Any ideas on how to cope with plantar fasciitis?

Kristin, I suffered from plantar fasciitis a couple of years ago and I refused to cope with it. I was running then and wearing the wrong shoes (high heels for work). I researched beyond traditional medicine to find the root cause and like most of the postings here stated, there is very little offered by current treatments unless you are willing to take drugs for pain, which I do not like for me.

There are two things I can say helped the most: Zyflamend By NewChapter and supplements of MSM (powder form), in addition to removing foods that were causing more inflamation. I must say that those days are over and I no longer suffer from this annoying pain.

Plantar fasciitis is a common injury among runners, and we have our fair share of complaints in my training group. Sometimes, the cause can be traced back to the shoes. However, it can also be traced back to the runner's biomechanics.

If at all possible, and available, you should always be professionally fitted by your local running store, wear any orthotics you would with your running shoes, and inform the person fitting you about your plantar fasciitis.

You can use a Pilates resistance band by flexing your foot against it to help strengthen the muscle and build better flexibility. Also use the band to stretch your calf muscles. Amazing how all the muscles are connected and work together!

Ease back on running, especially long distances and hills. Shortening your stride can also help, as you would be putting less tension on the underside of your foot. In fact, walk, don't run, until your foot has healed. Ease back into running slowly, in properly fitted shoes. You might even need to change up your foot strike.

I've managed to avoid this type of injury by listening to my feet early on and adjusting my stride and foot strike. Hope these running-specific links help:

Running Injury Free: Plantar Fasciitis

Dr. Pribut's Sports Pages on Plantar Fasciitis

Cool Running: Plantar Fascitis

One more great resource I just found is the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, and they state, "There is a growing consensus of opinion that plantar fascitis is best treated non-surgically with the vast majority of patients becoming asymptomatic within twelve months of the onset of symptoms."

Sounds like it is possible to be completely healed and asymptomatic from plantar fasciitis. This site provided numerous treatment modalities, especially for the athlete who is preparing to return to their sport.

Kristin,
I am not sure about the long-term effects or treatment of plantar fasciitis. It sounds painful!

Since you said that you "wake up with intense heel pain", the Mayo Clinic has one remedy for you: "Before you get out of bed in the morning, stretch your calf muscles, arch and Achilles tendon by reaching for your toes and gently flexing your foot. This helps reverse the tightening of the plantar fascia that occurs overnight."

Other sites concur with the stretching as an important part of treatment and prevention:

"Simply reducing pain and inflammation alone is unlikely to result in long term recovery. The plantar fascia tightens up making the origin at the heel more susceptible to becoming inflamed. Tightening of the plantar fascia happens in particular over night which is why pain is often worse in the morning. A plantar fasciitis night splint (video) is an excellent product which is worn over night and gently stretches the calf muscles and plantar fascia preventing it from tightening up overnight." Have you ever heard of/used the night splint? (not sure if this is legit or not).