My right foot was a total mess, until I switched foot doctors.

Finally, after almost eight months of Plantar Fasciitis and onto my second foot doctor, I can NOW say, the pain is starting to go away.  

After not getting relief from the foot doctor that made a pair of orthotics that were suppose to help alleviate the pain being caused in my right foot’s arch and later on heel, I turned to another doctor. 

I started to develop a bursa, or bursitis on my right heel too. My right foot was a total mess. 

Visiting the new doctor he asked me what my issues and symptoms I have or have had. I told him the heel pain both on the bottom of my foot and the back of my heel. 

Upon his exam of my foot and how it was placed in the orthotic, he knew the arch was not high enough. The original mold of my foot was taken, not weight baring, so therefore not really showing the true shape when pressure applied on my foot, how my arch was too low. 

During the office visit he heated my orthotics and molded them up higher in the arches for both feet. It felt better right after doing that.  

Along with the adjustments to the orthotics, I was given a prescription for some topical inflammatory gel and a night splint. 

He also looked at the shoes I was wearing right then and asked what shoes I was running in. 

He suggested I get a pair of good walking shoes and told me just standing and walking is rough on suffering from Plantar Fasciitis. I have since switch my normal everyday shoes for a great pair of stability Brooks Beast I originally purchased for running. 

This was so different than the first doctor I visited.  

I am now wearing the splint nightly, just to keep my ankle at a 90 degree angle, which has been difficult, but it is helping with my first steps of the day getting out of bed. The other doctor only had me using the splint for 20 minutes at a time a few times during the day, with my foot angled with my toe upwards. 

About a week ago, before being seen by the new foot doctor, I was able to get in a few runs on a treadmill at home. I am looking at getting back out in the garage running pain free. 

Update on Plantar Fasciitis and Running on a Treadmill for Training

I can honestly say my plantar fasciitis is feeling the best it has in eight months, however it has not gone away.  My ankle and lower leg still feel a little stiff when first waking up getting out of bed in the morning, but nothing like early last fall. 

Stretching my lower and upper leg muscles along with icing with Frozen Peaz.  I am stretching not just muscles in my foot, but my calves, hamstrings and hips too. 

Needless to say, the foot and ankle doctors advice and help in ordering orthotics has not made the problem go away like I thought it would.  With that, I have left the one doctor I was seeing and am attempting to see another doctor to get his advice and help in dealing with the issue. 

I am almost wondering if the first doctor just had me going to him to buy the expensive orthotics that have not really helped at all. 

I have really focused this past month and a half on using the percussion massage on my soleus muscle. 

The calf contains a network of muscles and tendons on the back and sides of the lower leg including the soles muscle. A good five minutes with the percussion massager on my arch and ball of my foot then I move up to the backside of the lower leg.  This seems to be helping and doing the trick. 

On a happier note, at home we invested in a treadmill. It was in the budget and had the features we were looking for as a family to getting. 

I have had two sessions on it. I ran a great two mile run on it last night, testing out some of the features and got in a groove when I was on it. 

I hate to say it, but I had a fun run. My legs and knees liked the less stress pounding they took.  

I am looking forward to many more treadmill runs as I get back in running shape.