Thousands of people suffer from painful feet without knowing the cause. Foot pain can be caused by different problems, including plantar fasciitis, injury, arthritis, arch problems, and spending too much time standing. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of foot pain and can be treated in several ways, including wearing special socks or shoes to add support to the arch of the foot and the heel.
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Don’t Suffer from Plantar Fasciitis, Get Help
Getting help with plantar fasciitis is as easy as visiting the family doctor to get the cause of the foot pain properly diagnosed. The doctor may give a patient a referral to a foot specialist for treatment. The sooner treatment starts, the better the chances of recovery. Once treatment starts, most people can expect to recover in a few months.
The doctor will want a list of a person’s symptoms and where the pain is. The doctor will examine the feet to pinpoint the pain. They may X-ray the foot to rule out other conditions, such as arthritis or bone fractures.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
This condition is an inflammation of the fascia or thick band of tissue found on the bottom of the foot. It runs from a person’s heal to their toes. Plantar fasciitis can lead to painful heel spurs or bony growths on the heel and to tiny tears and more inflammation and pain along the foot’s arch and heel. The fascia supports the arch and muscles of the foot and can be damaged by overstretching.
Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the heel when people first walk in the morning or after they have been sitting for long periods of time. Activity makes the foot feel better, but it gets more painful when people spend long periods on their feet.
People at Risk of Getting Plantar Fasciitis
People who have more risk of getting plantar fasciitis include the following.
- Women are more likely to get this condition, especially if they wear high-heeled shoes or worn-out shoes with thin soles and lack of support.
- People who are 40 to 60 years old
- Individuals who are obese
- Those who spend many hours a day standing
- Anyone with flat feet, high arches, tight Achilles tendons, or tight heel cords
- People with a problematic walking pattern or foot position
Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
Once a person is diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, there are treatments, therapies, and orthotics that can help them recover. Conservative treatment is the first step and it will include resting the feet, stretching the feet, and icing the painful area. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium may be used to relieve the pain and inflammation.
In addition, patients may need physical therapies designed to strengthen the Achilles tendon, the plantar fascia, and the lower leg muscles. The physical therapist will show the patient a series of exercises to do at home.
The patient may also be advised to use special plantar fasciitis relief socks or sleeves, night splints, orthotic arch supports, or special shoes to support the foot or stretch the foot arches or calf muscles and better distribute the pressure to the foot.
These conservative treatments work for most patients. But, when these treatments and therapies aren’t enough to heal the patient’s plantar fasciitis, there are more treatment options including:
- Injections of steroid medications at the site of pain can provide temporary relief of pain. These shots must be limited. Another injection option is platelet-rich plasma that comes from a patient’s blood and will promote the healing of damaged tissues.
- A procedure called extra-corporeal therapy with shock waves where sound waves are aimed at the heel pain to facilitate healing. This is only used after other treatments fail to get good results. This is a newer procedure that shows promise but is not always effective.
- Tissue repair by ultrasound where a needle-like probe is guided by ultrasound to damaged tissues. This probe uses ultrasound to vibrate fast and break up damaged tissues. They are then suctioned out of the area. This is a technology that is minimally invasive.
- The possibility of surgery to separate the plantar fascia from the heel bone. This option is only used for patients with severe pain where all other treatments have failed. It is done with local anesthesia and a small incision.
Self Help Choices
There are lifestyle changes and home remedies that people suffering from plantar fasciitis can try. A person who wants to improve their chances of healing their condition and reducing the foot pain they suffer can take these steps in addition to getting medical help. In fact, the doctor or foot specialist might recommend these same steps.
Being obese puts more pressure on a person’s feet and the plantar fascia, so losing weight can reduce the pressure. Losing extra weight may not be easy, but it will improve a person’s general health and promote healing. Throwing away all shoes that are worn out, lack proper support, or do not fit correctly is another step that can bring good results. Lower heels and good support with more cushioning means less-painful feet and even the possibility of faster healing of the plantar fasciitis.
Then, consider changing the sport or work condition that is contributing to this painful condition. If jogging, running, or walking contribute to the pain, change to a lower impact sport or activity like swimming or even bicycling. Try applying ice to the painful area of the feet for 15-minute intervals several times a day and do simple exercises at home to improve the condition that the doctor or physical therapist can recommend.
If the patient has a job that requires them to be on their feet for long periods of time each day, they should ask their doctor for recommendations for supportive footwear, orthotics, or other strategies to reduce the stress on their feet while at work.
With the right treatment and supportive footwear, most people will get relief from plantar fasciitis within 10 months. Making a few lifestyle changes will help reduce foot pain and prevent a return of the condition.
