Anybody fight Plantar fasciitis? Need boot ideas ?

[johnnyk71]

If you want to wade 6"s of water, those Keens aren't going to cut it.

This is true. Just couldn’t take the pain the LaCrosse rubbers was causing.

[Chuck Jones]

I fought plantars for a couple years; then someone told me to do stretches by pushing down the top of my foot and hold for 30 seconds, several times a day. It worked almost immediately and the pain never came back.

[Target Panic]

Look into getting a custom insert for your shoe boot from an Orthopedic Doc. I wore a pair of Wellington boots ( more like dress boots than cownboy boots they had a low heel) with a custom insert from an orthopedic doc for almost a year to get over mine. Once I put the insert in I went from hardly being able to walk to walking oK

[JD Covey]

If you want to wade 6"s of water, those Keens aren't going to cut it.

This is true! I have my eye on a couple pair of boots I might invest in after the first of the year. I bought some Dr Scholls inserts for now. Not a cure, but it has helped!
Thanks

[Target Panic]

I tried the Dr Schols insert and they did not work for me. The custom insert is the best.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

I had it pretty bad 10 years ago from job requirement of steel toed boots (poor fitting) on concrete for long shift work for a period of time. Did the stretches and went to zero lift barefoot shoes - Russell thula-thula boots - after the shift work was over. That really helped me.

R

[Brockett]

I suffered from it several years ago. My doctor told me to wear lace up boots or shoes with high quality insoles. When you wear slip on shoes or boots your toes are constantly curling to grip the footwear, thus straining the tendon that causes the condition. It made sense to me and after investing in higher quality boots and shoes with insoles my problem finally went away.

[katman]

JD, do yourself a favor and see a qualified Podiatrist. Get an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan to treat your plantar fasciitis as well as any comorbidities.
No I did not stay in a Holiday Inn express last night but I am a Podiatrist. Fasciitis is one of the most common afflictions I treat.

[PASQUINELL]

Look up Birkenstock inserts. They are blue I believe and put them in your shoes of boots.  Freeze a bottle of water and roll it back and forth with the arch of your foot. That helped me  after a bit

[johnnyk71]

JD, do yourself a favor and see a qualified Podiatrist. Get an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan to treat your plantar fasciitis as well as any comorbidities.
No I did not stay in a Holiday Inn express last night but I am a Podiatrist. Fasciitis is one of the most common afflictions I treat.

I second this. my wife tried 100 things. I went to a podiatrist, got custom orthotics, and it ended. I am praying this recent flareup will end similarly.

[Mint]

I did the stretches especially the one where barefoot you pick up an imaginary golf ball and try to put it in a cup. I also bought several pairs of the superfeet inserts and that did the trick. It's all about support and getting those muscles a little flexible. I've been paid free for over ten years.

[goingoldskool]

I have it in both feet due to wearing combat boots for 37 years with the last 24 working on hangar floors and flightlines. That being said, the VA podiatrist ordered me a couple sets of custom orthotics.   Along with that, I bought some GOOD hiking/hunting boots that were pretty expensive (Kenetrex),  but I have NOT had any foot pain since!  You only have 1 set of feet, why not spend a little extra and take care of them?

Good luck, Shoot straight and God bless,
Rodd

[TradDad92]

I had been dealing with worsening PF for the past 2 years (I walk on a concrete floor all day at work). Ended up going to a podiatrist and got a diagnosis, as well as a recommendation to get supportive shoes, stretch, don't walk barefoot in the house, and get some inserts. I ended up trying out Hokas, along with some superfeet inserts, for about 10 months. The cushion helped lessen the pain a little bit, but the pain never really went away and ended up getting worse again. I eventually started doing more research and looking for other options and stumbled on the whole barefoot/zero drop shoe rabbit hole. I got myself a pair of Xero Shoes zero drop barefoot hiking boots. It was a little bit of an adjustment and I was skeptical at first, but after a couple of weeks of wearing those (along with lots of calf stretching)  the pain almost completely went away. I currently still wear them, even on concrete all day at my work, and have absolutely zero pain any more. Only problems I have now are I cant stand wearing "normal" shoes that are narrow with lots of cushion etc because they feel really uncomfortable, and it's hard to find any really sturdy/protective hunting and/or hiking boots that will be good for heavy use. for now I ended up getting a pair of Lems boulder summit waterproof boots, but I have not had an opportunity to try them out much as of yet.

[smokin joe]

Like McDave, my feet are very wide at the front and normal at the back. Wide shoes (EEEE for me) and good orthotic inner soles (power step) are things that work for me.

