I cured my Plantar Fasciitis (twice)

But nobody gives a damn.

I cured my plantar fasciitis (as diagnosed by my doctor), my plantar fasciosis – as named by MERCK’s authoritative manual. But nobody cares.

It began as an occasional tension, tingling, pain, in my right heel. Gradually, it grew to a frequent pain, worse in the morning, but nagging on throughout the day. Sometime, during that progression, my left heel developed a similar problem, but not nearly as severe. My doctor diagnosed it as heel spur, plantar fasciitis and prescribed drugs to diminish the pain and advised, “It will probably go away in 6 months or so…”

When I mentioned plantar fasciitis to my friends, several had had the same disease, but now it was gone.  Was it ‘cured’, or did it just ‘go away’? Is there a difference? Modern medicine claims there is no cure for the common cold, but a healthy body has no problem curing it – in a week or so, faster when we are healthier, slower when we are less healthy. My doctor recommended steroids. I don’t like drugs.

I began a search for alternative medical solutions.  There are lots of them, visible by punting cure plantar fasciitis into google to receive a list of products and actions from solutions to dissolve heel spurs, to losing weight, to the Top Ten products to treat plantar fasciitis. Google lists treatments first, the word cure is farther down the search list. The Mayo Clinic, for example, avoids the word cure with “Most people who have plantar fasciitis recover in several months with conservative treatment, such as icing the painful area, stretching, and modifying or staying away from activities that cause pain.”

There are some important details, likely well known by Merck’s authors, although not included in any of the historical or current Merck entries entries.

First: plantar fasciosis almost never strikes anyone below the age of 40. It is most common, according to Northwest Foot And Ankle in men between the ages of 40 and 70, although Wikipedia says it is unclear if men or women are affected more. e.g.. It is not caused by wearing high heels.

Second: Plantar fasciitis, by many names - is a temporary disease. Most cases last less than six months. Surgery, drugs, and splints make little difference. Almost all cases are easily cured, and the cure can be reduced to a few days or weeks by intentional actions.

The cure proves the cause. Be aware, I am not a doctor. My understanding of cause comes from studies of the theory of cure.  What are the causes of plantar fasciitis?

Your doctor cannot cure your plantar fasciitis – but I cured mine. There are some important clues in the historical documentation provided by MERCK. I took the time to learn what to look for, and remove all of the information that has since been documented as incorrect – by MERCK themselves.

This diagram is from Wikipedia. I have added a red dot, where the pain normally occurs.  In some cases, the pain is localized, in others it spreads through the entire heel and plantar fascia.

MERCK’s the 1987 and 1992 editions use the phrase ‘abnormal elongation of the foot‘. Yet, in the latest, 2011 edition, one of the treatments recommended is ‘night splinting devices that stretch the calf and plantar fascia”. Which cause produces a cure? I don’t think my feet are growing longer. What is abnormal elongation anyway?

With past causes, we often search for the mythical root cause. We find  a ’cause’, then find a cause of the cause, and a  cause of the cause of the cause. There is no root cause.  How do we determine which cause is important?

Determining the cause of an illness can be problematic. Only a cure proves the cure cause. Modern medicine, however suffers from a poor distinction between present causes (cure causes) and past causes.

The cure cause is the cause which, when successfully addressed, produces a cure. We might argue forever, whether the foot grew, or elongated, or the plantar fascia, calf tendon, or muscle shrunk or tightened.  It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter because we know how to stretch the plantar fascia, the calf, and the muscle - all in one action. But we don’t know how to shrink an elongated foot.  When stretching is the cure shrinking or tightening was the cause.  Q.E.D.

Plantar fasciitis is usually an attribute illness, caused by a tighten of tendons and muscles, cured by a transformation brought about by repetitive stretching, loosening that elongates and relaxes the tendons and muscles. The cure is a one-time transformation. Once cured, the pain goes away. This normally occurs over a period of 6 months of suffering. But conscious stretching is easy, much quicker, safe and effective. Caution: symptoms of planter fasciitis can be caused by other problems, including a damaged plantar fasciitis - which might be caused by stretching. A medical analysis can be important. But medically, there is no cure. When the diagnosis is plantar fasciitis - the cure is in your hands (feet, legs, etc.)

