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I have PF, bone spurs, and neuropathy in both feet and tendinitis in my right ankle. I’m pretty much always in pain. And it’s caused my depression to worsen. How do yall cope with it? I had to quit my job. I can’t keep my home clean. The things I love to do, like driving or cooking, I can barely do anymore. (I do have a chair in my kitchen so I can sit down but the getting up and down constantly is killing my knees). I can barely even walk to my car nowadays because of the pain. And I don’t even want to start on the weight gain from the lack of movement…. The depression has made my insomnia (which I’ve had long before the feet issues started) so much worse. My Dr has even told me there’s nothing more for me he can do. I don’t feel like I can even try and get better if I can’t fix that first. TIA for any responses I get.
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I also have pf and neuropathy - although the professionals can't agree on this. I know it. Massage is good but expensive and a massage gun just isn't the same. Swimming helps me. I am currently in a pain and depression flare so I get it. Hugs x
Oh it can take you down that depression road and fast. I'm so sorry. I don't have bone spurs I just had the plantar fasciitis which was enough. My mistake was getting a cortisone shot which I apparently was allergic to which caused an endocrine nightmare within me. I'm recovering from the panic attacks and the severe depression just from the cortisone shot. Profusely sweating too. Never again. I did however go off all caffeine, sugar, and alcohol. It's been 8 weeks and there is a difference with my pain. My knees no longer hurt nor does my hip. My mood has lifted but my body had to adjust to not having those foods and drinks. Withdrawal. I've been doing a lot of meditation and muscle relaxation. I use magnesium and arnica cream on my foot. It's been hard not being able to go out and do a walk. I was able to do bike rides. That might help you you need to get out and move your body to help that depression work its way out. It's so hard I know. If you can try to do stretches and mild yoga just to move your body and energy. If you can, try and go for a bike ride or go to a gym and see if you can ride a bike. Watch your diet! Inflammation is other part of it. I also take a lot of supplements for my muscles and tendons. The chiropractor helped me tremendously. I do use the TENS unit at times. And I only wear oofos shoes. I can't wear anything flat without an arch. There's some really good meditations on YouTube. Also with some mild non-aggressive yoga and stretching. It will help your mind try to get out of that hole that it goes into. I wish you luck! It's an awful thing plantar fasciitis and then you have all the other issues on top of it.
Did you try shockwave and laser therapy? Find a new doctor. You are not alone. Do not give up we all are not giving up.
Plz try compression socks I’ve been wearing mine since yesterday and I sleep with them then I take them off through the day. I’m just shocked a lot of it could be our calves being too tight but try this. 
I feel bad for you. It certainly is a lot to deal with. I suggest you work on that depression first. Falling into that black hole is very hard to get out of. Get help before you go deeper. Then I would ask to be sent to an orthopedic surgeon, they would know if there's anything that can be done. Good luck! Keep your head up.
The worst thing you can do is stop being active. I did that and it was a big mistake. Your body will get weaker and the weight gain is preventable. You CAN ride a bike. I get down too, but I try to put my focus on all of the things I have to do for the recovery. It keeps me busy and puts my mind in the direction of taking control. PF can take everything from you, but only if you allow it. I used to crawl around the house and I used to sit at every opportunity. I wound up getting better with my feet, but weak. And unfortuately my feet still aren't normal. There is surgery, so I may be doing that. There are still some things I haven't tried first. I always have the next plan in mind, because I either keep going, or give up. Giving up isn't an option!
I was shocked to see your post is exactly what my issues are. The only exception is that I have tendonitis on the opposite foot and I have a rollator in the kitchen that puts me at a good height to cook or prep at the kitchen island (but it is very difficult to move around in).
Tens unit on your feet every night… rest, drink natural juices especially beat juice. Foot massages or even surgery for the bone spurs….
Have you tried infrared light therapy and ultrasound therapy at a podiatrist? I did it from last Nov through May and it helped my PF so much!!!
