Can anyone recommend a foot massaging machine? I have

[raccoon]

plantar fasciitis, and think it would help.

Has anyone had plantar fasciitis, and if so did massaging help, do you think?

[Tikki]

1. I would like to know, also...

Tikki

[Epiphany4z]

2. not sure about the machine but

I have the same thing and a good soak in warm water helps...also shoe inserts help..rolling your foot over a tennis ball helps a bit

[safeinOhio]

3. find an older coke bottle

and roll it back and forth under your arch. I use an old type coke bottle about 5 inches high and its' surface is kind of ribbed. Like the old ten cent ones from when I was a kid. Works.

[mike_c]

4. I've had PF problems....

Frankly, I didn't get much actual relief from massage, although it feels good when it's happening, so I certainly never turned one down.

I'm 99 percent pain free at present, and have been for a couple of months now. What REALLY worked was an orthopedist deciding that my achilles tendon was contracted-- yep-- and prescribing physical therapy to stretch it. Frankly, now that I've done it, I'm sure the PT helped, but it really wasn't necessary. I've become a VERY dedicated stretcher, and the foot pain has just about disappeared. I also wear PowerStep insoles in all my shoes for arch support.

I suffered for years, dude. I REALLY do feel your pain. I tried lots of things-- ice, massage, electro-infusion, anti-inflammatory drugs, previous rounds of PT that did not target my achilles, etc. Stretching works better for me than everything else put together. Stretching my ACHILLES. Sounds strange, but it's the shit. I do the standard runner's achilles stretch, three times a day, hold for 1-2 min each leg.

It's not an overnight cure, however. It took nearly three months to get to this point-- but I started to get some relief pretty quickly, in a couple of weeks.

[juno jones]

5. Massage does help a bit.

But if you haven't already, take a close look at your shoes.

Orthotics really help, from what I've heard. My husband has them for foot and back pain, and he won't go without them.

I'm hoping to get custom inserts some day, but I found that the construction-duty generic ones were afordable and helped cut down my foot pain. Look for inserts rated for cement and other hard surfaces.

I work on my feet, and to barely be able to walk sometimes is maddening. :(

Good luck with finding a solution. :hi:

[Bonhomme Richard]

6. As crazy as it sounds I had to wear work boots and noticed......

after a few days that my feet felt much better. I guess my problem had everything to do with support. Since then I have bought better shoes and I change my shoe's at least twice a day so that my feet don't get in a rut..so to speak. I haven't had a problem, since.

[Warpy]

7. This is what I used when I was running cement floors 12 hours a night

http://www.amazon.com/Bodyback-com-Foot-Roller/dp/B000KK2RJC/ref=sr_1_2/176-6915126-8671551?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1256764393&sr=8-2

You use it when you're sitting watching the tube or reading. It does lovely things for sore feet.

[bluethruandthru]

8. I wish there were inserts that women could wear in dress shoes.

Every kind I've tried makes it impossible for me to wear dress shoes. I can only wear the inserts if I'm wearing sneakers or a shoe that ties. PF is driving me nuts.

[raccoon]

9. Thanks for your comments. Here's what I've been doing up to now:

--Stretching Achilles tendon with exercise band. I sit on the couch, put the band under ball of the foot, and pull foot toward me 25 times. I do this morning and evening.

--rolling frozen water bottle under feet, 5 min. each, in evening.

--have been wearing gel arch support insoles in shoes about 3 months. (I have high arches).

I bought a gizmo to keep my foot from pointing too much at night but it's not very comfortable, so I've stopped wearing it.

And I've only been wearing comfortable shoes, such as New Balance, or when I dress up (rarely) Easy Spirits, for ages.

Walking was my favorite exercise. :cry: The PF has gotten better but I still have "bad days".

Here's hoping all of us with PF can get it under control. :toast:

[RedEarth]

10. This morning on NPR Dr. Zorba Paster was talking about plantar fasciitis

with a lady who called in. Bottom line, he said she has to wear shoes ALL the time she's not sleeping.....even wear crocs(or something similar) when she's taking a shower. He also mentioned, she should never wear high heels.

http://www.wpr.org/zorba/resource_plantar_fasciitis.htm

main site.........

http://www.wpr.org/zorba/