Plantar fasciitis is a common source of ongoing or recurring heel pain. At their offices in Clarksville, Nashville, and Erin, Tennessee, and Hopkinsville, Kentucky, the Gateway Foot and Ankle Center team offers a range of noninvasive treatments that can ease plantar fasciitis pain. They also perform plantar fascia release surgery for treatment-resistant plantar fasciitis. Call Gateway Foot and Ankle Center today or book an appointment online for expert heel pain relief.
If you have persistent or recurring heel pain, the most likely cause is plantar fasciitis. This condition affects the connective tissue (plantar fascia) that stretches the length of your foot’s sole.
The pain is in the bottom of your heel, so it hurts to walk. Your heel pain is likely to come and go rather than always being there. A flare-up can cause intense tenderness and sharp pain in your heel that might spread into the arch.
Many people with plantar fasciitis find the pain is worse when they get out of bed after a night’s sleep, then eases when they start moving. However, heel pain can return if you do too much.
Plantar fasciitis develops when tiny tears multiply in the tissue, causing chronic inflammation. The main cause of these tears is repetitive strain or overuse that frequently extends the plantar fascia too far.
Plantar fasciitis is more likely to impact you if you have one or more risk factors. For example, if you take part in distance running or any form of vigorous exercise, it can strain the plantar fascia. Standing on hard ground for an extended period can also be a risk factor for plantar fasciitis.
Using footwear that doesn’t support your feet properly when exercising and carrying excess body weight adds to the strain on your feet. Arthritic diseases like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis also raise your risk level.
The shape of your arches affects your risk of getting plantar fasciitis. High arches or flatfeet (fallen arches) put additional strain on the plantar fascia, increasing your chance of developing heel pain.
Your podiatrist examines your foot and reviews your symptoms to determine whether you have plantar fasciitis or another cause of heel pain, like a fracture, sprain, or strain.
They might ask you to do basic exercises like standing on tiptoes to see how well you move. Diagnostic imaging scans like a CT or MRI help to assess the tissue damage.
How is plantar fasciitis treated?
The Gateway Foot and Ankle Center team designs a personalized plantar fasciitis treatment plan for you. Noninvasive treatments that can help include:
Most patients respond well to these treatments. However, your podiatrist might recommend surgery if your plantar fasciitis doesn’t improve with these noninvasive methods.
Call Gateway Foot and Ankle Center today or book an appointment online to get relief from plantar fasciitis fast.