I have had symptoms of plantar fasciitis for about two years. I have been going to doctors for over a year. I'm so tired and fustrated with not making any improvement that last. I am about to have a MRI of my foot and more than likely surgery. Any imput? Is surgery going to make it better or worse? I just know the doctors all frown on surgery but are giving in to it. HELP

Sean, Tell me about your experience. Did you go to doctors or did you deal with it yourself? I've given it a year with pain daily but I am nervous about the surgery because some say it has a long recovery time. Some say it didn't work. I need some advise from others with the same problem.

Plantar fasciitis is what I have been diagnosed as having.

It's miserable in the mornings. Getting out of bed just made me cry with plantar's fasciitis. Fortunately I got some good locker room advice. Orthodic insoles and a couple exercises. You can get custom mail order insoles through stepforward.com. They send you a packet to make an imprint of your foot. I don't know what constitutes advertising but I have no affiliation with them and it worked for me. Then exercises: Curl your foot between your two hands as if you want to roll your pinky toe into the inside of your heel crosswise while pressing firmly on the arch of your foot where the pain is (twisting it, so all the energy and bloodflow is at the point that needs healing). To me, I could feel a pulse of blood flow healing and reinvigoration of the area. Don't be harsh, it should feel good and hold it for a minute or two, while watching TV or reading, maybe a couple time per day. I also heard that you should put a handtowel in the floor with 4-6 inches out in front of your toes and scrunch it up using your toes, which builds the muscles in the arch. In my case I think I got PF from trying to lose weight by running when I had too much weight on me : ) It is also good to do the "bend and touch your toes" exercise. But always be sure to counter that with the opposing muscle structure, in this case the hamstring (pulling your leg behind your rear). Physical therapists know know their stuff. I would trust their knowledge before going to surgery. At any rate do your homework. Never trust your life to a smooth talker.

I've recently been treated for hypothyroid (low thyroid)
and subsequently my plantar faciatas and tarsal tunnel
(ankle) went away completely in 3-5 weeks with thyroid and T3 meds.

8 yrs ago I was also told I had carpal tunnel from computer keyboarding (work)--about a week after the feet/ankle stopped hurting, my carpal tunnel symptoms also lessened. I no longer awake in the middle of the night with numb fingers, tingly hands and pain in my wrist ( no involuntary curling of the hands/wrist) -- it is about 60-70 percent improved though the carpal has not yet completely abated.

Fyi there are new guidelines for low thyroid levels per the Endocrinology Assoc. You can find the article on the internet .. (Thyroid levels were rated 1 to 5.. now its 1 to 3 Previously I was told I didn't have low thyroid.. the new testing showed me outside the 1 to 3 scale.)

For me, I believe surgery is the LAST resort. I managed to get through 8 yrs with carpal tunnel without it. I took the same approach with Tarsal Tunnel and Plantar Faciatas. Now that I've found my culprit for these conditions... I am glad I didn't have surgical intervention.

PS -- I have an acquaintance who had the Plantar surgery.. it was painful and recovery very drawn out over several months