Would a Tens Unit help in your situation? I had to do one every night for 6months because I was were you are at. One morning I was sitting on the edge of my bed just feeling so hopeless. Feeling like I am failing as a wife and daughter. Kids grown thankfully, but still felt awful. I do have flare ups and I do believe this is a forever situation. I believe for me I will have flare ups, one lasted a year. I am in an ok place now but I am Leary and careful. Losing weight is hard with this condition. I literally have had to start with a liquid diet to shrink my stomach and walking on no cement trails. I know everyone is different and I do pray you find relief.
I’ve never heard of either of those. My Dr isn’t bad. It’s my insurance that makes it hard to do much. Especially being I have to go to podiatry to actually get stuff done. And they won’t do anything (I’ve seen two podiatrist already)
I have. I saw no relief. 😔
I actually choose not to take antidepressants. I took them for years, and many different ones. And I felt the same on them than I do off of them. I actually had a lot more bad days on them than I do now.
also, with my ins, I can’t be sent straight to an orthopedic surgeon. I would need the referral from the podiatrist. And I’ve had two podiatrist tell me they won’t do anything for me. (I have kaiser)
your primary care doctor can refer you to an orthopedic surgeon, and the podiatrist should as well
I’ve seen two different podiatrists and both said they weren’t going to do anything for me
I love the bike idea!!
yes, I can ride a bike. If I could afford to get one. But I can’t afford to get one. And I can’t afford a gym membership to ride the bikes there.
were just on one income rn. We can’t afford to add more to our expenses. And driving causes my tendinitis to flare up in my ankle
Swimming can burn lots of calories too!
How about swimming? How about borrowing a bike or getting a used bike?
Isn't Planet fitness $10 to join?
you could try to look on a FB group for free stuff in your area. I often see free exercise bikes in my local group.
I’m in all my local free groups. Exercise equipment is rare. And I live in a small apartment. I don’t have anywhere to put one
I have a chair. I scoot around my kitchen in it. But it’s not tall enough. I had a stool before that was a good height. But it broke.
try a computer chair, take off the arms if more comfortable.
my Dr and the second podiatrist I saw said there’s nothing they can do about the bone spurs
I’ve seen two different podiatrist. And both told me there was nothing they’re could do for me. Just lose weight
You are not alone. For one thing I would definitely get another doctor. I also have neuropathy and it's painful too but I take Lyrica and experience no pain at all from the neuropathy. Watch some YouTube videos on stretches for pt. You must stretch from your back and hips and all the way down in the morning and throughout the day. Change your shoes and alternate throughout the day. I alternate heat and icing when it's really bad.I don't know if you are open to it but I think you should consider an antidepressant right now. This is just my experience I wanted to share. Also use voltaran over the counter gel. It works wonders!! It's an anti inflammatory and it's a game changer. I've actually been dealing with this for a long time and I'm pretty knowledgeable. Go to a different doctor for sure and get a second opinion. I hope you get some relief 🌹
Just saw an ad for Vibit and it looks promising. I have to wait on trying because I’m broke at the moment, but it makes good sense. BTW IMO, don’t destroy your liver with pain pills as one suggested.
So sorry to hear that! I certainly understand. The pain in my feet has been excruciating at times…on and off for 20 years. I used to walk a few miles a day almost every day. It was always a stress reliever. I miss that. I miss doing anything! I feel too young to be in this much pain, poor health (physical and mental) and over weight. I didn’t know PF was a thing until A few years ago. I just thought I had bad feet. It’s 2025. There should be more help by now. I wish you the best and hope you are able to find your answer.
Eat lots of advil...numbs pain
I wonder if an Epsom salt footbath every evening might help a little.
Your not alone. I feel you. I felt it all and Im the same. Its so awful and I believe this condition is so under rated 🙁 sending you strength
Me too except I have sleep apnea. I need to lose weight but I'm in so much pain and I don't know where to start. My depression is worse too. It's depressing just posting this lol
I was in a similar situation and i just had plantar fasciotomy release surgery 12 days ago. Hoping and praying it works. It is not a quick fix- I know I need to keep up with stretching, good health, supportive shoes etc. but I was desperate and needed to do something.
