Plantar Fasciitis
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitisthe inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes and runs across the bottom of the foot.
How do I know if I have Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar Fasciitis causes pain in the heel of your foot when you first stand up in the morning. Once you walk around for a while, the pain usually subsides, but it may return after long periods of standing or sitting. If you wear high heels regularly, you may experience pain when you try to walk barefoot.
You are more likely to develop Plantar Fasciitis is you walk around on hard floors a lot, or if you have a job that requires a lot of standing. If you walk or run for exercise, have very flat feet or very high arches, you are also at risk for developing the condition.
Some people who have Plantar Fasciitis also have heel spurs. In fact, heel spurs can cause pain that feels like Plantar Fasciitis. Read more about heel spurs here. (jump link to heel spurs page.)
What are the treatments?
Most treatments for Plantar Fasciitis are conservative and work well over the course of a few months.
- Over the counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and naproxen can reduce swelling and discomfort.
- Stretching and strengthening exercises can loosen the tendon causing the pain.
- Wearing splints at night that stretch the tendon can help to relieve pain. Orthotics that are fit to your shoes, such as heel cups and arch supports, can help as well. (We are specialty trained in this area.)
- Steroid shots can provide pain relief.
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy sends sound waves into the area where the heel pain occurs to induce healing.
- Surgery is considered an option only when all other treatments fail to relieve severe pain.
Our podiatrists can prescribe the most effective treatment plan for you to relieve the pain and discomfort of Plantar Fasciitis.