Plantar Fasciitis update.

I still have aching feet. I thought this would have gone by now - but I read recently that it can take many months - even a year to heal. And that is after you do every thing to heal it!


Thankfully there are sites out there to help.


This site is useful:


http://bestshoesforplantarfasciitis.com/




I was in a lot of pain - so went to Wall Mart and got some 'custom' inserts made by Dr Scholl's.
They cost a fair price - but did offer me relief. I can add them to any of my other shoes for arch support - so I don't have to stop wearing all my old shoes!


I wish I knew they did this product though:


Heal Support

It is much cheaper and may well have done the same thing... Maybe I will try this next...
Anything is cheeper than seeing a specialist though!


The first thing in treating Plantar Fasciitis is to get supportive shoes. I went to a local mall and tried on many types. I concentrated mainly on New Balance since they are commonly used by the Plantar Fasciitis community. 


I also tried Sketchers 'shape-ups'. Some have found relief using these - but some also claim it gave them Plantar Fasciitis. Some even complain about joint pains after wearing these (which the shoes are supposed to prevent). There are doubts over this shoe - but I wanted to try them anyway. 
I went to the Sketchers shop in Discovery Mall (5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30043).


I was hoping to get some advice on what shoe to buy for my condition. Also - what if I wanted to get a sport shoe for running or sports? The 'shape up' seemed only for walking - so is there a suitable shoe for Plantar Fasciitis sufferers that would be ok for sport?


Expecting to get any sort of help at this store was far too optimistic. I just got two teenager 'assistants' that seemed more concerned that I was in their way than actually helping. 


One of the 'assistants' walked passed and his ear bud from his phone fell off. He seemed most concerned about that. Not so concerned that I had cash in my pocket ready to buy shoes and had been desperately trying out shoes with little joy (and I needed advice). 
I started measuring my own foot with a device I found stashed under my seat. The lady came over and confirmed that I was a size 9.5 (US size). It was odd because the 9.5 shoe I tried on seemed too lose. She simply said I needed to try a smaller size and walked off. No offer to find it for me in the wall of shoes! Maybe there was stock out the back also?


There was a large step ladder in the way of the shoes I was interested in. Not once did any one offer to move it. I tried to move it - but it was pretty heavy. The staff kept getting caught by the steps as they walked passed - as I was probably a little in their way - but it was the nearest seat to the shoes I was trying!


I could not find a size 9 - so totally annoyed with the customer service I walked out. There is NO WAY Sketchers are getting a dollar out of me with customer service like that. 
I doubt the teens even knew what Plantar Fasciitis actually is - I mean I didn't at their age!
I felt like asking if a grown up was in the store - but you could imagine how well that would have gone down... 


I purchased a pair of New Balance MW576 shoes for work from a shop called 'Off Broadway Shoes' also in discovery mall. These guys have been more helpful in the past - but not this particular day. I was able to try on a LOT of shoes though. Even Sketchers ones. 


The MW576 was not recommended for Plantar Fasciitis as such (like the MW755 or the 'Motion Control' types) - but is a Walking Shoe (DSL-2) The SL-2 is a 'last type' (or mold type) which seems to be good for high arches. It has a narrow heal also. 


I felt great in these. I had no idea about 'last types' and the such - I just knew I felt better in these than any other shoe I tried that day. 


I wore them today and got relief - and this is without orthopedic inserts!
The arch support seems good. They are light and built for work (non-slip / non-marking).  


I will see how things go.


I got them from Off Broadway thinking I got a bargain (not $72 but $59 - well $63 after tax)
and I found them sold on the New Balance site at a clearance price of $40!
MW576VK
After shipping and sales tax - it would probably come to around $50 - so it's not too bad. I will not rush into buying another pair from a shop though. Maybe try them in the shop - get the part number and see if there are deals on line :-)


So what have I learned about all this?


I have spent my whole life not worrying about the type I shoe I buy and what arch type I am etc. I mean - a shoe is a shoe right? I usually wear a shoe until it falls apart or whatever. Heal support is for wimps anyway...


Well I guess you never worry about a thing until it is a problem. In future I will go out of my way to get supportive shoes. The long term affects of poor shoes far out-ways the cost (pain). 
What is a supportive shoe anyway? 
I mean if it is spongy and does not bend - it's OK right?


It needs to support your arch type. Some have flat arches (lucky things) and some have high arches. If you have high arches you will have to look very closely at the shoe - or just get arch inserts. 
I think a nice rocking action is helpful. The Sketches shape-ups do feel great when walking I have to admit. The arch support was low - so could get an insert. 
I just wish I had more confidence that the shape-ups are good for Plantar Fasciitis...