plantar fasciitis

[adamkrz]

Anybody here deal with this, I just came from the doctor and he wants me to stop Hiking, running and even biking, - I hike around 40 miles every weekend along with biking to work.

I hope it doesn't last too long -It drives me crazy to not be active.

[max patch]

Anybody here deal with this, I just came from the doctor and he wants me to stop Hiking, running and even biking, - I hike around 40 miles every weekend along with biking to work.

I hope it doesn't last too long -It drives me crazy to not be active.

I've had it twice. I've been able to bike each time and then later day hike. Running was out for about 3 months each time. Each episode lasted about 6 months. Started using green superfeet at doctors recommendation.

[royalusa]

Not sure if you saw these similar threads:

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=68607

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=66861

There's many more threads found via the SEARCH button that reference PF that may help you. Not sure if you saw them. It's discussed a lot unfortunately for us hikers!

[WILLIAM HAYES]

get another doctor I have had it and it is treatable-you may have to rest your foot for a while coupled with exercises- my ortho guy recommended using a rolling pin simply put your weight on the rolling pin and gradually roll the bottom of your foot for 15 -30 minutes several times a day it will stretch out the bottom tendon it will be painful at first but stay with it dont let anybody talk you into surgery try this first

[Praha4]

I had a serious plantar fasciitis attack the first weekend of April 2010 after a 15 mile training hike with full pack. Pain was so bad I thought it was a stress fracture and spent Easter morning at a local hospital E.R. for xrays. They sent me to a local podiatrist after xrays were negative. The podiatrist told me the same thing you were told.... give up hiking, give up walking, retire to a rocking chair, buy his $400 prescription orthotics. I left him and never went back to him.

I went to a local physical therapist, he put me thru 2 weeks of stretching exercises, ice and TENs therapy. He recommended the green or orange superfeet inserts. Two weeks later I was at Amicalola starting northbound. Made it to Damascus before I came home cuz I was missing my wife and decided 5 months was too long to be away.

plantar fasciitis is nothing to mess with, but some therapy, stretching, ice and you can be back on the trail soon. Just don't push it too quickly, you will need to rest it to give it time to heal.

[OutdoorsMan]

get another doctor I have had it and it is treatable-you may have to rest your foot for a while coupled with exercises- my ortho guy recommended using a rolling pin simply put your weight on the rolling pin and gradually roll the bottom of your foot for 15 -30 minutes several times a day it will stretch out the bottom tendon it will be painful at first but stay with it dont let anybody talk you into surgery try this first

This is great advice especially the part about NOT getting surgery. I have had it twice. The first time, a cortisone shot helped a lot but I would advise against this as I think cortisone is detrimental to tendons and ligaments. I now have orthotics that I wear about 85% of the time and always with boots - hiking boots, work boots and hunting boots.

You might consider this too for pain releif - Absorbine Veterinary Liniment in gel form. It's made for horses but my wife and I use it for joint and muscle pain and it really works for us.

[camper1121]

Ive had it and I am back hiking. My podiatrist told me to freeze a soda bottle with water in it and roll it under my arch each night while watching tv. I also wore the stiffest shoes I own which were my heavy hiking boots to support my foot during the day(I'm a techer and on my feet all day). Good luck.

[drifters quest]

I got plantar fasciitis after a rocky 42 mile day in Pennsylvania. It was really painful, but i wasn't about to stop hiking on my thru because of it. Very often and during every break I had I would massage the bottom of my feet very well and try to stretch them. I had superfeet before, during, and after and eventually I worked through it, though i'm pretty sure it was worse than breaking my toe in Maine.

[shoe]

Had surgery on my right foot in 2008 and was the best thing I did. Nothing else worked for me. I tried the shots, physical therapy, custom orthotics. I just had surgery on my left foot a month ago. The verdict is still out on that one.

Stretching and icing are really important to do.

Hope your foot feels better soon.

[leaftye]

Don't stop at stretching your feet. It's just as important, if not more important, to also stretch your calves, hamstrings and glutes.

[Driver8]

Anyone try this product? The write-up is pretty compelling. It's on my shopping list: http://www.fleetfeethartford.com/files/plantar.pdf

[Safari]

I gonna get shouted down for chucking in my 2 cents here... but I went the cave man way- minimalist shoes (NB MT 101's for running, Merrell Trail Gloves for walking, dicking around), barefeet inside most of the time, stretching, stretching, always stretching...stuff the orthotics, kept running a minimum of 10 miles a day, always on my feet, made my arches man-up, harden up, no cradling and soft namby pamby greenfeet hard plastic $$$inserts... soaking in epsom salts after a long run helped as did rolling an iced up nalgene under the arch when the heel tweeked away... whatever works by trail & error as they say, but hey man, our feet were not meant to be shackled in 'motion control' boots with ankle high wrap support, etc (our were they, your call, my opinion)... I would really hate to think I had to wear orthotics 85% of the time I am on my feet, then again I think I don't have to so I won't.
Slowly, your feet will strengthen.
Safari- out.

[hal0ofwint3r]

like max patch said, get another doctor. i had pf very bad ten years ago from ruck marching and jumping out of airplanes(static line). stretch your feet and legs and get a foot massage ball. it may heal and come back again several times, but it should go away over time.

[j_parker]

I dealt with fasciitis on my left foot for a decade, trying ultrasound, ice, stretching, etc. I never went for the intrusive solutions such as cortisone or surgery; I finally found my solution with a chiropractor. Then, once the pain was gone I spent more time barefoot to strengthen the foot, even ran barefoot for short distances (< 2 mi). Just my way of dealing with it, your biometrics may differ.

Best Wishes on a Recovery

[shoe]

@Driver - I haven't used the sock but I do use a more rigid night splint which makes the pain more bearable in the morning.

@Safari - I totally get what you are saying. I have custom orthotics and they always seemed to make my feet hurt worse (all over, not just the PF), but my pain was so bad that I couldn't man up and keep going I go barefoot in the house most of the time. And my feet always tend to feel better when I most of my running around town is done in Croc type shoes.

[Wombat Farm]

I'm with some of the others about "seeing another Doc". I'd go to not only a sports med doc but also consider going for massage therapy and/or a physio. Often there is much more to what appears on the surface....but personally...I would most likely still hike :-)

[enurdat1]

Another doc is a definate yes. I had PF about 10 yrs ago and finally worked through it. I wear boots most of the time (I work in EMS) and use cheap Walmart inserts. I also bought a pair of Birkenstock sandals for running around in. Hadn't had problems for the last 9.5 yrs. As a nurse/ medic, I would suggest trying everything before getting injections or having surgery.

[camojack]

I used to get that, but not since I started using the green "Superfeet" inserts that someone has already mentioned...

[Joker4ink]

I see you are from CT also, and not far from me. I run into this everyone once and a while and it is due to the lack of arch support. I visited Dr. Wong, podiatrist in Cheshire and she showed me how to tape my foot to give me support for the issue. She recommended a specific set of insoles which were under $30, since my insurance wouldn't pay the $xxx it would have cost for custom molded ones. I would definitely stop back in to see her if I have problems again.

[adamkrz]

I just want to thank everyone for their advice, I didn't think it was so common and feel better taking advice from other hardcore hikers.

You folks are great - Keep on truckin -Thanks again..