Plantar fasciitis

Hello! I had the same problem last year and actually tried a technique that does not use homeopathy.(Although I am a great believer in the efficacy of homeopathic remedies.) It will take some time and CONSTANT use, but it does work without using medicines that may interfere with your wife's Tegretol.

I made a type of sock that you wear when you go to bed. I actually found this sock, called the Strassburg sock, on the web. I looked at the picture and decided I could make it myself and save money. (I got the supplies from a regular fabric store and used a knee-high sock I had. Atogether it cost me less than $7 to make the thing.) Once I made it, I put it on the affected foot and wore it EVERY night for about 4 months.

What it does is gently put tension on the ligament under your arch by keeping your toes pulled back. Don't worry, its not uncomfortable. Over time, the ligament heals itself. When you lie in bed or are resting with the foot totally relaxed the ligament has time to get loose again and this causes the excrutiating pain she feels when she puts any weight on her foot. I had been limping around in the morning with extreme pain, and it would only subside a little during the day. When I sat a my desk for a while, then got up to do something the pain was there again.

So, I wore the sock until the heel began to feel better, but I stopped too soon and the pain came back again. As I said you have to be STRICT in wearing it every night for at least 4 months or so. Also, in order to support the ligament during the day I went to Walmart and got a $4 support band called a PediFlex. It looks like an ace bandage, but is highly elasticized. It slips over the foot and can be worn under stockings or socks. It can be machine-washed, but will loose its stretchy-ness after a while, so you might want to get two.

The combination of these two things really, really helped me and my foot has been pain free for over 7 months now. Oh, you may also want to suggest your wife forego high heels for a while and buy lower heeled shoes (no, not "granny" shoes!) from now on with good arch support. It make a BIG difference. I hope you try this instead of going to a podiatrist and having him shoot her foot with cortizone or some such thing. Take care and let me know how it goes!

Wow, you must have been reading as I was writing! The long strap that is attached to the toe of the sock should be a type of cloth that is kind of thick, but not elastic; canvas is what I used, like the kind you might find in a tote bag. It stands up to washing very well. For the wide band that goes around the leg just under the knee, I used a piece of elastic strapping that was thick. I couldn't tell from the picture if their's was elastic or not, but I don't think its crucial. Take the pcture with you when you go to the fabric store.

Just remember that when your wife puts it on, sit down first and only lift the toes up a little; too much can cause discomfort. She can also wear it just sitting and reading or watching TV. It doesn't have to be taken off if she needs to walk briefly, but it'll work best when she's just resting. I wish you the best results!

I have used CALC FLUR 30 three times a day in almost 80% of my patients to completely cure the ailment. Though all didn't have calcaneal Spur in radiological finding.

Hi. I am from Australia, visiting this page a few years later than this forum page, so not sure if anyone will see this. Could you please tell me what 'PEDIFLEX' is? You mention it helped during the day.
Thankyou for sharing your knowledge and experiences.
Strapping helps me, but I am now allergic to it.
I made my own strassburg sock for plantar fasciitis. Cost $3 for socks, but need to find a sock which doesn't stretch as much and is not made of too much synthetic fibre. The other materials I used were some velcro, nylon straps and plastic buckle/clips cut off an old bum bag and a bike helmet.

It is better to use a sewing machine but can make it by hand. I have tried the sock for 3 weeks. It's such a relief. After one night no pain in a.m. but still not doing much walking standing during day. But I have to try it for 4 monthe before last resort - surgery.

Hi- go onto amazon dot com
and type in pediflex arch bandage-

you can order off that site or see
if you have something similar in
your Australia stores-I would
think you would have a similar
product there-google foot arch
bandages in australia.

Thanks Simone717.
I found a different version at the physio's. It comes up around your ankle. A bit like when you do a sprained ankle bandage but it made in one piece and the elastic is woven in special directions so that is pulls your arch kind of up and outwards in a supportive way. I wear it every day and it helps but only alongside doing all the stretches etc and wearing orthotics.

Planter Fasciitis is kind of disorder that causes pain in the bottom of foot and heel with very first steps in the morning that can increases or decrease as the day advances. The factors involved in it are standing over a long period of time, overweight and over doing of exercise. In this situation compression ankle socks from Treat My Feet for Planter Fasciitis compression ankle socks that are doctor recommended and athlete approved are of great help. These socks with their superior fit give support to your foot and bring relief from morning pain and also improve blood circulation. Wearing these socks when you are running, standing, or lying on the bed during the night will give you a great feeling and will get rid of foot pain problems.
[message edited by intimaterose on Thu, 25 Aug 2016 22:05:02 UTC]