Plantar Fasciitis-HELP!!!

[Ive been diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis.  The pain is sometimes very painful (a 9 on a 10 point scale) and I'm frustrated since it really inhibits my training and I know I could run better and faster if I didn't have the foot pain.  After my last race in early Nov., I stopped running to let my feet heal and started therapy in Dec.  I'm very pleased with my current therapist as they seem to really be addressing my problems.  They are currently working on flexibility and strength in addition to making sure I have good orthotics.  Last summer I bought a pair of SuperFeet which helped but things never really got better. I'm afraid the foot pain will not go away though.   I know I am not the only one who has experienced this pain.  Is this treatable to the point where I will not have any more pain?  Any suggestions?

I made my through PF last year and can now run pain free -

keys to my recovery

wearing a night splint (mentioned in a previous post)

stretching, stretching, stretching

ice baths -

and rest - which didn't mean total rest, but from October to the end of December 2007, I did not actually run, I used the elliptical and by December, the only thing I did was swim - I swam a lot!

good news is, I've built my way back to doing longer distances

good luck

I had PF for a few months and tried a lot of things including the night splint, a cortisone shot, Graston/ART and rest.  All seemed to help until I started running and then BANG it was back.

Two things worked for me, 1) prolotherapy which increases inflammation to speed healing and strengthens the tendon over time and 2) finding the root cause of the problem through PT and working on the muscle imbalances that led to the poor form in the first place.

I am set to get my second prolotherapy injection next week.  The doctor recommended two to three treatments about a month apart, but I am significantly better today.  I do still tape my foot for running, but that is probably more precautionary than necessary.  One other thing, some people thing prolo hurts a lot.  I did not find that to be true.

Active Release Technique...usually done by specially  trained chiropractors, if I understand correctly.

www.activerelease.com 

I tried active release, orthotics, night splints and every other remedy suggested.  I spent loads of money on all kinds of therapies.  It didn't work. I couldn't walk for 9 weeks, nevermind run. 

Then my dumb little sister gave me a trigger point kit for Christmas, a bottle of cheleated calcium and magnesium, and a big waterbottle.  Three days after I started on two twenty minute therapy sessions a day, ( I do both the plantar fasciitis routine and the hip dysfunction routine because I think the origin is in my hip)  two times a day taking 500 mg of the vitimin combo and hydrating until my back teeth were floating, I ran.  I've had three runs since.  and I am still ok.  They're short and slow so far, but I am building my way back up. 

I am not saying this will work for you, but it worked for me.  I think everyone's formula for recovery on this one is a bit different.  You just have to keep trying until you stumble on what works...or call my dumb sister....ok, she may not be that dumb.  She does natropathy for a living.

Keep me posted on how you're doing.  I gotta go drink more water.

K

 Had PF a few years back, could barely walk in the morning when I got out of bed.  My wife is a chiropractor and she did a deep, deep massage on my foot for 20 minutes.  The most painful thing I had ever been through and had to lay there taking it.  1 minute into it, I had sweat so much I soaked the sheets.  Anyways, it completely cured it!  Did some follow up stretches with a tennis ball, and that was it.  Not sure what "technique" she used, but the day after it was a little tender, but the next day I was feeling perfect.  

Did your sis get the TP kit online or at some local retailer. I'm in Toronto and I wouldn't mind picking up a kit as I'm suffering from PF as well.

I've been running for 3 years without a problem and my PF just started about two months ago and it's pretty bad now. I having to resort to limping at times. Argh!