I've been walking around barefoot on and off (shoes at work, barefoot most of the rest of the time) for 40 odd years, and about 6 months ago I developed what I believe is plantar fasciitis. It started in my right heel area and about a month ago my left foot seemed to get it as well. It's very painful to walk in the morning, I have to stretch my feet constantly to ease the pain. It's painful whether I am barefoot or wearing shoes, it makes no difference. Have any other barefooters here ever had this complaint? I would be grateful to know how you got rid of it. I don't want to go to a podiatrist, he/she will just tell me to wear special shoes all the time and never walk barefoot. Any advice would be appreciated.
When I had it, I found that very well cushioned running shoes with pronounced arch supports were hugely helpful in my recovery. Unfortunately, being barefoot aggravated it.
There is a nice short how-to on treating plantar fasciitis on this site: http://www.ehow.com/how_2039176_treat-plantar-fasciitis.html Especially steps 2, 3 and 6 featured there are pro-barefoot, indeed. And, on the bottom of the page, the main causes for plantar fasciitis are presented as ready-made to be another pro-argument on barefooting: "The main causes of plantar fasciitis: overuse and improper shoes". Wiggling toes, ~*Ganesha*~
i'm pretty sure my mom has this and does pretty much the same thing as you, barefoot. ii'm not sure if there's much you can do besides stretching and arch support.
fasciitis is an inflammation. first: rest as much as possible and see if it gets better. i had that and resting cured it. just more armchair and no hiking. forget ice, i think it's detrimental. if it does not go away resort to the doc, inflammations are prone to getting chronic . chronic inflammations are a major pain in the ass, or in the arch of the foot in your case.
I am ignorant as to what it is, but after reading some of your posts, I think I may have had this during the early summer last year. The pads of my feet would hurt in certain places and it was especially painful when I woke up in the morning. Since I don't even own shoes I just kept on going barefoot and it just went away. I don't really have pain anymore and I've been barefoot for the past 2 years.
The cushioned running shoes with prominent arch supports distribute your weight/impact over the entire foot and allow the inflammation and small tears to heal. The cushioned sole allows for stretching when you walk. I was able to keep going barefoot through a mild case but not the severe one. You may need to see your doc for medicine to reduce the inflammation. I came close to needing crutches to allow the foot to rest as jagerhans points out is also important. I believe the whole thing was caused by shoes!
Thanks for all your comments. I think rest definitely helps but sometimes that's not possible (as I have to go to Hong Kong next week). I'll just keep stretching (especially the calves) and maybe have to wear shoes with good arches sometimes if I have to walk a long way. I never thought I would get this, but it's good to know I'm not the only barefooter who has had it. I just hope it will clear up eventually
Like I said, I don't even have the option of wearing shoes since I don't own any. When I had that it just went away on it's own. Wearing shoes with good arch supports actually weakens your muscles and then when you decide to go barefoot again it will be painful until you gain full use of those muscles again. Kind of like keeping your arm in a cast. If it were me I would just keep stretching and let it pass.
But when it is soooo bad you can't put any weight on your foot - you will appreciate the other recommendations.
I know you don't want a doctor to tell you that you must wear shoes, but it would probably be a good idea to see him/her to have your issue properly diagnosed. I've known a few people who've had plantar fasciitis. It didn't sound fun, but they also were advised of certain stretching exercises and techniques that seemed effective. If it's not plantar fasciitis, there could be something else at play that's readily treatable (e.g., bone bruise, tendonitis, etc.). Just my 2-cents worth.
What kind of work shoes are you wearing? I had the same problem. Going from barefooting to highly contoured shoes with heels at work made that getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom a painful experience in the morning. I changed to flat shoes with no heels or supports. Converses, Sanuks, or leather boat shoes are great. You just have to pay attention and not heel strike when you walk. My Keen sandals are highly contoured and I can't wear them anymore. Even Crocs with their spongy give will make my arches sore. When you get your feet used to a hard flat surface that's what they like. Also, walking barefooted and in flat shoes you get less back problems.
In the year 2001 I took a new job and for the first time in many years I put on some footwear (cheap imitation birk sandals) so I could walk around the office and labs without attracting attention. In less than a month I developed plantar fascitis which lasted several months until the company abruptly went out of business. I tossed the shoes and went barefoot all the time like I did before. No more pain, and since then I have never had another episode.
You mentioned that you did not want to attract attention. Could you have gone to work barefoot if you wanted to? if so, what kind of job was it? Just curious.
Actually I was constantly bugged for even wearing open toe sandals to work. I had to walk between my cubicle and the clean room labs where I put on cloth booties and a "bunny suit" so that tiny particles from my clothing would not get into the air. The company made microscopic machines you could only see under magnification, and a single dust particle would cause the machines to jam up and fail. It was a very conservative, lonely environment and I was glad when it was all over. Since we're now on the topic of work environments, I once interviewed for a company where everyone went barefoot, all the time. It was so cool to see everyone, including the secretary and CEO, all walking around barefoot in the office and lab spaces and even in the parking lot coming back from lunch. That was a musical instrument company near Santa Cruz. Too bad I didn't get the job- I actually showed up to the interview in suit and tie and heavy dress shoes. I should have told them just how much of a barefooter I was!
