I suffer from extreme plantar fasciitis and it strongly affects my mobility. Initially the flare ups were limited primarily to when I first put my feet on the floor in the morning. The pain is akin to having sharp needles stabbed into your feet. And if it isn't a stabbing sensation, than it's an intense throbbing, as though I'd been walking 24 hours straight. Over the last year it's gotten much worse too, and is pretty much continuous.

I wear the standard orthopedic inserts, the wraps and night splints, went to physical therapy, was sent to pain management, and prescribed meds. I have even undergone a series of acupuncture treatments, which offered some relief, but only for about six months.

So my question is, has your weight loss surgery helped any with your plantar fasciitis? And if so, to what degree?

Yes. Prior to surgery, Rocker Bottom shoes (like the skechers, but they're not the only ones) + Ibuprofen more than once per day. Post surgery (and 100# weight loss), I can wear whatever shoes I want. There are still mornings my feet hurt when I hit the floor, but if I wear the splints at night, they don't.

ETA: I've gone from a 9.5 W to a 7.5 W or an 8 M

Edited July 13, 201511 yr by scstxrn

Wow! On behalf of my aching feet, thank you everybody, for all the excellent suggestions! My printer is going to be working overtime to get them all down.!????

Edited July 13, 201511 yr by The Candidate

Ohhhh I love the look of Dansko's I think I'm going to try them, as well. I really just want to go back to wearing my Doc Martens, but what's a punk rock girl to do with PF? lmao They really offer no support. I can wear them for a night out, but otherwise, it's me and my Crocs. I love that everyone has found different things that help. I love Birkenstock too, so I could totally see investing in a new pair, I haven't had a new pair since the 90's. LOL Ohhhhh that reminds me....

Are your feet shrinking?

Shoes I couldn't even wear before, I can now, because my edema is so much better, and I'm only down 63 lbs, I have plenty to go. I wonder if I'll be a whole different shoe size when I reach goal. Anyone else experience this?

Omg....yesssss..I just noticed this...too..my shoe size has gone down a whole size!!!...down 60 lbs....got 60 more to go!

My podiatrist strapped my foot with athletic tape, it stayed on about 5 days and felt so good. I am sure you can find it on U Tube to watch and do yourself.

Oh my goodness you think me being in orthopedics I would have remembered to properly stretch my feet before a heavy work out and avoid getting this. I got right into the work outs and had the problem from the get go. For the past two months those I get a water bottle fill it half way and freeze it and after my morning work out I roll my foot and heel over the frozen bottle to help ease the pain and get on with my day. SUPER important to stretch before a long work out and don't be barefoot until the pain subsides. A lot of people tend not to wear shoes at home I wear my all day except to shower and sleep basically. Good luck to anymore who is suffering from this. Never had it before surgery. Then again I wasn't working out or on my feet too much!

I had PF surgery about 10 years ago. I damaged it playing softball but I am willing to say my weight probably had something to do with it. I am happy to report that while the surgery and recovery were a pain (no walking on it for 6 weeks and then a boot cast for several months) was 100% back to normal within a year. I can now wear any shoe I want and exercise without any problem including running (although I do stay away from softball....). I do still wear my inserts in my running shoes.

Hopefully just losing the weight will solve your PF issues. Good Luck!

I didn't read through this thread but I have one word for you: Vionics. There are amazing shies out there now. These are made with a built-in orthotic footbed. Better than my expensive custom orthotics. And I use Soke brand orthotics in my sneakers. We are worth the investment! Walk on!

Whoops, sorry iPad won't let me edit......check out Sole brand inserts and Vionics. I have a pair of Sole corked flip-flops and I slip them on when I get out of bed.

I had terrible issues with PF before surgery and could only wear Ecco shoes (the only shoes that didn't hurt me) and flats where out of the question. Since surgery I am happy to say that I get the very occasional arch ache but I wear heals every day to work and stilettos when I'm heading out in the evening. I'm so happy to be able to buy pretty shoes again!

While I was still obese, I sought a physical therapist for my painful PF. She recommended ASTYM therapy which is a process where they use special instruments to allow the plantar ligament to somewhat detach from the surrounding tissues allowing it to be the length it needs to be.

I had eight weeks of this treatment several months before my surgery. With that, and my weight loss, I haven't experience any PF issues since.

Here is a quick article I found regarding the treatment. Also, do your own Google search for ASTYM and Plantar Fasciitis:

http://chicagohealthonline.com/stimulating-touch/

Noticed this thread today. Received shots into foot today, the numbness from the lidocaine is helpful. Have been stretching, wearing inserts, & proper shoes for months. No help. It has really impeded my ability

to exercise - have gone to the bike instead. Hope your feet feel better soon. I agree that the Water bottle is a good solution too for pain relief.

Hang in there.

I cannot echo the comment above about Vionic shoes enough. I have custom orthotics in my sneakers but of course what is the first thing I do when I get in the house? Kick off my shoes and put my feet up? I got Vionic slippers to wear around the house and they were NOT cheap but not only my PF was better but also my knee pain going up and down the stairs in my house.

And you might just sweat it off your feet, but you might want to talk to your orthopedist and/or podiatrist about some kind of topical NSAID gel that you could apply to your feet (at least at night before bed) to help with the inflammation. I know as WLS patients ibuprofen by mouth is out of the question, but if you apply it topically to the feet it should not hurt your stomach. Otherwise you could also try any number of over the counter topicals - aspercreme, salon pas, biofreeze, etc. I would not go the capsacin route myself with the feet. I once put a sock on over it and boy did it burn and most capsacin says not to put any compression on the site. Again you would basically have to apply in bed right before you go to sleep to keep the stuff from rubbing off, but if you did so it might make the stretching more productive when you wake up in the morning.

I hope this helps and again cannot say enough good things about Vionic.

I went from Crocs to Sketchers, I have now changed to Merrell shoes. They are the best.