PLANTAR FASCIITIS

 PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Plantar Fasciitis:  It is the most common condition that causes heel pain. Plantar fasciitis is due to irritation and inflammation of the tight tissue that forms the arch of the foot. The most common symptom is pain under the heel after a period of rest, i.e. severe pain and inability to walk in the morning after getting up from sleep. The same might happen after sitting for a long time and then trying to walk. Interestingly the pain gets better after a few steps though it may not go away completely.  Again, the pain may get worse with prolonged walking and standing. X ray may show a bony spur which may develop in long standing cases of heel pain due to plantar fasciitis, but it may not cause the symptoms.

Treatment Options:

Not all of these treatments are appropriate for every condition, but they may be helpful in your situation.

1.Rest - Avoiding the precipitating activity; for example, take a few day off jogging or prolonged standing/walking.  Rest can reduce the severity of pain and will allow the inflammation to begin to cool down.

2.Ice Packs - Icing will help to diminish some of the symptoms and control the heel pain. Icing is especially helpful after an acute exacerbation of symptoms.

3.Exercises and Stretches - Are designed to relax the tissues that surround the heel bone. Some simple exercises performed in the morning and evening, often help patients feel better quickly.

4.Anti-Inflammatory Medications - Help to both control heel pain and decrease inflammation.

5.Shoe Inserts - Are often the key to successful treatment of heel pain. The shoe inserts often permit patients to continue their routine activities without heel pain.

6.Injection therapy - In some cases, corticosteroid injections are used to help reduce the inflammation and relieve pain.

7.Removable walking cast - May be used to keep your foot immobile for a few weeks to allow it to rest and heal and is used only for severe cases.

8.Night splint - 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.

9.Weight reduction – It helps to reduce stress on foot and heel and thus help to reduce the severity of pain.