
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common explanations of heel pain. It is caused by inflammation to the thick band that connects the toes to the heel bone, called the plantar fascia, which runs across the bottom of your foot. The condition is most commonly seen in runners, pregnant women, overweight people, and individuals who wear inadequately supporting shoes. Plantar fasciitis typically affects people between the ages of 40 and 70.
Symptoms
Plantar fasciitis commonly causes a
stabbing pain in the heel of the foot, which is worse during the first
few steps of the day after awakening. As you continue to walk on the
affected foot, the pain gradually lessens. Usually, only one foot is
affected, but it can occur in both feet simultaneously.
Diagnosis
To diagnose plantar fasciitis, your
doctor will physically examine your foot by testing your reflexes,
balance, coordination, muscle strength, and muscle tone. Your doctor may
also advise a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or X-ray to rule out
other others sources of your pain, such as a pinched nerve, stress
fracture, or bone spur.
Treatment
Treatment for plantar fasciitis includes medication, physical therapy, shock wave therapy, or surgery.
Medications
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen are used to treat the
inflammation and pain of plantar fasciitis, but they won't cure the
condition. Corticosteroids can also be used to ease pain and reduce
inflammation. Corticosteroids are applied either as a topical solution
in conjunction with a non-painful electric current or through injections
to the affected area.
Physical Therapy
Stretching exercises for the
Achilles tendon and plantar fascia are recommend to relieve pain and aid
in the healing process. Sometimes application of athletic tape is
recommended. In moderate or severe cases of plantar fasciitis, your
doctor may recommend you wearing a night splint, which will stretch the
arch of your foot and calf while you sleep. This helps to lengthen the
Achilles tendon and plantar fascia for symptom relief. Depending on the
severity of your plantar fasciitis, your physician may prescribe a
store-bought orthotic (arch support) or custom-fitted orthotic to help
distribute your foot pressure more evenly.
Surgery and Other Procedures
When more
conservative methods have failed to reduce plantar fasciitis pain, your
doctor may suggest extracorporeal shock wave therapy, which is used to
treat chronic plantar fasciitis. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy uses
sound waves to stimulate healing, but may cause bruises, numbness,
tingling, swelling, and pain. When all else fails, surgery may be
recommended to detach the plantar fascia from the heel bone. Few people
need surgery to treat the condition.
Stretching your plantar fasciitis is something you can do at home to relieve pain and speed healing. Ice massage performed three to four times per day in 15 to 20 minute intervals is also something you can do to reduce inflammation and pain. Placing arch supports in your shoes absorbs shock and takes pressure off the plantar fascia.