FIND US

Links

Archive:

Tags

Categories:

 

 

 

hi yes

Posts for tag: foot discomfort

April 07, 2012
Category: people and blogs

Heel pain is most often caused by plantar fasciitis--a condition that is sometimes also called heel spur syndrome when a spur is present. Heel pain may also be due to other causes, such as a stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation, or a cyst. Because there are several potential causes, it is important to have heel pain properly diagnosed.  Our Doctors are trained to distinguish between all the possibilities and determine the underlying source of your heel pain. 

The most common cause of plantar fasciitis relates to faulty structure of the foot. People who have problems with their arches, either overly flat feet or high-arched feet are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis. Wearing non-supportive footwear on hard, flat surfaces puts abnormal strain on the plantar fascia which is particularly evident when a person's job requires long hours on their feet.


The symptoms of plantar fasciitis are:

  • Pain on the bottom of the heel
  • Pain that is usually worse upon arising
  • Pain that increases over a period of months

People with plantar fasciitis often describe the pain as worse when they get up in the morning or after they've been sitting for long periods of time. After a few minutes of walking the pain decreases, because walking stretches the fascia. For some people the pain subsides but returns after spending long periods of time on their feet.

Diagnosis

To arrive at a diagnosis, we will obtain your medical history and examine your foot. Throughout this process the we can rule out all the possible causes for your heel pain other than plantar fasciitis. In addition, diagnostic imaging studies such as x-rays, a bone scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to distinguish the different types of heel pain. Sometimes heel spurs are found in patients with plantar fasciitis, but these are a rare source of pain. When they are present, the condition may be diagnosed as plantar fasciitis or heel spur syndrome.

Treatment Options

Treatment of plantar fasciitis begins with first-line strategies, which you can begin at home:

  • Exercises that stretch out the calf muscles help ease pain and assist with recovery.
  • Walking without shoes, undue strain and stress is put on your plantar fascia.
  • Putting an ice pack on your heel for 10 minutes several times a day helps reduce inflammation in the heel of your foot.
  • Cut down on extended physical activities to give your heel a rest.
  • Wearing supportive shoes that have good arch support and a slightly raised heel reduces stress on the plantar fascia. Your shoes should provide a comfortable environment for the foot.eded.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may help reduce pain and inflammation.
  • Extra pounds put extra stress on your plantar fascia.

If you still have pain after several weeks, see one of our Doctors, who may add one or more of these approaches:

  • Placing pads in the shoe softens the impact of walking. Also, strapping helps support the foot and reduce strain on the fascia.
  • Custom orthotic devices that fit into your shoe help correct the underlying structural abnormalities causing the plantar fasciitis.
  • In some cases, corticosteroid injections  are used to help reduce the inflammation and relieve pain.
  • A removable walking cast may be used to keep your foot immobile for a few weeks to allow it to rest and heal.
  • Wearing a night splint allows you to maintain an extended stretch of the plantar fascia while sleeping. This may help reduce the morning pain experienced by some patients.
  • Exercises and other physical therapy measures may be used to help provide relief.
  • We offer easy in office surgical options If after several months of non-surgical treatment, you continue to have heel pain, surgery will be considered. We will discuss the surgical options with you and determine which approach would be most beneficial for you.

 

Long-term Care

No matter what kind of treatment you undergo for plantar fasciitis, the underlying causes that led to this condition may remain. Therefore, you will need to continue with preventive measures.  For all patients, wearing supportive shoes and using custom orthotic devices are the mainstay of long-term treatment for plantar fasciitis. 

0 Comment(s) Permalink


Podiatry, Dr. Anderson, Dr. Seagle & Dr. Christiansen
1551 S. Renaissance Towne Dr. Ste. 370 Bountiful, UT 84010 Phone: (801) 292-4425
425 Medical Dr. Ste 215 Bountiful, UT 84010 (801)292-9222
11762 S. State Street Ste. 340 Draper, UT 84020 Phone: (801) 566-7297