Why I Threatened My Foot

My right foot is under strict orders to clean up its act or else.  I'm having trouble with plantar fasciitis, a very painful foot condition where the plantar tendon on the bottom of the foot isn't working right and causes pain in the heel.  I first had this about 14 years ago when I was still working as a teacher.  Poor support in my shoes and a classroom that had cheap carpet on top of concrete, a bad mixture.  Took almost a year to clear it up.  Orthopedic shoes, shoe inserts, orders to never go bare footed or walk up hills.
About 6 weeks ago I started having trouble again, I trace it to an evening we were running about the cobblestone streets of Savannah and I was wearing boots that had little or no support.  The pain had steadily gotten worse and I finally broke down and went to the Doctor.  He had an x-ray done, which wouldn't show the plantar but would show any other problems.  It turned out I have a heel spur and some arthritis in the ankle.  So I sleeping with a foot splint to keep the plantar stretched, have new inserts in my shoes, do stretches, slather my foot in Aspercream and soak my foot in our whirlpool tub.
It is getting better, but with plantar it's a long, slow slog.   The foot knows I mean business, so it's trying.  I have a brother-in-law who's had trouble with this condition, had surgery to release the plantar, 2 more surgeries to remove scar tissue and after nearly 3 years is unable to walk more than a few steps.  So I take this seriously and will do whatever, short of surgery, to help it get better.

This is my night time splint, looks like a medieval torture device doesn't  it?  It's actually not too bad to sleep in and if it helps then I'll stick with it.