Boots that work for me:
LaCrosse -- naturally wide
LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoe -- come in wide sizes
LL Bean Maine Wardens Field Boot -- naturally wide

[johnnyk71]

got some Keen Targhee IV boots showing up today. hoping those plus my orthotics will help a ton.

[johnnyk71]

well, the results are in on the Keen Targhee IV boots. I have worn these on two hunts and around town running errands a couple of times. Amazing!  I put my orthotics in them, and they felt awesome from the very first time I put them on. yesterday, I had a short walk to my stand, climbed up and down a ladder, and sat in my stand for three hours with virtually NO pain (one misstep on a root hurt a little bit).

These things have a wide two box, and I was able to wear the size 12 medium (usually need a EEE shoe). they aren't real cheap, but are affordable at $170. definitely see me wearing these from now on instead of the rubber LaCrosse boots. I used to get home from hunting in those things and could hardly walk.

[Even]

I have a theory regarding plantar fasciitus, which may be all wet, but I've fought it off and on for years and years.  I work twelve hour shifts on concrete, and am thick, so boot issues show up fast!   I also do a LOT of walking and hiking.

I think it comes down to foot support.  Years ago, when boots were less disposable and not all made in the Far East, I only had plantar issues after wearing my boots to death.  As soon as I got a new pair, the issue fixed itself, with some stretching and babying for a bit, then I was good to go again. 

Fast forward to the last twenty years, when the majority of work boots are basically glued together crap, produced at the lowest unit cost.  Even once decent brands like Redwing die faster, and foot pain comes a LOT quicker.  I've had to invest in new boots more often, and the better the boot quality, the longer the interval before the foot support goes away.  Once it does, the plantar issues creep up again. 

My personal feeling is that the poorly made boots use poorly designed and composed footbed materials, that compress too quickly, and move way to much.  Once your foot loses that support, its only a matter of time before issues crop up. 

My advice is to buy the best boots you can afford, and find a last that really fits your foot.   This varies tremendously from person to person.  Good boots cost lots of money :/  A couple of my favourites are Danner, and Zamberlan. 

A cheat you can use with a cheaper boot, is to find orthotics, or use an insole like Superfeet (Nylon, feel like boards until they break in, but support REALLY well), or some other way to add that all-important support that keeps the pressure spread out on your foot, and keeps your foot from flexing too much with each step. 

Good quality boots, and high quality footbeds are what has kept my feet from pain, for a long time now.

[johnnyk71]

I have a theory regarding plantar fasciitus, which may be all wet, but I've fought it off and on for years and years.  I work twelve hour shifts on concrete, and am thick, so boot issues show up fast!   I also do a LOT of walking and hiking.

I think it comes down to foot support.  Years ago, when boots were less disposable and not all made in the Far East, I only had plantar issues after wearing my boots to death.  As soon as I got a new pair, the issue fixed itself, with some stretching and babying for a bit, then I was good to go again. 

Fast forward to the last twenty years, when the majority of work boots are basically glued together crap, produced at the lowest unit cost.  Even once decent brands like Redwing die faster, and foot pain comes a LOT quicker.  I've had to invest in new boots more often, and the better the boot quality, the longer the interval before the foot support goes away.  Once it does, the plantar issues creep up again. 

My personal feeling is that the poorly made boots use poorly designed and composed footbed materials, that compress too quickly, and move way to much.  Once your foot loses that support, its only a matter of time before issues crop up. 

My advice is to buy the best boots you can afford, and find a last that really fits your foot.   This varies tremendously from person to person.  Good boots cost lots of money :/  A couple of my favourites are Danner, and Zamberlan. 

A cheat you can use with a cheaper boot, is to find orthotics, or use an insole like Superfeet (Nylon, feel like boards until they break in, but support REALLY well), or some other way to add that all-important support that keeps the pressure spread out on your foot, and keeps your foot from flexing too much with each step. 

Good quality boots, and high quality footbeds are what has kept my feet from pain, for a long time now.

I think you are 100% right about this. I use custom orthotics, and my podiatrist told me that after a while (in my case 2-3 years) they flatten out and must be replaced. I would think the same would hold for footwear. my most recent flareup happened when I failed to get new shoes and new orthotics at the beginning of this school year, and went half a year with poor support. now that both of those have been corrected, my pain has mostly subsided again.

[BigJim]

I have had it very bad in the past.. My feet are very difficult to fit as well being 15 EEEEE. I have had orthotics, shots  and other special items.
While on a plane, I was reading an article in a hunting mag about people experiencing relief with proper over the counter insoles.

I found a Dr. Scholls foot maping center at wal mart and it mapped my feet telling me what insole I needed.

Over a short period of time, my fasciitis disappeared.
BigJim