I am probably jinxing myself, but I have recently decided that my long-running battle with plantar fasciitis is officially over. The last milestone I cleared to bring me to this conclusion is that I no longer ice my feet every evening. In fact, I rarely do it at all. That saves me a half hour each day, and time is a precious commodity in my current season of life.
One of the last times I iced my feet was during 40+ USTA League Sectionals in Houston. When I was done, my granddaughter decided that her feet and ankles needed icing and took a turn with the lukewarm gel packs. Monkey see, monkey do. It was adorable, as is everything she does, and I am not biased at all.
During my plantar fasciitis ordeal, I learned some important lessons. First and foremost, stretching my arches, ankles, Achilles tendons, and calves is an essential daily practice that I will never abandon. Consequently, I have a 15-minute stretching routine that is a non-negotiable part of my daily life. Additionally, if I ever see the symptoms reassert themselves, I will immediately go to Airrosti, as that medical treatment was what ultimately resolved my condition. I am still kicking myself for not going there sooner, an act made much easier since I no longer have pain in my feet.
While I am no longer icing my feet and ankles daily, I still keep my NatraCure cold therapy wraps in the freezer, just in case. If I ever experience a hint of pain or have to play two singles matches in one day, they will quite likely be pressed into service. Over my two years of plantar fasciitis, I tried various icing products and solutions. The NatraCure cold therapy wraps were the absolute best method for me. I have also discovered that these are good for the hand and wrist area.
NatraCure Cold Therapy Wrap (<-Sponsored Link)
Don’t be like me. If you are struggling with plantar fasciitis, make an appointment with your nearest Airrosti service provider. Additionally, start stretching your feet, ankles, and calves. Along the way, you will need to aggressively ice your feet and ankles. The NatraCure cold therapy wraps are a great product for that.
I’ve had plantar fasciitis too – it’s the worst! Highly recommend shockwave therapy from a podiatrist. I did 6 treatments and haven’t had problems since. Obviously, stretching is still essential.
After living with feet pain for years, icing, stretching, trying to sleep in the booties that keep feet stretched out at night, and lots of ibuprofen, finally reduced my plantar fasciitis to much lower pain level with very firm shoes, super firm inserts for all my shoes, and compression knee socks Use smartwool socks which seem cooler in the heat than polyester.