Once I was convinced that shrinking, or tightening of the plantar fascia or calf was the cause, the cure was easy to understand, stretching, although I needed to convince myself. Other attempts, shoe inserts to protect my heel from pressure, anti-inflammatories, and surgery, might address symptoms, but cannot cure.

The cure for plantar fasciitis requires a transformation of the sole.

Past Causes?

What causes the plantar fascia to shrink, or to tighten? It’s not rocket science. We become less flexible as we grow older. We can fight it, but aging happens - unless we die first. There are a few other factors. For example, plantar fasciitis symptoms are usually worse in the morning, according several sources. Why does that happen?

When we sleep, our feet often lie between the blankets, and flatten out. Toes extend. Similar to the position of a ballet dancer.  In this position, the plantar fascia can pull back and relax.  When we stand up, we put pressure on the flat part of our foot. If the plantar fascia pulls tight, we feel it pull the heel - heel pain.  

I tried some recommended exercises to stretch my plantar fasciitis. Some stair exercises, standing with my toes on a step, letting my heels fall down farther – so the plantar fasciitis was forced to stretch, to elongate. It helped a bit, but it’s a difficult exercise to do often, or for long periods of time. My case was more advanced. For stretching to produce a physical result – lengthening of the plantar fascia, takes time.  Health is slow. Curing with health is slow.

Then I discovered, and bought the sock.  The Strassberg sock. Designed in 1993, for plantar fasciitis – although never mentioned in MERCK, even in 2011.

Their website says “The Strassburg Sock is an easy to use, inexpensive and comfortable device designed to keep tension on the plantar fascia so it heals in a stretched position at night.” and “In 2004, Running Times magazine said in an injury prevention article that the Strassburg Sock, “Helps cure plantar fasciitis. More comfortable and significantly cheaper than the “boot” prescribed by most doctors.” I bought one, I’m not even sure if it was the brand name, or  a knock off. But it worked. Within a few days, the pain was much less, in few weeks, completely gone, cured. You can easily learn how to use one on Youtube. If you can’t buy one locally, it’s easy to make one with a long sock and a bit of strong string.

I haven’t used it now in more than 15 years – although it still sits by my bedside.

What is a cure?  Was my plantar fasciitis cured? Sometimes, 15 years later, while doing my Tai Chi exercises, I extend my right leg, toes up, and feel a small tingle of pain in my heel.  Does that mean it wasn’t cured, that it was just in remission, and now it’s back?  

Modern medicine has no definition of cured for plantar fasciitis

In the theory of cure:

1. an illness is cured when the cause has been successfully addressed.

2. No cure is permanent.

3. If the cause occurs again, a new illness might occur.

When I feel my heel pain, I do some stretches. It goes away before it turns into a new case of plantar fasciitis. Like many illnesses, the cure requires some ongoing care, some maintenance.

I cured my plantar fasciitis. But nobody cares.  Nobody gives a damn.  I was diagnosed. The diagnosis is recorded. But cures are not recorded for any disease. Because I am cured, I am no longer of interest to the medical profession.

Modern medicine is not interested in curing plantar fasciosis, not interested in cures of plantar fasciitis.  Is this because plantar fasciosis is an insignificant illness? I fear the reason is larger.  Modern medicine is not interested in cures especially cures that are not medical.

I cured my plantar fasciitis – and many other people have done so as well. Most people do. If you cure your plantar fasciitis, your medical insurance will not pay for the cure. Medical insurance doesn’t pay for cures, it pays for treatments. It’s not just plantar fasciitis. Modern medicine has little interest in ‘curing’.

Susan Harris, editor in chief of Physiotherapy Canada, published an article titled “Can Patient Testimonials Constitute Evidence? Plantar Fasciitis” after she was herself ‘cured’ (she only uses the word cure once, and puts it in quotes) of plantar fasciitis, through physical therapy – which from her description, appears to have been therapy to ‘stretch’ her plantar fascia, although she described the therapy as ‘joint mobilization’.  Did she make her foot shorter, or her plantar fascia longer? I’m not certain, but she declared herself cured, not recovered.  But she’s not a doctor, so it’s OK. She can use the four letter word cure without threat of losing her license.

