Jimmy- I searched and seached but could not find info you posted previously on PF recovery (maybe this was on cool running?). I recall you had remedies, including some type of foot soak and possibly stretches and exercises that worked for you. Would you mind repeating that info? Luckily, it's not for me this time. Thanks in advance.

What worked for me was the following: --I first went to a foot doctor who just prescribed lots of anti-inflammatories, the highest possible doses. They didn't work, but did cure a long-lasting hemorrhoid. So, now I know how to cure one of those, though shredded wheat and apples are fine prevention. --stopped wearing running shoes as walking shoes. Switched to flat, flexible sneakers (Converse All-Stars). No plastic crap on the bottom, no cushioning. Just a good ol' fashioned sneaker. If I was a woman, I would stop wearing anything with a raised heal. --started wearing Nike Frees. Gradually. For awhile I used a lightweight ace-trainer, but now just wear Nike Free. It is a flexible, flattish running shoe that strengthens your feet. --walk barefoot all the time around the house. --do toe raises and lift bowling balls with my toes (marbles will do fine). --do the Egoscue foot stretch: http://www.egoscue.com/global/footpain_02.php --massaged it with the friction method --soaks in hot water with epsom salts --I took a few weeks off, then resumed running. It took awhile but eventually went away. --religiously take fish oil (religiously, you ask? Yes, religiously. I sing fish oil songs and everything). Fish oil helpos keep inflammation down body-wide. As adjuncts, I drink turmeric and ginger after every run. It is important to note that this came upon me when I foolishly stopped obeying my recovery rules. The over-stress brought out a weakness in my foot. I made the changes in footwear to address the weak feet. I currently believe that new-fangled running shoes, especially cushioned trainers, with all it's technology is not only splinting the foot, but also diminishing the sensing system in the feet. I actually hit the ground harder when I wear cushioned trainers than when I wear a flat running shoe with little cushion. Weird, but true. I proved it to myself on teh treadmill. Cushioned trainers: Slapp, boom, slap, boom. Nike Free: hard to hear anything (my feet pick up the feel of the actual surface and my body reacts differently). The one thing I haven't done yet that I need to do is lose some weight. I'm not fat, but if I was 154 and not 174, that would be less stress on my feet. I've been as llow as 167, but seem to have a low 170's set-point that needs to be transcended. There's my PF essay for today. I hope your friend does well. Tell him or her to throw the everything and the kitchen sink at it, but essentially strength, flexibility, and reducing inflammation is essentially the essential things that are essential. --Jimmy

Count me as another former (knock wood) PF sufferer wearing Nike Frees. I had PF for ~18 months. I iced, taped, Sock'd, etc. These just made it manageable to run. Eventually, I started to go to "less" shoe. I was wearing Mizuno wave creation (cushiony neutral). I stepped down in cushion within the same family to Wave Rider's and then wave precision (lightweight trainer). Somewhere when I was interleaving precision and riders is the last PF pain I remember. I've also switched Frees now, which I believe has helped with my hamstrings. I'm sure I heelstrike less than I do when I wear the precision. Occasionally my foot will ache a little on top (not PF) if I do a lot of miles on concrete and I'll mix in the precisions for a day or two. Now PF is so weird that it seems to have a different cause for each individual and I can't prove what cured it for me, but I'd have your friend look at his/her shoes.

For about 3 or 4 month period until about 2 months ago, I was having a PFfy feeling, but somehow it just went away. Not sure why. Maybe because I have around 50 pair of running shoes and switch the all the time.

Very interesting about the Nike Frees. I figured this would be something to use later for strengthening/prevention--not necessarily something that you could run in during PF flare ups. I will pass that info on, and I might even buy a pair for myself for shorter recovery runs.

I see it's time to update my shopping list. Lg1, Free at last, Free at last..

Your true soulmate.

ROFL!!!!! Remember her all too well. ETA Jerry Seinfeld also had a bit of a sneaker fetish, if I recall. Never wore the same pair twice?? Lg1

Barefoot running has helped my PF problem tremendously. After 4 days or so of barefoot running (plus reduced mileage) my foot no longer hurts when I get out of bed. Before it felt like my plantar fascia was ripping off my heel. My heel area still feels a *little* bruised when I press on it but it's hardly noticeable and does not affect my running at all.