One of the most common causes of pain in your heels is plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is tissue that connects your heel and your toes. If you are struggling with heel pain, it's important to visit a podiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Understanding the fundamentals of plantar fasciitis and its diagnosis can help you to be better prepared for the process. Here's a look at some of the things that you need to know.
What Are The Signs Of Plantar Fasciitis?
If you're wondering if the heel pain that you're feeling is caused by plantar fasciitis, you should take the time to really assess your symptoms.
Heel pain that is worse in the morning and after periods of rest that eases up after you've been active and walking for a little while is often the result of plantar fasciitis. As the tissue stretches with activity, the pain lessens some.
You'll typically feel the pain in the very bottom of your heel and sometimes along the arch of your foot. It may be accompanied by swelling in your heel as well. You might also notice that the pain you experience gets worse over several months instead of going away or getting better.
How Can You Diagnose Plantar Fasciitis?
If you want to determine whether or not you have plantar fasciitis, you will need to visit a podiatrist for diagnosis. The podiatrist will examine your foot, ask you about your symptoms, and potentially order x-rays, an ultrasound, or other imaging. This is done to rule out bone spurs or similar types of problems.
How Do You Treat Plantar Fasciitis?
If your doctor confirms that you have plantar fasciitis, he or she will recommend that you rest your foot as much as possible. You'll also be taught to tape and wrap your foot to help stretch the plantar fascia.
Your podiatrist may also suggest that you invest in a custom orthotic device for your shoes if your plantar fasciitis is caused by a high arch or no arch in your foot. In some cases, a splint or walking cast may be advised as well. Your podiatrist might also suggest injections to help ease the inflammation in the plantar fascia in more severe cases.
If you have struggled with persistent heel pain, you should reach out to a podiatrist as soon as possible. With the right heel pain treatment, you can get back to your usual active lifestyle without the pain.
Share22 June 2021
When I developed tendinitis of my foot and ankle, my podiatrist helped me on the road to recovery. An over-use injury from the job caused me considerable pain in my foot and ankle. Ice, elevation, rest, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory relieved my inflammation of the tendons. My podiatrist also prescribed physical therapy, which helped restore my mobility. Gentle stretching exercises performed during physical therapy seemed to have a positive effect. I was shown how to follow up these exercises at home. After several weeks of following doctor's orders, my podiatrist was happy with the results. The bottom line is if you're suffering from foot pain or injury, you should see a foot specialist as soon as possible because treatment options are available.