She cured her plantar fasciitis. I cured my plantar fasciitis as well.

A Medical History of Plantar Fasciitis

According to MERCK, the authoritative manual of diagnosis and therapy, by omission of the word cure, there is no known cure for plantar fasciosis, AKA plantar fasciitis, AKA Calcaneal Spur Syndrome, AKA heel spur. The 2011 edition entry concludes “For recalcitrant cases, physical medicine, oral corticosteroids, and cast immobilization should be used before surgical intervention is considered.” Oxford advises that “recalcitrant” means “having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.” ” For normal cases, treatment involves Achilles tendon and plantar soft-tissue foot-stretching exercises, night splints, orthotics, and shoes with appropriate heel elevation.“

The word cure is noticeably absent. There is simply, no mention of a cure. Plantar fasciitis is a bit like the common cold.  There is no cure for the common cold, but a healthy person can cure it easily – without medicine. There is no medical treatment – the only effective treatments are healthy. Although MERCK says “Recognized causes of plantar fasciitis include shortening or contracture of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia,” it does not mention much less discuss the concept that stretching, lengthening the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia – might produce a cure. But, it does.

It’s interesting to read the history of plantar fasciitis as seen by MERCK’s Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. We can only suppose that plantar fasciitis has been with us since some of us started living past 50 years, eg. forever.  Note: I am not a doctor.

The 1950 edition of MERCK’s manual, the earliest I have access to, documents “Painful Heel” – and lists three causes: strain (“Periostitis or plantar fascitis (sic) resulting from undue strain on the long plantar ligaments attached to the calcaneus“), poorly fitted shoes, and bone spurs; and three treatments: relieving strain on the ligament; proper shoes, and shoes with inserts to protect the heel. The final treatment comment is simply, “Surgical excision has been used in some cases“. The word cure is not used. The 1956 edition is identical. There is no measure of success, much less cure.

It is worth noting that all three causes suggested in 1950 and 1956 have been found incorrect, and as a result, the suggested treatments are not able to cure, although they might relive pain in some cases and exacerbate pain in others. Today, 74 years later, many medical practitioners and many patients still believe in these causes, and attempt one or more of these useless treatments. Such is the current state of medical progress. Merck still recommends drugs and avoids the word cure.

In 1972, Merck’s entry for Painful Heel, starts out almost identical, but quickly adds a disclaimer, “Calcaneal spurs …. are “normal” findings in many persons and their relation to the pain is doubtful.”

In 1982, the spur theory is revisited, with “…Bony spurs arising from the inferior surface of the calcaneus... X-ray provides definite proof of their presence.” and “Surgical excision has been used in some of these cases.” There is no mention of cure.

In 1987, MERCK updated the condition name to “Calcaneal Spur Syndrome“, although they qualify the diagnosis with the statement “Cacaneal spurs do not always cause symptoms; eg. heel pain is not necessarily due to an existing spur. Asymptomatic spurs commonly are discovered incidentally in an x-ray taken for other reasons.” Basically, there is no real understand what’s going on. The cause documented by MERCK as “The spur results from strain injuring the periosteal attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone,” is known to be incorrect or at best irrelevant today. The treatments recommended are symptomicines, not cures: “symptoms can be controlled with corticosteroid/lidocaine injection… ” and “Strapping alleviates tension along the plantar fascia; orthotic devices control abnormal elongation of the foot, causing strain (sic) along the plantar fascia.“

Clearly, the 1987 edition of MERCK got lots wrong. Not only is the treatment incorrect, the English language usage appears to ‘blame’ orthotic devices for causing strain along the plantar fascia.  The word ‘cure’ is still avoided.

