PF/ Achilles help

I would keep away from the heal raises. They will put too much strain on the tendon and could cause more inflammation. (my doc warned me about them last visit) I know these heel exercises are supposed to loosen up the calves etc, but its too aggressive. The PF is hyper aware of any additional strain or stretching, and will reward you with more inflammation and longer healing time. I think the reason I still have pf after 6 years is how aggressive I was with the first 6 months stretching routines, I thought I could stretch my way out of it, and I made it 10x worse. Do the flat foot lean into the wall for calf stretching, and do it gently, and often. GENTLY. Work tightness out of hamstrings and calves as gently as you can. Control the load on the foot as much as possible, and keep inflammation down, as inflammation causes a vicious cycle of separating the fascia while you're trying to heal it. Good luck with this, most people get through it within a year.

I have had PF for just about a month now and I think things are beginning to get better after I started doing something I would like to share. There is a tremendous amount of information out there about how to treat PF and sometimes it all seems contradicting. However, I think one thing is true, we tend to aggravate the problem and create more inflammation when we take those first few steps in the morning, which prolongs the healing. Sleeping all night the fascia tightens up (unless you are using a special sock or brace, which I haven't tried) and the first steps in the morning without massaging the foot or somehow warming up the tissue is what seems to cause more inflammation.

Well, I noticed that my daughter had a small 1 x 2ft heating pad that she used for various ailments and I thought maybe if I just put that thing at the side of my bed and used it to warm up my feet and get the blood flowing I could cut down on some of the inflammation and tearing that happens first thing in the morning. So now each morning after I wake up, I reach down and turn the pad on. After it warms a couple of minutes I roll out of bed and set my feet on the pad. After a couple of more minutes I stand up and lightly do some small marching type movements to get blood flowing and the tissue warmed up. My first steps in the morning have never felt better and I feel like things are progressing much quicker with my healing. The pad is also sitting under my feet while I type this, so that when I get up to get another cup of coffee, I am not stressed about those first few steps. Be careful on controlling pain with heat, because if you are already inflamed you might aggravate things and then a frozen water bottle might be your answer to get things under control. Anyway, as an option, try giving the heat pad next to your bed for those first steps in the morning a try and see how things progress. Maybe even use it while you are watching TV. Ultimately, after inflammation is under control, warm blood flow to the area can help heal that pesky PF. Good luck!

Man I have battled this a good bit. First thing that really worked for me was I had a Dr suggest meloxicam and that was great but obviously you need to consult a physician first and find out if that is the right fit for you. Next is 2 frozen bottles of water and roll them things around on a socked or bare foot while you are chillin or watching TV or helping the kiddies with homework. I have tried the sock but hard to sleep with your toes bent back to your shin.
I also think that PF is a result of tight hamstrings and flexibility. I have no proof other than a message therapist here at work and I were chatting and she started talking about how men in general ignore strengthening and stretching their hamstrings. She thinks that leads to more lower back, hamstring, calf and PF injuries. If you can at least touch your toes and hold them there you have a problem. Interesting I thought so I do stretch my hamstrings a good bit but slowly.

Additional notes on my PF saga, I am finding a lot of relief from the night splint. Not a sock, but a comfortable splint. I will list the two that I have found to be helpful and the two that seem to have helped everyone I have talked too. I alternate between the two because sometimes I like the boot with the brace on the back of my foot and sometimes I like the brace with the plastic on the top of the foot. Nothing like climbing into bed with boots on, but the mornings are better and these were given to my by my sports medicine doctor. Both are on Amazon

Futuro Night Plantar Fasciitis Sleep Support, Adjustable - about 22-23$

PLANTAR FASCITIS Night SPLINT by Ossur - usually 15-16$

Good luck!