A thick band of tissue on the bottom of the foot called plantar fascia connects the toes to the heel. It forms the arch of the foot. When stretched or overused, little tears may occur in the fascia and result in inflammation. This can cause extreme, intense pain in the heel that can become so severe ordinary walking is difficult.
The most severe pain occurs in the morning with the first step of the day after there have been a few hours of immobilization. The pain is usually described as “stabbing.” Climbing stairs or any type of vigorous activity exacerbates the pain.
People that are most at risk for this condition are those that wear improper shoes and put intense stress on the foot by running or dancing. Being overweight is also a risk factor. Working at a job that requires standing all day also increases the likelihood of plantar fasciitis.
Home remedies include putting ice on the painful area and taking over-the-counter pain remedies. Wearing comfortable, supportive shoes may help relieve the pain.
If home remedies don’t help and the condition is left untreated, plantar fasciitis can become chronic and interfere with daily activities. When the pain is not controlled, the heel pain may result in a change in the gait that may also cause back, knee and hip problems.
Professional treatment to relieve the pain is available. If the pain continues, a podiatrist should be consulted in order to get proper treatment and prevent permanent damage.
Getting Professional Treatment
The Podiatrist is a specialist in s foot, ankle, knee or lower leg problems. The time to see a podiatrist is when you suspect something may be wrong or when pain will not subside.
It is always our express intent to recommend that you take no chances with foot, ankle or knee pain, or injuries. Professional treatment to relieve the pain is available from doctors such as Delray Beach’s Dr. Ian Goldbaum of Delray Beach Podiatry, who has provided us with this blog. If the pain continues, a podiatrist with Dr. Goldbaum’s experience should be consulted. You must get proper treatment to prevent permanent damage.
Our Staff writers are freelance writers with higher education related to, or experience researching and writing for, medical blogs; with education or experience equal to under graduate and graduate degrees in the fields of medicine.
photo credit: Susan Sharpless Smith via photo pin cc
Related articles
No responses yet