In 1992, MERCK has a section titled “PAIN ON THE PLANTAR SURFACE OF THE HEEL” with a single entry, “Calcaneal Spur Syndrome“. The cause is documented as “Spurs result probably from an excessive pulling or stretching of the calcaneal periosteum by the plantar fascia. Excessive stretching may result in pain….” Still nonsense and a lot of we’re not sure. The cause, as we know today, is not excessive pulling or stretching, it is accurately described as tightening or shortening. The treatment recommended by MERCK in 1992 – more drugs, “symptoms can be controlled with a mixture of soluble and insoluble steroids,“ given by injection, and hardware, Strapping alleviates tension along the plantar fascia; orthotic devices control abnormal elongation of the foot,” are simply wrong. They are treatments for symptoms, providing no hope of a cure. We might wonder about the phrase “abnormal elongation of the foot“. What does that mean? Consistently, in 1992, the word ‘cure’ is absent.

By 1999, the section has been updated to “DISORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH HEEL PAIN”. Although still called Calcaneal Spur Syndrome, the description has been changed to diminish the spur cause, instead, the spur is listed as a consequence of the disease “Spurs …and… heel pain in the area of the inferior calcaneus caused by the pull of the plantar fascia on the periosteum with or without evidence of heel spur on x-ray.” However, it says “Spurs probably result….”  and a complex explanation of the theory that pulling causes spurs. Causes are also getting fuzzier, more complex, including “fluffy new bone formation, suggesting seronegative or or HLA-B27 arthropathy (e.g.. ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter’s syndrome).” Rheumatoid arthritis and gout are mentioned, but distinguished from bone spur by the presence of heat, and swelling. Treatments have been expanded to different patented drugs, “eliminating or diminishing pain“, including the injection or application of a painkiller for symptoms. The mysterious elongation appears in “Strapping alleviates tension along the plantar fascia; orthotic devices control abnormal elongation of the foot.” Still no mention of a cure.

It is worth stating, at this point, that plantar fasciitis is generally cured in a relatively short time, cured by natural healthy activities of the patient. This is not yet mentioned in any Merck edition, over 7 decades up to 2024.

In 1950, the disease was painful heel, and the spelling of the symptom was plantar fascitis. The 19th edition of MERCK, published in 2011, uses the term “PLANTAR FASCIOSIS (Plantar Fasciitis)“, explaining that plantar fasciosis is more accurate terminology, because in most cases, there is no inflammation. This tells us that anti-inflammatory treatments like Corticosteroids , recommended in prior editions, were of little value, acting perhaps through placebo effect on the doctor. As to treatment, almost all of the previously recommended treatments are dismissed with “Treatment involves calf muscle stretching and plantar soft-tissue foot-stretching exercises, night splints, and orthotics.”  Prior to 1992, plantar fasciitis was caused by stretching, now it’s treated with stretching. MERCK continues to waffle on the actual condition, and cause, with “Plantar fasciosis may involve acute or chronic stretching, tearing, and degeneration of the fascia at its attachment site,” which should be classed as independent diseases and require different treatments and cures. It seems they’ve covered every possible description, without committing to any specific condition or cause.

Causes are articulated in more detail, with associated risk factors: “Recognized causes include shortening or contracture of the calf muscles and plantar fascia.” Risk factors listed include: “sedentary lifestyle, occupations requiring sitting, very high or low arches in the feet, and wearing high heel shoes,” but… it goes on… “The disorder is also common among runners and dancers,” sedentary lifestyle and sports causes are contradictions.

The theory of cure distinguishes between present causes, cure causes, causes which, when successfully addressed result in a cure and past causes – which cannot be accessed in the present to produce a cure. The theory also acknowledges that some past causes can also be present causes and available to curative actions. No current medical theory or practice distinguishes the terms present cause and past cause. The above quote uses the phrase “recognized causes” to describe the cure cause (without using the word cure), and the phrase “risk factors” to name past causes, which might be used for prevention, but not to cure.

MERCK provides details in the description and diagnosis, to separate this disorder from other possibilities: “pain at the bottom of the heel on weight bearing, particularly when first arising in the morning; usually improves within 5 to 10 minutes, only to return later in the day.” Diagnosis is by: “Pain reproduced by calcaneal pressure during dorsiflexion“.  In English, it hurts when the doctor presses on the heel with fingers, while bending the foot upwards towards the knee. There is a bit of mumbo-jumbo about x-rays and bone spurs, generally dismissing these as causes.

