Treating Plantar Fasciitis
by Ida Carroll
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia becomes inflamed. This is the band of tissue that runs along the sole of your foot, and when it becomes inflamed it can cause severe heel pain. Plantar fasciitis is a pretty common foot problem, particularly in those who take part in exercise and activities that place strain on the heel. Those who have flat feet or are overweight seem also to be more likely to develop this foot problem. There are a few different treatment options that are well-established for plantar fasciitis, and a podiatrist will assess the condition of your foot and recommend a treatment plan. Here's an overview of the commonly recommended treatments for this condition.
Medication
Pain relief medication can be useful in the early days of treatment and is often combined with other forms of treatment for plantar fasciitis. Anti-inflammatories can also be used to speed up healing and help improve the range of motion in your foot, which can make it easier to keep up with daily tasks. You may be given oral or topical anti-inflammatories.
Therapy
Your podiatrist may recommend a therapeutic approach to treat plantar fasciitis. This may include showing you how to do foot exercises that are specifically designed to support healing and improve flexibility in your foot. They may also measure you for custom therapeutic aids to support your foot and encourage healing by reducing friction and pressure on the sole of your foot and your heel. Splints and orthotic insoles can support the muscles and tendons in your foot and ensure you're not putting too much weight on your heel, while a walking boot may be recommended for a short period of time to cushion your foot and prevent you from putting weight on it, which can help the inflammation subside.
Surgery
Surgery is generally reserved for cases when conservative treatment hasn't been successful. Ultrasonic tissue repair may be recommended to remove damaged tissue. This is a minimally invasive procedure that uses ultrasound technology to guide a probe to the area of damaged tissue. Once the tissue is broken down it is removed through the probe using suction. Alternatively, it may be necessary to have the plantar fascia surgically detached from your heel. This can usually be done using keyhole surgical techniques and is designed to bring relief from severe heel pain. After surgery, you should work with a podiatrist to strengthen your foot muscles, which can help prevent future injuries.
Plantar fasciitis tends to respond better to conservative treatment approaches when diagnosed early, so if you're experiencing heel pain, have your foot assessed by a podiatrist as soon as possible.
For more information, contact a company such as Sydney City Podiatry.
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About Me
If you are like me, you have probably been in embarrassed in the past about having thick, yellow or otherwise unsightly toenails. You may have even suffered pain from your toenails. Those statements used to describe me, but with the help of my family and podiatrist, my toenails have returned to a strong, clear and beautiful state. The journey wasn't always easy, and it forced me to ask a lot of questions and do a lot of research. As a result, I learned everything you can find in these blog posts. I see other people with painful looking toenails on the street, and I want to help them with some pointers, but walking up to strangers – however well intentioned – is a bit beyond my comfort levels so I decided to create this blog. I hope it helps and entertains you!