In this post, I share with you a list of items that helped me naturally heal plantar fasciitis, torn tendons in the arch and a heel spur. I battled with these injuries for a year and a half, from early 2013 until late 2014, after attempting to run too far, too fast in my first pregnancy, and too soon after my first child was born.
Determined to take the holistic route, I refused cortisone shots from a podiatrist and became aggressive in learning how to cure my own ailments. It worked! The plantar fasciitis and heel spur, which was situated on the bottom of the right foot at the inner corner of the calcaneus (heel bone) where it meets the arch, are both gone, and the tendons are repaired. I was told the heel spur would never go away, but it did.
Shortly after healing, I began running the way I love to run and won second overall female in three races and fourth overall in one race ranging from distances of 3.5 to 15.5 miles in 2015: the Mount Summit Challenge; The Pyle Run & Ride 15.5 Mile Trail Run; the Wisconsin North Face Endurance Challenge 10K Trail Race; and the Burlington Town Bank Turkey Trot 5K. In 2016, I won first female in the Mount Summit Challenge and ran the Pittsburgh Marathon one week later. I tell you this to show how deeply healed my feet were and to exemplify that it is possible to return to normal, or even better, after such debilitating foot conditions.
Currently I am 21 weeks into my second pregnancy and still running. Once every two or three weeks when plantar fascia flares up, I take to my favorite healing methods and within minutes, relief sets in and stays for a few more weeks.
To read in more detail about my foot journey, please read the May 2014 post, Rolfing Away Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Spurs. The items shown below will make more sense after reading the original post, which gives you specific lists, including internal and external remedies, professional therapies, and products that helped as well as those that hindered progress. Some items displayed below are not included in the original post, because I discovered them afterward. For instance, Birkenstocks have become one of my most useful and therapeutic daily "tools." Sometimes when plantar fascia rears it's ugly head, all I have to do is slip on a pair of Birkenstock sandals, wear them around the house for an hour or two, and symptoms have disappeared completely. They are a cute, comfy and easy preventative!
Further, most of these items have a story behind them. If you have questions about any of them, please leave a comment below or email me at brynnestella7@gmail.com. Better yet, attend my Foot Yoga class at 4:45 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18 at LPS Strength & Meditation or 10 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 27 at Nemacolin Woodlands Holistic Healing Center, and we can chat after I guide you through a healing yoga sequence designed to strengthen, activate, stretch and relieve all parts of the foot and lower leg. If these dates and times do not work, I offer private in-studio Foot Yoga sessions.
Determined to take the holistic route, I refused cortisone shots from a podiatrist and became aggressive in learning how to cure my own ailments. It worked! The plantar fasciitis and heel spur, which was situated on the bottom of the right foot at the inner corner of the calcaneus (heel bone) where it meets the arch, are both gone, and the tendons are repaired. I was told the heel spur would never go away, but it did.
Shortly after healing, I began running the way I love to run and won second overall female in three races and fourth overall in one race ranging from distances of 3.5 to 15.5 miles in 2015: the Mount Summit Challenge; The Pyle Run & Ride 15.5 Mile Trail Run; the Wisconsin North Face Endurance Challenge 10K Trail Race; and the Burlington Town Bank Turkey Trot 5K. In 2016, I won first female in the Mount Summit Challenge and ran the Pittsburgh Marathon one week later. I tell you this to show how deeply healed my feet were and to exemplify that it is possible to return to normal, or even better, after such debilitating foot conditions.
Currently I am 21 weeks into my second pregnancy and still running. Once every two or three weeks when plantar fascia flares up, I take to my favorite healing methods and within minutes, relief sets in and stays for a few more weeks.
To read in more detail about my foot journey, please read the May 2014 post, Rolfing Away Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Spurs. The items shown below will make more sense after reading the original post, which gives you specific lists, including internal and external remedies, professional therapies, and products that helped as well as those that hindered progress. Some items displayed below are not included in the original post, because I discovered them afterward. For instance, Birkenstocks have become one of my most useful and therapeutic daily "tools." Sometimes when plantar fascia rears it's ugly head, all I have to do is slip on a pair of Birkenstock sandals, wear them around the house for an hour or two, and symptoms have disappeared completely. They are a cute, comfy and easy preventative!
Further, most of these items have a story behind them. If you have questions about any of them, please leave a comment below or email me at brynnestella7@gmail.com. Better yet, attend my Foot Yoga class at 4:45 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18 at LPS Strength & Meditation or 10 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 27 at Nemacolin Woodlands Holistic Healing Center, and we can chat after I guide you through a healing yoga sequence designed to strengthen, activate, stretch and relieve all parts of the foot and lower leg. If these dates and times do not work, I offer private in-studio Foot Yoga sessions.
Internal Therapies:
The vinegar, spirulina, ginger, tea and turmeric were taken to combat inflammation and promote healing. An acupuncturist recommended AquaLyte water enhancer. Please consult with a professional before taking homeopathic remedies.
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External Therapies:
The Epsom salts are used for a 15-20 minute foot soak. I use the magnesium, sesame and castor oils (not at the same time) as a carrier oil before applying several drops of lavender and lemongrass essential oil to the bottoms of the feet. The essential oils can also be added to the Epsom salt bath. The golf ball is used for specific, intentional myofascial release (not just mindless rolling) on the bottom of the foot and something that has helped tremendously.
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Products:
Some products I use more than others. For instance, I am careful in using the Strassburg sock, because while keeping the foot flexed for an extended period of time might stretch the calf and arches, it can also strain the tendons around the knee. Yet, using it during the worst of the injury was effective. I currently do not need to use it at all. The Plantar Fasciitis sleeves are lovely compression to wear after a long run or a long day on the feet. The Shakti Mat provides a great surface for "walking on nails (or gravel!)" inside the home. With my high arch, I roll a towel underneath of it so that the points reach my arch as well. The Voodoo Floss was introduced to me by my sports physical therapist - please consult a PT for instruction on proper use.
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Please share your plantar fasciitis, heel spur, strained foot tendon or other foot injury stories and how you may have used natural remedies to heal! If you're struggling with foot pain, may patience and perseverance be with you. I wish you a great day and send loving vibes to your soles.
Thank you for reading!
xo,
:) Brynn
Thank you for reading!
xo,
:) Brynn
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