Treatment, as of 2011: “Splinting, stretching, and cushioning or orthotics…. The most effective treatments include the use of in-shoe heel and arch cushioning with calf stretching exercises and night splinting devices that stretch the calf and plantar fascia while the patient sleeps.” Other treatments, given in prior issues, are given less respect, although not dismissed entirely. “…foot orthotics may also alleviate fascial tension and symptoms.” and “However, because corticosteroid injections (previously recommended) can predispose to plantar fasciosis…” and “physical medicine, oral corticosteroids, and cast immobilization should be used before surgical intervention is considered.” Although there is little evidence that surgery has any positive impact on plantar fasciitis – and considerable evidence of failure, it still documented as a last resort. Merck’s 20th edition, available online, removes the recommendation for “oral corticosteroids” and adds “extracorporeal pulse activation therapy (EPAT),.. a safe, noninvasive technique that is thought to…”

There is still no mention of a ‘cure’, after almost 75 years of documentation and recommendations.  Should we be surprised? No. If you check MERCK’s Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, and search for the word cure – you will find that ‘cures’ are seldom, if ever, mentioned for any disease.  The words cure, cured, and cures are avoided for all non-infectious diseases.

There are several reasons for this situation. First of all, cured can be hard to prove. Medical doctors have techniques for proving a cure – for an infectious disease – via a medicine that kills the infecting agent. But for all other diseases, there is no clear test for a cure. The latest editions of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, Lange’s Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment and Ferris Clinical Adviser do not have ‘cure’ in the table of contents or index. Cure, cures, curing and cured are not defined. For the most part, the word ‘cure‘ is not used in medical reference books. No generally accepted definition of cure exists. When the word cure is used - usage is inconsistent.

How can we tell if plantar fasciosis, is actually cured? We have no technique to test for cured. These diseases are incurable by default. Plantar fasciosis can be assumed incurable, because no cure is defined, and no test for cured is defined.

A research study into Plantar Fasciitis, published in 2012, collected and analyzed medical studies of plantar fasciitis treatments. But, there was no search for research studies that cure, nor did they search for a cure for plantar fasciitis.  Instead, they used the keywords “heel pain,” “painful heel,” “plantar fasciitis,” and “heel spur” and combined them with search terms: “treatment,” and “management,” ‘ – no search for cures in conventional or alternative medicine.

In 2016, WebMD said that the goals of treatment for Plantar Fasciitis are:

Relieve inflammation and pain in the heel. (remember that MERCK renamed it plantar fasciosa, because there is generally no inflammation)
Allow small tears in the plantar fascia ligament to heal (but there is little evidence of such tears in any Merck reference.
Improve strength and flexibility and correct foot problems such as excessive pronation so that you don’t stress the plantar fascia ligament. (although is seems more likely that the problem is an absence of stress, not a presence of stress)
Allow you to go back to your normal activities. (the word cure is not used)

And ends with: Most people recover completely within a year.

WebMD does not use the word ‘cure’.  The use of the word ‘cure’, it seems, is forbidden in serious medical circles. Today, in 2024, the word cure appears, but only as a negative, “These medications (steriods) won’t cure your plantar fasciitis, but they can make you feel better for a while.” WebMD also mentions surgery, but with a warning that “it does have risks, like nerve damage and infection.” THey also mention “Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT,” but add “more research needs to be done to prove it works that way.” Seriously?

For the medical profession is to learn to cure incurable diseases, they need to study the cured.

The only cure is health. – The Healthicine Creed

We can define cured for non communicable diseases. But we need to work at it. In the case of plantar fasciitis – it’s trivial. But it’s an important cure.  In some other cases, it is more difficult.  But not impossible.  Let’s get to work on that.

to your health, tracy

This post is an exploration of the concept of cure, based on my own experiences with Plantar Fasciitis. My exploration of cure has, after many years of research and writing, culminated in the publication of the book A New Theory of Cure. ps. There is no “old theory of cure.”