Plantar fasciitis= surgery

[colby]

I have no advice, but lots of sympathy. Around here, that still counts!

Take it easy, keep exploring those options - you know you're not going to have the surgery soon, so keep looking for things to make you more comfortable and successful in the meantime.

[anakiwa]

Just wanted to second the Birkenstock and Chaco suggestions. Earth shoes have also been great for me. Dansko clogs definitely made my PF worse, so I'd be careful with Crocs.

I spent a lot of time reducing my running, and then going nuts because I wasn't running enough. In the end, changing all my footwear, orthotics, and using ibuprofen while my foot recovered was what it took.

Good luck with you foot, and your IM!

[Blueberry]

I had PF, tried stretching, etc. Nothing helped. I got busy with work and didn't have time to address it. It went away on its own. Very strange.

I think danskos can make it worse because of the relatively raised heels. Crocs are flat, and were fine for me. As were Chacos (I live in them).

[Running Mommy]

ohhh TG!!! I sure do feel for you. I've had PF in the past and it is horrible! And having not been able to train at all for over a week do to my back is making me cranky too. So I know how you feel. UGH it sucks!! hang in there, and be smart w/your training.
Oh boy life does hand us lemons sometimes... sigh...
But lets look on the good side. Other than that you have your health, and are able to ride and swim. It could always be worse!

take care

Denise

[IFjane]

TG - I have had PF in both feet; orthotics, Chacos, PT....nothing helped. I eventually had to have surgery on each foot - 2 years apart - and have been perfectly fine ever since. No pain, nothing. And now I'm back to wearing flipflops in the summer! (Never was much of a "cute shoes" person unless you consider Chacos & Keens cute!)

Good luck!

[mimitabby]

so IFjane, what IS the surgery?

[wackyjacky1]

My PF developed several years ago when I was playing tennis a lot. Stretching, icing it down, and ibuprofen eventually took care of it.

Then, a couple of months ago, I bought a pair of Crocs. As a baker, I am on my feet all day, and I'd heard such good things about them. Wouldn't you know it, the PF came right back and is worse than ever! For me, there doesn't seem to be enough arch support in Crocs. So I'd have to give Crocs a thumbs-down for PF.

My Birkies are very comfortable, and I can wear them all day long with no problem. I love my Keens, but if I do a lot of walking in them, my foot will be killing me the next day.

So far the same techniques that cleared it up during my tennis days are not having any effect right now. If the pain keeps up, I'll have to see a doctor, too, I guess.

[IFjane]

so IFjane, what IS the surgery?

Mimi - it's arthroscopic - heavy sedation but not general anesthesia. A tiny incision is made on each side of the heel, one for the scope, and one for all the other stuff The surgeon clips a tiny hole in the tendon to let the bone spur (cause of all the pain) poke through. I still have my bone spurs but they have nothing to rub against and there is no pain.

Recovery is crutches for a couple days to a week, then a walking-type cast for 4 weeks. I had to take it easy for about 6 weeks but after that was back to normal and had no residual pain once the inflammation in the tendon healed.