Plantar Fasciitis

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a painful, chronic condition that’s the most common cause of heel pain. Without expert diagnosis and treatment, plantar fasciitis can worsen to a point where recovery becomes considerably more difficult.

The cause of plantar fasciitis is inflammation in a thick piece of connective tissue (the plantar fascia) that runs under the arch of your foot. 

The worst of the inflammation typically occurs where the plantar fascia connects to your heel bone. The inflammation in your plantar fascia develops because of tiny tissue tears resulting from overuse or repetitive strain.

Plantar fasciitis is more likely to develop if you have high arches, if you're overweight or obese, or you wear shoes that don't support your feet properly. Plantar fasciitis is also a common sports injury.

What symptoms does plantar fasciitis cause?

Common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:

• Pain at the bottom of your heel
• Pain that worsens when standing up
• Pain in the arch of your foot
• Swelling in your heel
• Pain that gets worse over time

Plantar fasciitis pain is often particularly bad when you get up in the morning. It tends to ease off as you move about but is likely to return and get worse again if you do a lot of physical activity.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

Simple remedies such as rest, stretching exercises, applying ice packs, and over-the-counter medications can often ease mild plantar fasciitis pain. Losing weight and making sure you have correctly fitted, supportive footwear can also make a significant difference.

If these treatments aren't working and your heel pain is still there after a couple of weeks, the team at Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center may recommend treatments such as:

• Physical therapy
• Injection therapy
• Padding or medical tape
• Custom orthotics

Orthotics, shoe inserts shaped to fit your feet, provide cushioned support to reduce stress on the plantar fascia. They can often be a highly effective solution to plantar fasciitis. Another option is extracorporeal shockwave therapy.

In the few cases where symptoms don't improve, surgery might be necessary to release the plantar fascia.

Is plantar fasciitis the only cause of heel pain?

There are many potential causes of heel pain in addition to plantar fasciitis. They include:

• Heel spurs
• Ruptured Achilles tendon
• Excessive pronation
• Stress fractures
• Arthritis
• Bone tumor
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)

It's important to visit Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center to determine what’s responsible for your condition.

If you have heel pain, find out whether it's due to plantar fasciitis or another cause by contacting Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center. Call their office or book an appointment online today.