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Air-heels

Posted , 6 users are following.

AnnB
AnnB

Thought I'd let you  know how I got on with the air-heels. I have to be honest, if I was to give any marks out of 10 it would be 2. Bought mine from ebay and wore them the first day, funny feel to them as they have a sort of tube inserted into the air sac. Had them on for about an hour outdoors and most of the evening indoors so not really a good test, Today I was on my feet for most of the morning with the air-heel and my foot was absolutely killing me. This time I was getting pain in ALL of my foot, not just the heel almost like a cramp feeling, not pleasant. That's the funny thing about air-heels, the sac goes just in front of the heel, a sort of in-step but an expensive one. I was really hoping that the sac would be extremely inflated but it's about half an inch high and I have no doubt that's as high as it should go. This might work on someone who's PF isn't as painful but to be honest I was in as much pain as I would've been with gel inserts. My hopes have been shattered as I thought this might've been the answer, I feel really down because I just don't know where to go now. Injections haven't got a good reputation, inserts are good for a short while but not long-term, stretching just made things worse. If I go back to the doc it will have to be at a later time because I'm already seeing him for something else and I don't want him to think I am a hyperchondriac but I can see myself having to be x-rayed just to be on the safe side. I don't even know how it all started, I don't run or do high velocity exercises. Anyway, thanks for listening. If anyone has a 'definite' answer to PF please post it.

1 like, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • lianne1981
    lianne1981 AnnB

    Posted

    Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that they haven't worked for you. I was debating on whether to try these, tried everything else including surgery and nothing has worked for me so far.

    Really do feel for you, people just don't understand how painful it can be x

     

  • ladyjack51
    ladyjack51 AnnB

    Posted

    Oh wow...that is disappointing.  My PF is very acute too so I was thinking the air would be the ticket  and the reviews are so darn good that it makes you hopeful. *sigh* 

    We can't give up tho....stay prayerful Ann. 

    • AnnB
      AnnB ladyjack51

      Posted

      Hi Ladyjack, I bought my air-heel from ebay, £15 plus £3.50 postage so I'm glad I didn't buy absolute new ones otherwise it would've been well over £35. I am wearing it indoors at the moment but I feel no different. Perhaps we ought to start a club called 'foot exchange'  haha
  • Katlin66
    Katlin66 AnnB

    Posted

    Hi Ann,  I am so sorry that the air heels have not worked for you as they have for me. I cantotally understand your disappointment.  Did you try them in trainers or were you wearing ordinary shoes?  My sports Physio told me trainers were best because they offer arch support so the air heels are supporting on top of support in the trainer so to speak. I do hope you manage to find some relief.  It is a wicked affliction.  
    • AnnB
      AnnB Katlin66

      Posted

      Hi Katlin, I cannot wear the air heel in my trainers (Nike), and I especially bought those trainers for my PF (another waste of money), because they would be too tight. I wore my open sandals that have a small heel and do up with velcro. The only shoe, it seems, that are comfortable for me are my indoor slippers. I shall persevere with the air heel and if, after a few days, they are still no good then I will try and sell them. I have even looked up today to see if there are any clinical trials for PF but there's absolutely nothing. We seem to be the forgotten few and it really annoys me because it just messes up one's life.
    • Katlin66
      Katlin66 AnnB

      Posted

      Hi Ann,  I always wear trainers or proper walking shoes. When my PF was bad I could not walk at all in bare feet or slippers as there was no support at the crucial spot just in front of the heel on the inside of the foot. Has your condition actually been diagnosed as plantar fasciitis?  I am surprised you can walk in slippers. 
    • AnnB
      AnnB Katlin66

      Posted

      Hello Katlin, when I started to get PF (you know when getting up from a seated position you find yourself limping?) I went to the doctor after putting up with it for a few weeks, and he felt the underside of the effected foot, pressed a little, I give a yelp, and he said 'Yes you have PF. I had it myself and you need to do these exercises', which he proceeded to show me. I tried the exercises but I felt much worse (perhaps I ought to persevere, I don't know). My PF is really getting far worse than I could've imagined. I will go back to the doctor if only to ask him how HIS PF started because I have the feeling that he got his because of running (just like my husband had it after running). But, I don't do running or any form of physical activity that would damage knee joints. At this moment I have the air-heel on and I could feel pain in front of the heel and at the back. So really Katlin, I cannot judge whether it's PF or something else, but what? I have this feeling that people who have genuine PF are ALL different with what works for them. The air-heel might work for someone else but it's not working for me, perhaps the PF is positioned a little to one side and with someone else it could be a centimetre to the other side, do you get what I mean? Anyway, I shall continue to look on this forum as I am getting interesting feedback and a lot of encouragement.
    • Katlin66
      Katlin66 AnnB

