The older I get, the more aches and pains I have to deal with. For the past year I have been dealing with plantar fasciitis in both feet. This is a very common condition, whereby the tissue connecting the heel to the toes (the plantar fascia) becomes inflamed. The most common symptom of this condition is pain in the heel area, which can be quite severe, especially upon first waking in the morning. That's because, when the foot is at rest, the fascia contracts (gets tight). And that first step onto the floor in the morning, stretches it back out, which can be quite painful.

Even with all of the treatments I've had, and the changes I've made to my lifestyle (and my shoe collection), I still have the condition. The level of pain varies. Sometimes it's quite manageable, other times I need a little help.

When the pain gets really bad, one thing I can do for myself is to keep my foot at a 90 degree angle to my leg, for as long as possible. This stretches the plantar fascia and keeps it "loose". When the foot is held in this position, the fascia remains stretched, and never has a chance to tighten back up. Of course, when you're sleeping, your foot wouldn't normally stay in that exact position. That's why there are special shoes and boots designed specifically for night-time use.

Thermoskin makes a lot of medical products. Splints and bandages are their specialty. I was happy to see a splint designed specifically for planar fasciitis. Made of very soft fabric, this is far more comfortable than the hard plastic boots made for this purpose.

They come in small, medium, and large sizes. There is no difference between the right and the left. With a Velcro strap around the ankle, it's easy to slide your foot into the splint, just like a sock. There's a cut out in the back for your heel, and a non-skid rubber bottom.

But what makes this different from a regular sock is the extra strap that runs from a few inches up your ankle down to the end of the shoe where your toes are. This is a Velcro strap that can be adjusted to any tightness. The tighter you pull it, the more your toes (and thus your foot) are pulled up, towards your leg. The object is to pull the strap just tight enough so that your foot and your leg form a 90 degree angle. Once you're properly strapped in, go to sleep. Throughout the night, the strap will hold your foot at the correct angle, to stretch the fascia.

You should always check with your doctor, before treating yourself. And to make sure that you receive a proper diagnosis, and treatment plan. For me, I find that 4 or 5 nights is all it takes to relieve the worst of my pain. In fact, I feel some relief after just the first night, and it only gets better after that. Does it completely cure my condition? No, not at all, but it definitely brings some relief.

The good news is that the splint is made from a very soft material, and can be hand-washed to keep it clean. There are no sharp edges, nothing to dig into my skin while I'm sleeping.

However, it's not a perfect solution, either. The first problem I have is that it gets unbearably hot inside the shoe. The first night I wore them to bed, I was absolutely miserable. I'm used to keeping my feet outside the blanket, and letting them "breathe". I felt like they were burning up inside the shoes.

So, I modified the shoes a bit. I cut out part of the fabric alongside the big toe and the little toe, in order to let some air in. That has helped the "hot foot" problem tremendously. But, having cut the fabric, the remaining fabric is left weakened. It started fraying, and the seams started coming apart pretty quickly. I've had to sew up the seams to keep them from tearing completely. I'm sure this is not defective workmanship; I brought the weakness on myself by cutting the air holes, but they were a necessary adjustment.

The other problem is that it's very hard to achieve the perfect angle. Pull the strap too tight, and you end pulling your toes, instead of just your foot. This will cause painful cramping in the toes. You always want to be sure your toes are in alignment with your foot, not being pulled up. But, loosen the strap too much, and you're not doing what the shoe is designed to do: stretch the fascia. I find myself constantly opening the strap, adjusting the angle, and closing it again, only to decide it's still not quite right, and readjusting it.

It takes some getting used to, when trying to fall asleep with these things. Sleeping on your side is no problem. But sleeping on your back is a bit awkward with your feet being pulled into this unnatural angle. Sleeping on your stomach is also difficult. Technically there's no real way to do it, unless you let your feet dangle off the end of the bed, since the feet need to be 90 degrees down from your legs. There's a definite adjustment period, and it's difficult at first, but it does get easier as you get used to it.

The instructions caution against walking in these shoes. After all, your foot is being held in an unnatural position, so walking is a bit awkward. However, you can bet, that when I wake up in the middle of the night for a drink, I'm not going to struggle with removing the shoes, then replacing them a few minutes later. So, yes, I do a limited amount of walking in these shoes. They're not too bad, in terms of comfort. I've never tripped while walking in them, nor have I slipped, as they do have a non-skid rubber bottom.

At $40 a piece, these are not cheap. But, plantar fasciitis is a painful condition, and I'm willing to pay pretty much anything, to get relief. Overall, I'd rather use these nice, soft, relatively comfortable shoes, than a hard, plastic boot. Most importantly, it's an easy solution to a painful problem.

Another heel splint:
Futuro Heel Splint

Here are two foot massagers that also help manage my foot pain:
i-Need Shiatsu Foot Massager
Ottoman 2.0 Foot And Calf Massager


Maybe give this TENS/EMS Unit a try.

Toe problems? Here's one solution: PediFix Toe Sleeves

Recommended: Yes