Plantar Fasciitis

[Duff]

Thanks Yiannis,
I won't book myself into the knackers yard quite yet. Although I might inquire about their short stay rates!

[browny]

Anyone read the article in the Mail yesterday about blood injections to treat PF ??
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...foot-pain.html

I would be interested to hear any experience/medical opinions on this.
Steve

[Mike T]

As the article says some tissues - the plantar fascia and the Achilles tendon are classic examples - have a very poor blood supply and blood - whether injected or from local trauma/bleeding - can stimulate healing. I personally think it is from an improvement in the blood supply due to local inflammation due to the presence of blood in the tissues. Deep local acupuncture (rather than in the ear lobe, for example) and some steroid injections may also work in the same way.

[drmorris]

"I would be interested to hear any experience/medical opinions on this." Ouch. Touched a nerve there. I'v just deleted most of what I was going to post about my own opinions of the Daily Mail and its health journalism

It's in the Daily Mail. You really don't want to hear medical opinions about a Daily Mail story.

Blood injections are very rarely used(for tendinitis or PF); they work very rarely, and about as often as any other intervention for PF. It is bordering on witchcraft; some of the justifications for doing it are at best an untested extrapolation from basic physiology and at worst... well maybe not on a public forum ;-)
It's probably a non-specific benefit, as MikeT suggests. There are less invasive ways of getting the same effect.

For PF, Biomechanical approaches are the way - technique, exercises, stretches, footwear and maybe orthotics

[JaseUK]

I have suffered from PF for well over 6 months now (if not longer). I went to see a NHS podiatrist who gave me some stretches to do, advised me to soak the feet in cold water and also roll them on a cold can. I am still suffering from it although not enough to stop me running. Its at its worst when I get out of bed so I have started stretching before I get out of bed.
The podiatrist gave me some insoles but to be fair they never did much. They had a lot of support on the heel area.
I have never been tested on a running machine to see if I over pronate or not so was wondering if anyone knows where I can go. I live in West Yorkshire. I tend to wear down my shoes on the outside of the sole so therefore think I may suffer from supination.
Any advice would be great.

[Alexandra]

I had 2 years of PF. It was finally resolved when my physio taped my foot. Having one's foot taped is not a long-term solution, as you can't wash properly, but it can give your foot a rest for a few days so it has a chance to heal. The pain came back, but I managed to do the taping myself and it went for (I hope) good.

[JaseUK]

I had 2 years of PF. It was finally resolved when my physio taped my foot. Having one's foot taped is not a long-term solution, as you can't wash properly, but it can give your foot a rest for a few days so it has a chance to heal. The pain came back, but I managed to do the taping myself and it went for (I hope) good.

Alexandra did you use this technique? http://www.heel-that-pain.com/planta...cia_taping.php

[Alexandra]

Alexandra did you use this technique? http://www.heel-that-pain.com/planta...cia_taping.php

I think THIS is closer. My physio used a narrow white tape for the base (figure of 8), then wider orange zinc oxide tape for the rest (shorter strips straight across). You need to be holding your foot with the toes turned as far up as possible while strapping, so that the sole of your foot is held in a stretched position. I also massage my foot & do this stretch every morning to this day.

I agree with the message at the start of this video, to see a physio (a GOOD one!) Mine diagnosed that my uneven stance was putting too much weight on the bad foot. You may have some other underlying cause. Good luck!

[wycoller]

I have suffered from PF for well over 6 months now (if not longer). I went to see a NHS podiatrist who gave me some stretches to do, advised me to soak the feet in cold water and also roll them on a cold can. I am still suffering from it although not enough to stop me running. Its at its worst when I get out of bed so I have started stretching before I get out of bed.
The podiatrist gave me some insoles but to be fair they never did much. They had a lot of support on the heel area.
I have never been tested on a running machine to see if I over pronate or not so was wondering if anyone knows where I can go. I live in West Yorkshire. I tend to wear down my shoes on the outside of the sole so therefore think I may suffer from supination.
Any advice would be great.

Any good running shop such as Complete Runner in Ilkley can test you for over pronation. Heel wear isn't a great indicator by itself because you should land on the outside. Orthotics do support the heel area because that affects the gait.

Depending where you live, I use an excellent physio in Wyke who specialises in feet - PM if interested.

[dannyboy]

I've had a problem with my foot since July/August. Went to see a podiatrist who said I had a soft tissue injury. After seeing no improvement and not entirely convinced with the diagnosis I went to see the physio yesterday. She confirmed PF.

She did a bit of ultrasound treatment and sent me off with some stretches and told me to get a can chilled in the freezer to massage it. I'm more minded to use a golf ball for a more intense massage. Doing this is a lot more painful and can be a couple of hours before the pain subsides. Does anyone know if this is a better approach or could actually be making things worse?

Fed up with this now but from what I've read on here and elsewhere I'm thinking I'll be having to put up with it for a while yet.