Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief – Causes and Treatments

If your first few steps in the morning are absolute agony that lessens as the day progresses, then there is a very good chance that you are one of the millions who are suffering from a foot disorder known as plantar fasciitis.

As your plantar fascia region (the band of ligaments stretching along the bottom of your foot from your heel bone all the way to your toes) gets the most punishment as you walk and stand each day, it is very common to become strained and irritated. This is then followed by swelling and pain that starts at the base or heel of your foot which is often most pronounced in the morning.

Plantar fasciitis pain is the single most common heel pain disorder we help to treat at Ideal Feet. As we age, the years of punishment and poor treatment of our feet results in a stretched plantar fascia. The condition is most prevalent among middle aged adults who have regularly engaged in high impact activities such as running or spend a lot of time on their feet.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

As earlier explained, this condition is primarily triggered when the tissues (plantar fascia) supporting the base of the foot becomes overly stretched due to the following reasons:

Over pronation or when your foot excessively rolls inward with every step
Having High or fallen arches
Weight Gain
Walking, running or standing on hard pavement for prolonged hours
Poorly fitted shoes

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

The most common sign that you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis is when you constantly experience pain as you take your first step each morning. While the throbs and aches are likely to subside after a few minutes, the shooting pains will recur at any time of the day especially when standing for long hours at a time.

Diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis

Although the symptoms may speak for themselves, it is important to seek the help of your podiatrist when the severity of your condition increases.

During this process, your doctor will have to verify your medical history along with the list of injuries and diseases that you have had as well as your lifestyle habit and the degree of your physical activities. After the initial interview phase, many physicians recommend a foot X-ray to rule out other common issues like stress fractures or torn ligaments in the foot.

Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

When your heels hurt from Plantar Fasciitis, it is important to keep stress and excessive pressure off of your heels to allow the fascia to heal properly. The fascia generally becomes inflamed when the bones, joints and arches of the feet are not properly aligned. Ideal Feet products balance the foot on all four arches, taking the pressure off of the heel, which gives you relief from heel pain.

Daily Steps to Healing this Condition

Managing this condition does not involve a simple 1-step plan. Plantar fasciitis pain relief requires a multi-step process to ensure full recovery.

Rest – take the weight off your feet by cutting down on specific activities such as running or biking that can aggravate your problem.
Ice – apart from the pain, inflammation is also another issue that you need to address. To help relieve the swelling, you can do any of 2 things: apply ice or take a pain reliever. Be sure to speak with your doctor before taking any pain relievers on a consistent basis.
Orthotics – if these options fail to deliver results, your doctor may recommend the use of orthotics to aid in your treatment. These allow your feet to be supported in the correct position so they can truly heal.

Severe Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

Splints – if the above options fail to deliver results, your doctor may recommend the use of night splints to aid in your treatment.
Steriod Shots – an extreme method to reduce inflammation. When too much time is taken before starting treatment, over the counter pain relievers may not be able to do enough.
Surgery – this is always the final resort and can almost always be avoided if you don’t wait too long to begin treating the condition.