13 Little Adjustments to Plantar Fascitis

Here are some of the little changes that plantar fascitis has brought into my life.

1. I now walk like an old, old woman. The short, insecure steps come from a combination of the pain and the fact I have fewer problems with ongoing pain when I am more careful.

2. I can no longer jump out of bed. I have to stop and wiggle my foot for a while first. Taking the time to do so makes a huge improvement in the rest of my day.

3. I no longer stand up quickly. I have to wiggle my foot first. This is pretty much an all day thing.

4. I no longer run around barefoot or even in my stocking feet. I need just a little bit of a heel.

5. When I get out of bed, I put my shoes on even before I consider standing.

6. Until yesterday I had to go down the stairs very slowly, putting both feet on each step because the pressure on the bad foot was too much.

7. I’m more careful about turning or changing directions. Quick changes makes it worse.

8. I no longer have confidence in my body’s ability to quickly get over a sprain. This has been going on since the end of January.

9. You know those stretches you are supposed to do before running where you put a little pressure on your Achilles tendon by pressing the leg backward? I do those a couple times a day with no intention of doing anything else.

10. I wiggle my foot at random moments while sitting. This helps more than you’d think.

11. I scrunch up towels with my toes. It’s a recommended exercise and it’s fun.

12. I bought the shoe inserts, but tossed them out after the first day of using them because they hurt worse than wearing the shoes without them.

13. I’m getting better, but very slowly. Can’t wait until I no longer need shoes.