BrownmedNice Stretch Original with Polar Ice - Foot Brace for Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis & Plantar Flexion Contractures - Night Splint Boot - Large

I had been diagnosed with a tarsal coalition in my left foot and just had surgery done 3 weeks ago to correct it. In addition to putting pins in my heel and a bone fusion to reset my foot correctly, the achilles tendon had to be cut in 3 places to allow it to stretch correctly in the new position. I am recovering with three incisions, the worst one being in the heel. I was put in a fiberglass cast and told to elevate constantly and apply ice off and on to reduce swelling.Let me tell you, casts suck! Mine would rub both ankle bones to the point that they were red and swollen. The elevation of resting the heel of my foot put pressure on the incision and would send shooting pain throughout my entire foot, especially in the middle of the night when the pain meds wore off. To boot, I am claustrophobic and can't stand to have any part of my body constricted...plain and simple, the cast had to go! My surgeon requires my foot to be immobilized and at a 90 degree angle (which the cast was not). In addition to that, I needed something soft and comfortable that I could remove to clean my sutures, something that would not aggravate the incision on the heel during elevation and something small enough to fit me (I am a woman's size 4.5).Low and behold, I found this splint! And it comes with a built-in but removable ice pack...HUGE BONUS! I LOVE IT! It is very comfortable and much lighter than a fiberglass cast. Another Amazon customer complained about the velcro on the straps not being strong enough...mine has industrial velcro and is very strong and you can move them anywhere on the strap for your comfort. The splint itself is extremely comfortable, so much that I don't want to take it off. The adjustable straps allow me to put my foot at the required 90 degree angle and if I am feeling really sporty and want to stretch the achilles tendon a bit more, the splint comes with a removable foam wedge that can be placed under the toes pushing them up a bit further and stretching the arch. I ordered a small and was worried that it would not fit correctly. The small will comfortably fit a woman between the sizes of 3.5 and 6. This splint is an absolute god send and worth every penny! I would give it 10 stars if I could.

I just got my splint last night and immediately tried it out while relaxing and watching TV. I wear size 11 shoes (women) and I ordered the large. The fit is fine. I was a little worried my fat calf would cause a problem with the upper strap, but there's plenty of room to adjust the padded strap that touches your skin and the black strap that goes over that. I took out the ice pack. It was affixed by a sticky strip at the inside back of the brace. I don't know why they used a sticky strip instead of velcro. I didn't have any discomfort with the toe wedge and it is easily removed. This folds nicely (and the black strap that wraps around the front can be used to secure the brace flat for packing or storage) and I plan to pack it in my suitcase to take with me on my Christmas trip. My only problem is getting used to sleeping with it. There's room to wiggle your toes and foot. The side straps are easily adjustable. You can walk in it so nightly trips to the bathroom will not be a problem, which was one of my main issues with another splint. I didn't have any problems with the molded back fitting around my fat calf (big girl, big legs). I'll update my review later after I've used it for a while.Update 11/12/12: At some point I stopped using the splint. It did not seem to help my heel spurs. The only thing that has helped them is wearing the right shoes that didn't cause pain and never walking barefoot on the hard floors at home. I've bought inserts for several pairs of shoes to cushion the heels.

I've been using this for a few weeks now and I can say it does what it's supposed to do - keep your toes up to alleviate the morning pain associated with plantar fasciitis. But... the bottom of the boot will curve over time so the heel and the toes are at the ends of the U shaped boot. I don't think this is the way the item is supposed to be worn, but it continues to be effective as far as the morning pain.The straps are nice in that the boot is fully adjustable and if you criss-cross the velcro straps (as opposed to wearing them as pictured) then you can get a firm grasp and no sliding of the foot overnight - be careful not to tighten too much and cut off circulation, though! The ice pad is a nice touch, but the coolness doesn't last long (but then, I hear you should not ice for over 15 min, so I guess it lasts long enough?)My main peeve is the hard plastic that supports the boot from behind. This makes it hard to find a comfortable position at night and this, added to the heat generated by the gray fabric, could make your night an uncomfortable one. Considering that you will need to wear this for at least a couple of weeks, maybe you need to find an alternative. I purchased another boot without the straps, which is a lot more comfortable to wear, but the fabric stretches and it's hard to keep the heel in place all night. I've been switching the two at different intervals and this has been helpful, but some pain still remains after 4 weeks. This treatment, in combination with physical therapy and toe exercises (grabbing marbles with toes and moving them from left to right for about 15 minutes; picking up fabric from the floor with your toes) are supposed to be the cure. My two physical therapy sessions (deep massages from toe to knee)made the pain disappear for days so I suggest you try this in addition to the boots. Heel pain remains after 4 weeks but rest of foot has improved considerably after wearing these.