My New Best Friends....

If you suffer from Plantar Fasciitis, like I have for over 10 years, you're going to LOVE these!  I gave up on the custom orthotics, I'm broken, there's nothing you can do.  But you can make me comfortable, and those hard plastic inserts, meant to change the way you walk, did in my opinion more damage than good.  At least with my last pair.  I talked to a neighbor who also happens to specialize in bones of all kinds, and she recommended me finding a heel cup.  So, when I went back to San Luis Obispo to visit family and friends I popped my head into the Sports Authority and found these.  I have had more pain relief in the week that I've worn them, than I've had in the past few years.  They are THAT good.  I'm in physical therapy for heel spur syndrome AND plantar fasciitis and it's helping tons.  I showed my PT these and she was quite impressed.  They are SOFT, the clear part is gel, the blue part is slightly softer gel, and the green part is a little thicker gel, but they are soft and that's what is important.  The blue part is perfect for the heel pain, and the green part is for the fascia(that's the part that causes the heel pain).  These are made by Sof Sole(click HERE to see the product description), I even joined their Facebook page to tell them how happy they made me.  Really, I am THAT happy.  I laid them right on top of the inserts in my Avia Cross Trainers(read on about Avia, had an ah-ha moment), didn't have to remove them or anything.  Oh, and when they started to get a little icky, I just washed them in warm soapy water by hand and rinsed. 

Avia Cross Trainers.  I used to work for a sporting goods store and I KNEW this.  But, I don't know why it hasn't carried over.  Avia has the cantilever soles, this means there's an indent in the heel where you would actually strike the ground when you walk.  But since it's basically walking on an empty space, your heel actually never smacks the ground, you're striking the shoe and in my case also the gel orthotic or a heel pad.  Check 'em out.  I've asked several times, several Drs. and all they suggest are New Balance.  I'm sorry if you love New Balance, they're not for my feet though.  They're heavy and clunky, and ugly.  I have a pair of very light weight mule slip-ons though that I do happen to love.  They're not all bad, but I'm definitely "Team Avia".   I loved them 20 years ago, I love them today.