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. 

In a holding pattern

This issue I am having with my Plantar Fasciitis is in a holding patter.  The wrap the podiatrist put on it for a week, brought down the inflammation in it. The wrap came off the other day and I have a few options to take in consideration.

Here are my three options

1. Continue to ice (Frozen Peaz) it numerous times a day and increase my leg and foot stretches.

2. A cortisone shot, in my foot, to reduce the pain. The pain would go away for about six months, if I went this option.

3. Be fitted and casted for new orthotics.

For now I have chosen number one.  I am increasing the stretches and icing to get my foot back on my own. 

I am also using kinesiology tape to help support the plantar fascia. 

Couldn't do it on my own

Couldn't do it on my own this time. Finally, I have made an appointment and seen a foot doctor to help with my right foot.  The intense pain in the heel had made it tough to walk around, let alone get my workouts in.  Stayed away from running for over well over a month and a half now. The stretching treatments I have been doing at home with a following up of an ice, Frozen Peaz, treatment has been making the pain go away, but it does return in time. 

The doctor taped it up with athletic tape for a week, starting today.  Doing this to help relieve the inflammation. I return in a week to see the progress and move on from there. 

I have been working on adding more foam rolling into my routine and will be very aggressive in doing it daily.  I need to not only work on my feet, but tight calves and hamstrings, as this is affecting my feet too.
Looking like it will end with getting a pair of custom orthotics to correct the issue all together.   

On the mend

Over the past few months, I have been having issues with my right foot. The bottom of it to be exact and having plantar fasciitis.  I am doing stretches daily, a few times in fact. My brother has loaned me a splint to use a few times a day, helping isolate the bottom of my foot for stretching and provides a gentle stretch to my plantar fascia and Achilles tendon. I have been strapping my foot in this device and sitting with my foot in it, twice a day for 30 minutes at a time. 

I follow it up placing FrozenPeaz then on my foot. 

I have to say it is working and my foot is starting to feel better and the pain is going away. It will take some time, but it's not an overnight fix. 

Using Frozen Peaz to treat Plantar Fasciitis using them 20 min on, 20 min on twice a day. 

Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE)

Frozen Peaz can be used on many placed on the body. Knee, elbow, foot, neck, etc.  Although I am using them here in their cold state, with the Peaz Pod, they can be used with heat as well.

Letting my foot recover using Frozen Peaz

The plantar fasciitis is still bothering my right foot. I have stopped running, but am continuing with my strength program and have moved to riding more road bike as of late. The riding keeps the pounding off of my foot.

Wearing my OS1 compression sleeves and socks along with using Frozen Peaz to treat the bottom, from heel to toe with cold compression. 

Using Frozen Peaz to treat Plantar Fasciitis using them 20 min on, 20 min on twice a day. 

Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE)

Frozen Peaz can be used on many placed on the body. Knee, elbow, foot, neck, etc.  Although I am using them here in their cold state, with the Peaz Pod, they can be used with heat as well.

Suffering from plantar fasciitis

Running is causing me pain.  I mentioned before in my blog that I never have suffered from plantar fasciitis, well, until now. 

I don’t know if it’s the shoes I’ve been wearing that have broken down, don’t fit proper any longer or what. The last few months I have woken up to getting out of bed to the first steps being very painful in my right foot. 

A few weeks back I started working on some home remedies. Stretching, massage and Frozen Peaz treatments and wearing compression gear, both calf sleeves and socks to help with the pain. The pain goes away for a little bit, but returns.  I have been able to get a few runs in here and there, but nothing to a regular training routine like I would like to be doing. The longest my runs have been is about three miles.  After I do a Frozen Peaz treatment the pain is better, but knowing that after that run I will pay the price in the next two to three days.  

I have started to wear an older pair of orthotics in my day to day walking shoes. They seem to be helping me during the daytime that’s for sure. 

I will get out running more soon, but before that I might need to make an appointment to the foot doctor to get things checked out and see what I need to do. 

Icing Made Easy Defines the Icy Feet Cold Packs

The constant pounding, stride after stride, mile after mile, a lot of runners suffer at one time or another with plantar fasciitis. What is plantar fasciitis? It is a straining or irritation of the muscles along the bottom of the foot and arch. I know that cryotherapy or applying cold (ice) to the area will decrease the inflammation and the pain. Craig Snyder, the owner and creator of Icy Feet developed just a product to help treat plantar fasciitis.  I was given a pair of Icy Feet by Craig to try out.  Ice treatments or ice baths are very common to help recovery time, and with Icy Feet you'll be getting back on your feet faster. Simply strap on molded devices, Left foot and Right foot specific,  with their two very simple Velcro enclosures and sit back, prop your feet up and relax for the next 20 minutes. Craig mentioned to me, as we spoke on the phone, that he made the velcro straps long enough to accommodate strapping an ice pack to the top of your foot, if you are wanting to treat that area also. The raised arch and heel cup are very comfortable and places the cold treatment right where it should be. It's recommended you wear socks while wearing Icy Feet. Remember you are wanting to help the muscles on the bottom of the foot, not cause freezer burn to your skin.  Relax and raise your feet. Don't walk around wearing Icy Feet as it will damage them and is not recommended.

Now why would you be doing this you might ask?  The goal is to help the muscles, tendons, bones, nerves and all the different tissues used by your foot to recover.

Wearing Icy Feet causes your blood vessels to tighten, therefore draining the blood out of your feet.  When the time is up, your feet will begin to fill up with 'new' blood that invigorates the muscles with oxygen to help the cells function better. 

Although it is really a first-aid term R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) it also applies when recovering. 

Keep the Icy Feet conveniently stored in the freezer for use after your run or workout, or just a hard day standing on your feet.

Click the link below to find out more about Icy Feet

Icing Made Easy defines the Icy Feet cold packs

SOLE Sport Flips

So here is the low down on the SOLE Sport Flips.  Other sandals or flip flops may be comfortable for the first 20 minutes or so of wearing, but the SOLE Sport Flips are just what your feet and body are craving for.  I have enjoyed these arch supportive flip flops after long training rides or runs.  They contour to your foot, normally after wearing them for a few days. With the arch support and the contoured foot bed, you'll be walking around this summer in comfort.  I really like them after my feet have been cramped up in cycling shoes or just getting more air to my feet after running. Because the SOLE Sport Flips are molded then to your feet, don't let others wear them.  The contour of the foot bed can help alleviate pain from plantar fasciitis.

SOLE footbeds

**********UPDATE: April 2015**************

If you reading this, drop me an e-mail (timhakr @gmail.com) as to why you are interested in footbeds and what brought you here to this page.  Are you looking for comfort while running or cycling? Do you suffer from foot pain?

This blog post is from March 2012

SOLE footbeds are quick and easy to mold to your custom foot shape. They come with easy to follow instructions. SOLE footbeds are used to help with muscles on the bottom of your feet to avoid pain in the Plantar Fascia.  SOLE also makes sandals and flip-flops that are custom fit to your foots bottom profile.  

My walking shoe size and cycling shoe size are 13, while my running shoes I buy size larger 14, to avoid troubles with my toe nails. When preparing my footbeds, I used the insole inside my cycling shoe to match the SOLE footbed for size and cut them to fit.  For my running shoes the SOLE footbeds came in my running shoe size. Also with the seven different types of footbeds, SOLE offers just what you are looking for. 

Not know what SOLE footbed would be suit you? There is an easy questionnaire on their website   www.yoursole.com , answer some questions about your arches in your feet what type of activity will you be wearing the footbeds for and the site lets you know what would work best for your situation.