Did anyone have plantar fasciitis before surgery? Did it get better after surgery?

I was so upset about not being able to walk with mine. It really put a cramp in a trip we took and we had a family camping trip ahead of us.  I went to the best podiatrist I could find--he is at Southwest Medical School here in Dallas and is a professor there.  He said nothing will make a big difference except physical therapy.  He recommended physical therapy for 2 months.

I went for one month before our camping trip, and although I had to move slowly I wasn't in pain.  When I got back I went for another month to strengthen the hip, knee and leg on that side.  The only time I have any pain now is when I don't wear good shoes with my orthotics, which actually aren't precsiption.  They came from Ideal Feet and are ridiculously expensive (though I have heard prescription orthotics are worse).

So yes, you need good arch supports in your shoes and more importantly, physcial therapy. 

Oh yes, and one thing I learned at PT--freeze a bottle of water and roll your foot on it when you're in great pain.  Yes, it's cold, and yes, it hurts at first.  You rub with ice until its numb and then quit.

And even easier--get a golf ball, put it on the floor, and roll your foot all over it for a fabulous foot massage that will also loosen up that area.

I haven't had my surgery yet.  Nest week!

Thanks for the info! What podiatrist did you see?   I live in the DFW area. I'll do anything for some relief! Mine hasn't mentioned anything about physical therapy. What kind of physical therapy did you have?

I've heard of Ideal Feet.

I've been doing the frozen water bottle under my feet. I also have been taking an anti-inflammatory that he prescribed.

Good luck on your surgery! So exciting!

Dr Liu at Southwest Medical School. 

http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/fis/faculty/107048/george-liu.html

I only saw him once.  That was all it took.  He wrote a prescription for therapy that I could take to any facility near me and get filled, and it WORKED.

That's so good to know!!

 My friend who had Gastric bypass has it, I will ask her how it is since her weight loss! 
I hope you feel better soon!

Thanks Amber! Yes-I'd love to know how she's doing-especially since she can't take non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

Big hugs back at ya!!

I'm pre-op, and I've been battling heel spurs and plantar fasciitis for nearly 2 years now.  I feel your pain.  And on the orthotics, they will hurt for a while - you have to get used to them.  But NEVER WEAR ANYTHING ELSE.  Trust me on this.  It will take even longer to get used to them if you do.  I had to say goodbye to my beloved flip flops.  Miss them like crazy. :(  But my feet are a lot better now that I wear only tennis shoes.  Oh, but if you don't feel like your feet are getting used to them, talk to your doc.  They may need to be adjusted.  We had to adjust mine twice before they were "right."  (And if you get to the point that you just can't wear those damn things anymore, there's a storebought kind that are just as fantastic as the prescription orthotics - they just don't last as long.  I can find the name if you're interested.)

I've been told that, yes, it will get better after weight loss.  But there are other things you can do now to help you get by.  Has your doctor got you doing stretches?  Are you using a night splint?  If you aren't doing these two things, you should start.  The night splint helped the most.  It absolutely sucks to have something on my foot (because I hate wearing socks, etc, when I sleep), but man ... if you wear it religiously, it helps keep that stretched out and less angry.  The freaking cortisone treatments did nothing for me, sadly. :(  Stupid feet.

I'm also hoping that it gets better after I've dropped some weight.  While the things I'm doing help, some days are still pretty bad (especially if the stupid splint comes off in the night several nights in a row), and I truly believe it's because my feet just cannot get a break from hauling my fat ass around. haha 

I have plantar fasciitis in both feet.  I have had two series of those shots in my feet which are unpleasant, but did give me some temporary relief.  My surgery date is 4-2-12 and I have lost 24 lbs and I can't believe the difference in my feet, knee and back pain already.
Good Luck!

Pre-surgery, I had heel spurs in both feet & plantar fasciitis in the left one. My symptoms completely disappeared as I lost weight.

Oh girl-Praise the Lord for that! That is so good to hear!!! I'm hoping that I will get some relief when I lose this weight!