I have the same but left ankle for tendinitis. PF started in right foot last week. Idk where you live but look into Kratom. Need to research it and take tolerance breaks but it helps my pain more than ibuprofen or aspirin. I just rarely use it cuz it's hard to get for me. Make sure you're taking something for Adrenal support and Vit Bs. I take 5htp, a B complex and L-Theanine for depression since going off Rx meds 5 yrs ago. Ivermectin a couple times a month used to cure the neuropathy but not this past month.
I finally had surgery. I could not continue to live my life everyday in pain
I worked with a lady who was 100 lbs overweight and got cortisone shots, ( which I'm against) but she lost the weight and her PF went away! She told me she didn't have time for all the other stuff, and that's all she did. Personally I would recommend doing something else too, but I'm glad she's better.
I’m so sorry you are dealing with the PF and much more. My mom deals with severe neuropathy so I get that . The PF is awful. It does take away your life. I have been dealing with it for 15 months now. I used to walk almost every day for an hour. I had to due to severe back issues to help that. So now my back pain has been even worse. Have seen 3 doctors. Finally started to figure it out on my own as they were not helping. So here is what finally started to help me. Maybe it will help you. I found the online Dr. Angela Walk, the PF doc. I read all her info. I figured why not? My docs didn’t help. So I started her exercises. I changed my shoes to wide toe. It was hard to find shoes, as my feet hurt so bad. I finally found Altra FwdVia - men’s felt better so I got them in men’s. And Oofa Thongs were what I wear at home even thought she says not to, but they have helped my pain. Slowly after a few months with her stretching and hot Epsom salt baths every day, along with going to a wonderful foot reflexologist I found who has done myofascial massage on my hips and leg and thighs - that has helped tremendously as you have to release the tension in your calves. So after about now six months my left foot is much, much better. Right foot is still not, but the pain is tolerable. Heel is still painful. But I can get some sleep at night. I was not sleeping. I am now able to take some slow short walks 2 times a week, which is huge in almost a year. So that is my story. I almost gave up also, as my doctors did not help so I had to investigate on my own. And it will take a while but it will help.
I take gabapentin for my neuropathy. It helps. But not when it gets bad. I actually choose not to be on any antidepressants. I’ve tried so many and was on them for so long and they didn’t help. I felt the same on them as I do off of them. And then being on one income rn, I can’t afford to add to my medication list. It’s hard enough to get the ones I do need. As for my Dr, he’s a good Dr. he’s just limited on what he can do because of my ins (I have Kaiser). I’ve seen two different podiatrist. And both of them have told me there’s nothing they’re going to do to help. I just need to lose weight 🙄
I don’t. And they don’t help anyway. (Any pain meds)
I can’t take meds like that too much. I also have IBS and chronic gastritis. Too much ibuprofen can make the IBS hurt and too much Tylenol can increase a gastritis flare up 😔
I’ve used voltaren in the past for my neck with no relief. I’ve heard it works wonders for a lot of things. It just never did for me. 😔
Me too. My doctor gave me voltaren but 10% prescription, it's helping!
I take 2 -800mg ibuprofen daily.
I’ve been dealing with the pain for 4 years now. I’ve tried it all with no success
3 1/2 for me.
right. I feel the same, that it was depressing just posting this. But I figured there were people that also felt the same. And the depression side needs to be talked about as well 💕
I admire your strength to do so.
If a Dr tells you there is nothing else he can do than find a new Dr. You can't give up. My parents have Kaiser and you have to fight/advocate for yourself. Be persistent that they do more. If a podiatrist can't do more ask to be referred to an orthopedic doctor or a neurologist for neuropathy. You can still exercise which will help with your depression. Find chair exercises online to do. There are lots that use bands and hand weights. If you have access to a pool you could swim or even walk in it for exercise.
Have you tried to change your diet at all? Maybe try an anti inflammatory diet. I’ve cut out most carbs and it seems to be helping me
Prayers for your healing. I pray God will heal your feet and help with your depression. I am annoyed by the blood of Jesus I command the pain in your feet to go away in the name of Jesus Christ. I love you
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