      Posted

      Well it certainly sounds like PF. Ireally am sorry you are not finding the airheels helpful but you appreciate that many people do from other reviews as well as mine. I was so hopeful that you might be helped by them. I experienced pain first thing after getting out of bed, walking after sitting -or even after stopping at kerb to cross road. Them it became constant all the time which is when O was walking with sticks and became desperate. I go swimming and couldn't push off fr the end of the pool.

      Mine started when I upped the walking after having treatment  for varicose veins. The trainers I was wearing at the time were fairly old and I think it was a combination of the two. I have since had other tendon trouble elsewhere so it looks as though age is catching up with my tendons in general. However, since my PF has abated and in an effort to keep arthritic knees moving I try to walk a minimum of 5,000 steps a day and aim for nearer 10,000. I wear a pedometer to keep a check. I find if I do not do this I pay for it in both feet and knees. Keeping on the move is a finely balanced act for me. I realise you cannot do this at the moment but just thought I would mention it - especially as you mentioned wanting to know how your doctor's started. From experience I now know that it is not good for me to vary walking distances per day too much - especially not to increase distance too much from previous day. 

      In addition to above, a specialist I saw told me it is important to make sure Achilles' tendon and calf muscles don't tighten up as they and the plantar fascia are all connectI have problems with all three from time to time. At the first hint of tightness I wear a night splint in bed. Cumbersome but it helps. 

      I do so hope you and others on this forum find relief. I don't think those who have not experienced PF understand how painful and life changing a condition it is. 

    • AnnB
      AnnB Katlin66

      Posted

      Thanks Katlin, when the weather gets a little bit cooler I intend to put my trainers on and go for a few walks. I shall also stretch the tendons and give them another chance to work. I am also looking at foot insteps again, hopefully one of them will be the answer.
    • Katlin66
      Katlin66 AnnB

      Posted

      Do hope you find something that works got you. All the best. 
  • cindy69729
    cindy69729 AnnB

    Posted

    I also bought them & others, all rubbish... I have invested in 2 pairs of shoes by Alegria & never will I bother with normal shoes again - they are so comfy - big fat ortho soles lots of support. They do look a bit like 'hippy' shoes but i know they will be better than all those inserts.
    • AnnB
      AnnB cindy69729

      Posted

      Hi Cindy, can you buy those Alegria in the UK, they might be worth a look if I knew where to find them. I did try Hotter shoes which somebody recommended but took them back as they didn't perform as well as I had expected. Just the same as ordinary shoes as far as I was concerned.
    • cindy69729
      cindy69729 AnnB

      Posted

      I have sent links but they have sent a message saying they are moderating my message...
    • AnnB
      AnnB cindy69729

      Posted

      Hi Cindy, I can't see what they are moderating unless you have put some form of www address. Anyway, I've researched Alegria shoes in the UK and although I found several shops that indicate they sell them, when you actually go into their website there is no mention of Alegria.

      They look interesting so I shall continue to search. Thanks.

    • cindy69729
      cindy69729 AnnB

      Posted

      Yes I did put website of cheerful soles & others - I bought one pair from Cheerful soles, two form ebay. I love them, we should have been wearing these for years and maybe we wouldn't have problems now!! I was a devil for wearing flat pumps. Its funny I had a drink with an old friend about a year ago [ she is a podietrist ]  & she told me to throw the shoes I was wearing in the bin - we all laughed.... I'm not laughing now!
    • cindy69729
      cindy69729 AnnB

      Posted

      These are the ones I am wearing continually.
    • AnnB
      AnnB cindy69729

      Posted

      Hi Cindy, thanks for the picture. Yes, I looked up that website and many others to see if there is anyone local to me that actually sells them in a shop. I may have some luck in Brighton as I like to try shoes on before buying as my size seems to have changed in the last couple of years. I will look intently on eBay as I may get a bargain on there. Thanks again.
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