orthotic. Another brand that you can get here in Oz that are quite supportive is Planet shoes, not quite as pricy as Ziera.

Nebraskim

Veteran

I have "entrenched" PF; had it for more than 25 years and it started when I was teaching step aerobics in the late 1980s and 1990s. Using that "pain of 1-10 scale, with 10 high," I would say that normal for me is 1 or 2, and when it flares up, can be an 8. I wear orthotics in my running shoes (some custom, others are the blue orthotics made by Berkinstock) and I am pretty much limited to wearing shoes like Sanita clogs. I do the exercises, stretches, ice rolling, etc. and that keeps my pain at the tolerable 1-2 level. I do think mine is caused by bad biomechanics. I have somewhat flat feet, I pronate a bit and have a bunion on the foot opposite my PF foot. I know that some docs say bunions are caused by high heels, but I have never worn them, and neither has my brother who has severe bunions on both of his very flat feet. My mother and grandmother also had bunions (although they wore high heels). Other risk factors for all of this are weight gain (many women first get PF when they are pregnant), ramping up of exercise, or poor shoe choices. I do think that physical therapy is useful and I am a huge fan of taping my feet. Good luck. I'm interested in the Graston technique, because it makes so much sense in terms of PF not being really an inflammation response but a chronic scarring condition. Some docs now call this fasciosis (itis means inflammation and osis means a different mechanism is occurring.).