Plantar fasciitis is a condition that results in the tightening of a ligament that runs along the foot from heel to toe that causes mild to severe pain. Usually most intense in the morning time as the ligaments of the foot have tensed up through the night the pain often subsides during the day, however extended periods of walking or weight bearing often bring back the often debilitating pain of this condition.
many who suffer from this condition also suffer from either flat feet or high arches. The first step to preventing plantar fasciitis is to simply find the correct shoes for your individual needs, often times augmenting them with appropriate insole supports.
For those who already suffer from the condition there is no need to fear. While extremely painful the condition is also highly treatable through both surgical and medical means.
over the counter medications that reduce inflammation have shown to help by reducing the swelling, in addition a change in your physical activities can be the first step in recovery from plantar fasciitis. Applying ice to the area while resting the foot helps reduce the severity of pain as well. If conventional means fail to alleviate pain and aide in recovery a doctor can provide many measures to help reduce spasticity in the ligament responsible for the pain.
This is not a condition you should allow to continue as it can cause long term degenerative damage that can require surgery to repair.
For many the first step if conservative treatment fails will be a night splint which will help prevent plantar fascia from stiffening by keeping it stretched through the night. Also a physical therapist should be consulted so they can help you design a series of exercises which will help the ligament recover. Arch braces, specialized sandals, and foot massagers will also help restore the ligaments.
Should these approaches fail a doctor may deliver an injection of corticosteroids directly into the ligament to reduce pain, however this has it’s dangers as the plantar fascia can be further damaged by this treatment. There is also a new treatment known as ESWT (extracorpreal shock wave therapy) that send sonic waves through the damaged ligament to promote healing. one should carefully consult their doctor and understand the treatments before agreeing to them.
The last option is surgery to repair the damaged ligament. As with any surgery this should be used as a last option as there can be many complication, the most obvious being post surgical infection.
Plantar fasciitis affects thousands each year, as with any other disorder one should carefully weight their option, and consult a medical professional before attempting any treatment. Another treatment option, albiet a less intrusive treatment, are to wear plantar fasciitis shoes. There are some manufacturers such as New Balance, Brooks, and Orthaheel that make shoes that can help treat the condition.