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Hi guys,

I know I am one of the first posts on this forum but hopefully you all can help! I have had such bad heel pain for about 5 months now, I am 39, a little bit overweight and pretty active as I have 3 little kidlets running around that I have to chase after.

I have tried everything! Custom orthodox, cortisone shots and stretching, nothing seems to work! Does any one have any suggestions so I can get up and running instead of limping after my kids?

Thanks!

Linda =-)

Hi Linda,

Wow, it sounds like you have tried everything... well ALMOST everything! I was basically in your painful shoes (no pun intended), going to a podiatrist every week, cortisone shots every month and $600 custom orthodox. Well, after I was out too much money and my heels were STILL in pain, I went online and did a little research on the best treatment, the most proven treatment for plantar fasciitis.

Turns out, most orthopedists and podiatrists (well not mine apparently) trust night splints for helping with heel pain, heel spurs and even Achilles tendonitis. I was really surprised that I had never heard of a night splint in all of my doctors visits and bouts trying to learn about PF. But I found out that night splints lengthen the plantar fascia ligament or the Achilles tendon during the night when there is no weight on the feet, which creates a "passive stretch" meaning its NOT ABRASIVE like everything else we both have tried!

I found a really great on from foot-pro.com, it was inexpensive (only $45) compared to some other sites, like footsmart.com where they are almost $80. I thought maybe it was going to be just another one of the treatments I throw in the back of my closet but I thought, "hey, what the heck, I have tried everything else what is one more thing?" Turns out, the one last thing was the best.

The FIRST morning after I wore it, the morning pain I normally have was almost gone. While the splint was a little more bulky than I would have liked, well I would have liked to not wear a night splint at all, but it was comfortable and easy to take on and off. I am such an advocate for night splints now, I tell everyone that says they have heel pain to try it. I even wore mine when I was sitting at my desk during the day to prevent that pain when I got up after long periods of time.

Now 3 months later and wearing my night splint 2x a week, I am pain free! Take that cortisone and my podiatrist!

I hope my post helped you, Linda, good luck and let me know if I can help anymore!

Hi Linda - I, as well, have been battling PF in both feet for over a year now - the pain is incredible . . . I have also been wearing night splints every night for almost a year - I must say it does help the morning pain quite a bit - I don't wear the huge heavy plastic one (I just wouldn't be able to sleep with 2 of them on every night) so I bought the Thermoskin ones - very light, but still do the job! There is also another one that I saw which is a knee high sock with the stretch attached to it - Don't know how that one is though.

Just for curiosity, after the cortizone shots, stretching, and custom orthotics with no relief, what did your doctor suggest?

Thanks, Sue