Hello! I’ve been into this WOE for 9 almost 10 weeks now. One of the reasons I got interested in keto was what I’ve read about how eating this way decreases inflammation. I have very painful plantar fasciitis and treatments from my foot dr have not been helpful. A cortisone shot in my foot only decreased the pain slightly for a couple of days. I wear special inserts, stretch my foot and do special foot exercises, use cold packs after exercise. I’m a little disappointed keto has not ‘cured’ my foot pain/inflammation…yet…Im not far from my goal weight, about 7 lbs, so I wouldn’t think that much of a decrease in weight/pressure on my foot would make much of a difference. Has anyone dealt with this that can give me advise? Am I being too impatient?
Inflammation from plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis and related conditions can be complicated. I’ve had feet problems for 20+ years. Get the best doctor you can find and afford. Don’t use a foot doctor. Foot and ankle doctor is needed. Your ankles are involved. Find out who your doctor recommends for orthotics and use them.
I’ll tell you how keto has helped but an explanation is needed:
My left leg now has posterior tibia tendon insufficiency. Basically plantar fasciitis is a weak arch. When it gets real bad it irritates the posterior tibia tendon and if untreated you lose the ability to walk. I have the tendon problem on my left foot and ankle and plantar fasciitis on my right. I have had cortisone shots and inserts (orthotics) for years. I had to search for an expert to make my orthotics. The tendon one is called a UCBL and in two years I have had two of them made with several adjustments needed. The 2nd one because going keto reduced my swelling to the point of the orthotic not working.
What has worked for me is
- The best foot/anklele doctor in Richmond VA
- expertly made ortodics
- ice packs (more than heat)
- stretching every day
- physical therapy
- time
- a cane for when walking is hard.
There have been days when I minimize walking completly. I have made progress and I have had days where I have walked 9 miles. It is a journey. Oh, okay bad pun.
Keto has helped me in lots of ways like arthritis in my back and neck. Keto has reduced the inflammation in my feet but not completely. The proper orthotics, ice, and a great doctor has done that. I’m going to Disney in January and will rent a powerchair every day because if my feet start to hurt the vacation is over.
good luck, be patient and continue to seek improvement.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m pretty sure the dr I went to was a foot/ankle dr as that was in the name for the clinic. Another thing he prescribed were prescription NSAIDS, I had horrible side effects from them so when pain is really bad I just take Aleve and that works well. My concern is doing permanant damage, and like you said, eventually not being able to walk. I may look into going somewhere else as I think this dr just did the standard course of treatment and using treatment to mask the issue instead of find the root to resolve the issue. Thanks again!
I take a baby aspirin and when I went on NSAIDS my swelling got severe from internal bleeding. Went for steroid shots and that helped a little. Got better when I changed doctors and he changed my orthotic builder.
Might want to consider a different doctor. Get physical therapy. Took me 3 months of PT till I could get fitted for my first UCBL.
My local chiro does muscle/fasciae release - interestingly a lot of plantar fasciitis has calf tightness as part of the symptoms. . . . what he describes as the treatment doesn’t sound pleasant (they release the tendon by firm pressure) and his wife-receptionist tells of one patient who limited out after having only one side done (holding their shoes).
I suffered with PF for 8 years. After trying everything, I went to a fascial stretch therapist and after one treatment if was pretty well gone. A huge part of my PF was caused by tightness in my calves.
Hmmm…my dr never said anything about my calves and at the time I didn’t know enough to ask. After reading youe post last night I consciously stretched my calves back and forth into deep stretches and this morning the pain was quite lessened! Thanks!
He did mention I had heel spurs in both feet, but they dont usually cause plantar fasciitis pain?? That made no sense to me as they are quite hooked, ugly looking things.
one more here 
Waterfasting has helped me a lot since it reduced my inflamation. I still feel it a tad though.
That stretch helped me a lot too, I just should remember doing it every day… 
Also i keep one of those prickly rubber massage balls under my desk and use it on my foot whenever I remember to do so.
I used kinesio tape while the pain was active. I wear Chacos in the summer and Hole One One the rest of the time. Once your pain is gone, you can work on the strengthening and future prevention but you have to get it healed first. Mine is caused by an ankle that I’ve sprained countless times over the years. It has reduced range of motion, so the extra range comes from my foot, where it wasn’t meant to come. That’s why the Hokas help. They have a rocker in the sole that prevent that extra motion.
Stretching is so important. Bone spurs are caused by PF and can cause pain. I’ve been told that usually the pain from the spurs lessons as the body gets used to it. After my physical therapy, my orthotics guy gave me two stretches to do every day. I had to get to a certain angle of flex before her would build my UCBL orthotic. I miss some days but stretch 90% of my days.