I experienced this for the first time approximately three years ago and it was very painful. In addition to some exercises, I went to Fleet Feet where a very knowledgeable sales person measured my feet, watched me walk, and asked about specific problems before suggesting three different models of sneakers for me to try. I bought a pair, and I also purchased the SuperFeet inserts. I’ve since purchased two other pair and my feet thank me every single day. During the summer, when I wear flip flops or sandals, I can feel the PF trying to return and I go back to my sneakers.
SplashMom- Well, you have one of the best Fleet Feet stores ever! 
Mine is finally under control, but I stretch and do foot circles before standing up every morning ( it’s really a nice routine - listen to NPR while stretching my calves/feet/knees. The other thing that helped was wearing my Keen sandals (good support, wide toe box, adjustable fit) Ugly but they worked.
I went to the podiatrist today…he confirmed that I do have plantar faciitus , probably caused by the altered way I have been walking since breaking my toe. I also learned that I have high arches and that has compounded the problem. He put me on prednisone for 6 days and gave me some foam pads to put in my shoes to help ease the pain. Also, recommended the frozen water bottle to roll over my foot when I am sitting .
He feels confident that this is temporary ( I sure hope so )
Gave me a chart of stretches that I already have been doing and okayed the heating pad before I get out of bed to loosen up the fascia.
Fingers and toes crossed 
So I am still not getting any relief . The podiatrist put my on prednisone …didn’t help. Then a shot of cortisone …nada. He said that I could get orthotics , which my insurance doesn’t cover. I have hesitated because I don’t want to spend $350 on something that still might not work. He gave me pads to put in the heels of my shoes , I bought a pair of compression socks that were made for heel pain , also worn my dansko clogs
I ice my feet , stretch my feet and calves. Use heating pad …use a stool when I am working in the kitchen as much as possible.
Has anyone used orthotics and seen an improvement ?
I’ve worn custom orthotics for 37 years, and they helped greatly with other foot pain – but they didn’t stop me from developing PF and achilles tendinitis.
Mine took well over a 18 months to resolve. From what the podiatrist told me, all the muscles from the glutes on down the back of the leg connect together, so stretching exercises also involved the glutes, hamstrings, and several calf stretches. I have a metal ice roller in my freezer I still use whenever twinges recur. I saw the podiatrist, physical therapist, my internist, and the guy at one of the good running shoe stores in town. I bought the Strassburg sock (ok, helped a bit), had plasma rich platelet injections into the Achilles tendon on one side, redid my orthotics, iced like crazy, and did all sorts of stretching.
Athletic shoes with the rocker bottom seemed to be the trick for me, with my insoles inside. And, I had to back WAY off of my walking for several months, and particularly to avoid walks/hiking involving significant uphill components.
I’m sure that I aggravated the initial PF by not backing off on walking soon enough, and my body holds on to inflammation reactions with great tenacity.
It sucks.
And on the never-again list: extensive walking on cobblestones, which seemed to be the initial trigger.
Has he suggested physical therapy? When I had it in both feet my podiatrist prescribed PT, plus had custom orthotics made ( covered by my insurance.) From what he told me cortisone is usually only given as a last resort.
The PT definitely helped me - especially the pro stretch I used, so I ordered one to use at home. That being said it took a month or so before my feet stopped hurting.
http://www.painful-feet.com/products/prostretch-foot-rocker/
PT also used ultra sound on my feet and also a thingy I put my feet in which had warm shredded corn cobs in it which swirled around my feet when turned on. Was something like this. http://www.rehabmart.com/category/Fluidotherapy.htm
I highly recommend the pro stretches. It gives a much deeper stretch then I could do on my own.
You need to be patient though. PF can take a long time to get over.
Crocs
I also suffer from this, as do my children. For us, in addition to the frozen water bottle rolling, what helped most were the “towel scrunches”. http://www.foot-pain-explored.com/plantar-fasciitis-exercises.html
We have weak arches, so maybe that is why it helps us, but you might try the towel scrunches if you have not yet. http://www.foot-pain-explored.com/plantar-fasciitis-exercises.html
Hope you feel better soon; those first steps in the morning can feel like your heal is completely shattered.
I’m sorry you are still having pain, but what I remember from my experience is that it took quite a long time for the pain to go away. I was seeing a physical therapist twice a week for awhile. The problem started for me in April, and I don’t think the pain stopped until late summer.
My PF came on fast and I could barely walk. What allowed me to function was making sure my foot was always flexed. Whenever my foot relaxed and my toes pointed at all the pain would become significantly worse.
There are PF socks on the market that tie the toe up towards the knee. Since I hate to sleep in socks, in desperation one night I looped an old fleece scarf around the ball of my foot and tied it above my calf. I quickly learned to sleep in this contraption, and even wore it all day too keep my foot flexed. Despite intense pain that returned immediately when I let my toes point, I was able to function normally. I also did the ice roll and other exercises.
Have you tried the Strassburg Sock? It is the only thing that worked for me.
I wanted to go to a couple of events this weekend , but then I remembered how painful it would be with the walking . I am really feeling discouraged right now. I looked at the Strassburg Sock on Amazon , but haven’t decided yet. I really can’t stand to have anything on my feel at night, but I have read good reviews
There is definitely no one-size-fits-all solution. My doc tried the SuperFeet orthotics route on me (along with PT, cortisone shots and a night splint.) SuperFeet apparently work well for lots of people, but I suspect that I have unusual feet. I’m very hard to fit (extremely narrow heels.) It didn’t help my right foot, and I developed PT in the left foot over the course of trying all 3 versions of SuperFeet for 2 weeks each. The foot doc recommended surgery, so I quit seeing her and went to a massage therapist. My right foot (finally!) seems to be healed, but my left foot is taking forever…
This stretch has been the most helpful to me:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/15/heel-pain-treatment/?_r=0
My on-going pain is now extremely mild. Actually, if I didn’t massage my feet as part of the morning stretch, I would probably think that both feet were healed. but I can still feel a twinge when I press near the left heel.
Definitely get the custom cast orthotics–even if you have to pay out of pocket. I waited much too long, and did have immediate relief. Still have some pf, but much better since the custom orthotics.
agree with Madison–Crocs! The classic kind. In addition to stretching, rolling frozen water bottles, etc. Every time you come home, put on your crocs. No walking around barefoot or in flat slippers.
Re: Crocs. If you want really good flip flop look no further than Oofos, the favorite recovery shoe of distance runners (thanks, @MomofWildChild !).
Might not be PF… I suffered for a few months before I finally went to podiatrist… my self diagnosis was PF so I tried a lot of the suggestions in this chain, nothing worked. Turned out to be a heel spur that I had irritated, most likely from wearing flip flops all summer long. When the Dr. pressed on my heel, I almost punched him the pain was so intense, and he knew right where to put pressure. Heavy dose of anti-inflammatory meds gradually reduced the swelling, a few shots of cortisone and finally the pain was gone. Went back to my flip flops this summer, luckily for me no reoccurrence.