PF Hell
Yesterday I excitedly told Steven and a few of my coworkers how much better my left heel felt after wearing my running shoes Sunday-Tuesday. It was like the plantar fasciitis (PF) pain was never there! I was HEALED!!!
Whoa, slow down.
I woke up around 2:45 to go to the bathroom last night, and the pain in my left heel was so bad that I nearly stumbled out of bed. I had to hobble to the bathroom. Then this morning, it was so intense that I couldn’t fall asleep on the train.
UGH!!!
I bought one of these (to wear at night) to see if it will help:
This is my third time having PF. I had it in 2009 in my left foot and 2010 in my right foot. Icing it, rolling it on a ball, and wearing supportive shoes have helped in the past, so I hope those things speed the healing process up! It never hurts when I am running – it’s hurts when I get up after being stationary for a long time.
Has anyone else had PF? How did you deal with it?
Themocracy
Ugh, that sucks! I’ve never had it but I’ve heard it’s horrible. I hope the brace helps!
Sometimes those help, sometimes they don’t. I wore the sock last year and didn’t like it. I’m currently doing Graston Technique for it because it got so painful. The plastic ball I use is a dryer ball because it breaks up the tissue better than any other ball. Use a frozen water bottle. And exercises to stretch it out and strengthen the ankle and foot muscles. Do the towel on the floor grab with your toes. Do the picking up marbles on the floor with your toes as well. I should write a whole post on the stupid PF I’ve been dealing with it so long. I know Dimity from Run Like A Mother has been dealing with it and says she’s almost cured. So you might want to look up her blog about it.
Thanks for all the tips! I have a dryer ball at work that I use too! All the little nubs (is that what they are called?) feel so good 🙂
I bought my own ultrasound machine and did it 3 times a day for 15-20 min each time. It was gone in 2 weeks! I get lazy for doing it now, but if I keep it up, it stays away: http://www.amazon.com/PMT-MEDICAL-Portable-Ultrasound-Edition/dp/B0034UWXO4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312981805&sr=8-1
The Strassburg sock is also very good (the boot would make my foot fall asleep and I would wake up in pain). http://www.thesock.com/
And lots of calf stretches!
What exactly does the ultrasound machine do?
I did try the boot last night and at first my foot went numb so I readjusted it and woke up feeling great!
OH no kim! I hope it heals up quickly for you! I have never had it but pain in the foot is the worst.
I hope that it heals quickly. I feel that PF is one of the few issues that I haven’t had to deal with – yet.
Take care of yourself!
When I first started working at the nursing home, I had cheap, junky shoes (I was broke!). I hurt everywhere at the end of the day. Then I bought a pair of Nike+ shoes that felt better, but occasionally I wouldn’t be able to flex my foot without serious pain. It always went away as I stretched my foot out and didn’t happen all of the time. I bought a pair of Adidas a few months ago and haven’t had any problems with it. Proof that decent footwear is a must? Perhaps I should buy real sandals and throw out my Old Navy ones…
Boo. I hope it GOES AWAY SOON. I got nuthin as far as advice, but I’ll be thinking about you…
🙁 Oh no that really stinks! I hope it gets better soon sista!
That sounds AWFUL! I hope it gets better soon.
That’s horrible. At least it doesn’t hurt when running? But not being able to sleep would suck!!! Hope it heals soon.
oh man, that sounds wretched!! i hope the boot helps!
That sucks! Hope your new sleep boot helps – and that it doesn’t keep you awake at night!
I think you know I’ve had it, and it definitely sucks. Especially painful first thing in the morning. And so frustrating. You have my full sympathy.
When it was acute, I started wearing shoes even to my barefoot exercise classes. It did go away thankfully. I think doing an hour of yoga every week helps, because we do calf stretches and I also think yoga poses call for different foot muscles to be used, improving flexibility.
My favorite calf stretch is to lie on the floor, put one leg in the air, and run a yoga strap around the sole of your foot, holding the ends taut in each hand, about halfway down the strap. Flex and point the foot, circle the foot, then bring the leg in the air down to the right side of your body, and then down to the left side of your body. Repeat.
I also keep a pair of tennis balls under my desk and when I’m working I slip off my shoes and roll my feet over the balls.
Ah, yoga! Don’t mention it! I cannot remember the last time I’ve done it. I should get back to it. And those awesome calf stretches 🙂
UGH! That stinks! I’ve never had it but my mom has and she’s told me about how painful it is! Hope it goes away soon!!!
I *almost* had PF last year. Thankfully it went away after a few weeks of rolling my foot on a frozen water bottle under my desk at work. And stretching my calves like whoa. Fingers crossed yours heals up quickly.
Stretch your calves like crazy!
And if you can stand the waiting in getting up to do it – I think what helped mine the most was stretching/wiggling/warming up my foot before I stepped out of bed. Just like 10 seconds, but it seemed like I had less damage from that first, cold tendoned, step onto the floor.
Oh, I never thought of that! Just give myself a few more mins to get out of bed. Thanks!
I have it too. I can keep it away if I stretch my calves and feet faithfully, but I tend to get lazy about that when it’s not hurting…human nature, I guess. When it’s bad though, I absolutely spend a couple minutes stretching and relaxing just before I get out of bed. That makes a world of difference for those first few steps!