Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I should probably start by saying that this thing is every bit as awkward as it looks. With that out of the way though, it completely fixed my daily issues of suffering from plantar fasciitis. I was beyond skeptical when my doctor suggested I get one of these braces. I assumed it would be a situation where I was being sent to buy something and would end up back at the doctor again in due course, still suffering. I was so wrong! A previous doctor had recommended special shoes, which are extremely cost prohibitive. Furthermore, I wear a woman's size 12 shoe. Finding ladies' shoes in my size, to treat this condition, was impossible. My only options were either flip flops in size 11 maximum, or to buy men's shoes. Even the Vionics flip flops ranged near $70. You read that right: for flip flops. Another doctor also suggested insole inserts specifically designed for plantar fasciitis. Zero on that idea too: those raise your heel height so high that they cannot work with closed shoes, except for running shoes. The sheer height of those insoles would lift my feet almost right out of the shoe, resulting in the back of the shoe (which should be ABOVE your heel) rubbing on and causing blisters on the back of my heel. I live in central Florida also, and sandals are a way of life here. Impossible to wear plantar fasciitis insoles with any sort of sandals. The pain was debilitating, and I didn't know what else to do. I was so frustrated when my latest doctor sent me home to buy this contraption on Amazon. I bought it though, because I was at my wit's end. I also figured though, that this might be a last checkbox to fill before going back to my doctor and pleading with him to do corrective surgery on both my feet. My right foot was considerably worse than my left, but I was actually ready to beg for surgery. He sent me to Amazon with a printed picture of this sort of brace. He didn't endorse any particular brand or seller, but told me to go through the options and get one that looks like this. I pored over several products and reviews and choose this one. So this thing arrives, quickly and well packaged. I open it and stare at it. Looks even more clunky and useless in person, if that's at all possible. Set myself up in bed and start strapping this thing to my right foot, adjusting it to fit me properly. Weird weird weird. Did I mention it was weird? My plantar fasciitis at that time was so bad that I was avoiding standing or walking at all costs though. So tucking in to read or watch TV was no big deal. Worn properly, the point of this brace is to stretch out your instep muscles. So it's not even like wearing a firm and flat shoe. It actually keeps the bottom of your foot flat but correctly adjusted, it's worn pulling at an angle, with your toes being pulled TOWARD your upper body. Because of the therapeutic angle required, this thing is also IMPOSSIBLE I walk in. If you have to walk, you have to take it off. The upside is that the straps are not Velcro, which would be loud if you had to remove it during the night, and if you happen to have a hubby who is a very light sleeper, as mine is. Instead, the straps clip together; which allows for quiet removal and quick release when necessary. ( Also, Velcro wears over time. These clips last forever). I was so used to chronic pain with the plantar fasciitis, so the weirdness of wearing this thing for extended periods of time was nothing. It is NOT painful to wear, thankfully. Just strange to be restrained from free movement while sleeping. Long story short, I wore this doodad about 8 nights in a row on my right foot. Maybe 5 nights in a row on my left foot. And... I'M FIXED! I've hardly had a problem since then. I'm able to wear any kind of shoes I like, and have inserts only in my sneakers. In the maybe 8 or 9 months since I got this brace, I've experienced only very mild discomfort in my right foot maybe twice. On those few days, just to nip the problem in the bud, I wore the brace a while (a few hours) while watching TV and I'm good to go. I will never get rid of it, although I feel like I don't even need it any more. Don't let your doctor's convince you that you need to live with pain or buy a bunch of ridiculously expensive inserts and footwear to get your quality of life back. Go through the Amazon reviews of first-hand accounts and give it a try. It's the best value of all the fixes, and can be very very effective. Grateful for the day I got this contraption ❤️