Plantar fasciitis affects your quality of life due to chronic heel pain and difficulty walking and exercising. While there are treatment options that require injections, you can incorporate useful tips that you can implement at home. Your foot and ankle specialist can evaluate your plantar fasciitis Sugar Land before offering treatment.
You can be at risk of getting the condition if you are 40 or older, overweight, and working on hard surfaces like concrete.
Causes
The primary cause of plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of a tissue in your foot called the plantar fascia. The tissue is important for foot movements like walking. The inflammation of the plantar fascia can occur due to your foot structure, overuse, the type of shoes you wear, and the type of walking surfaces you use.
Symptoms
- A swollen heel
- Persistent heel pain
- Pain that worsens after exercise
- Pain in the arch of your foot
- A tight Achilles tendon
Diagnosis and treatment options
Before your doctor recommends a treatment method, they must evaluate your foot to identify the source and intensity of your heel pain. They might ask you to walk around as they observe how you place pressure on your foot. A physical examination can be beneficial in checking pain and sensitivity in your foot, ankle, and heel.
If necessary, your specialist can ask for X-ray imaging to examine your plantar fascia and bones. The imaging helps to confirm the diagnosis and rule out any other conditions. Once the diagnosis is clear, you will receive a treatment plan.
The ideal treatment option will be determined based on the severity of the condition. If you have chronic heel pain, your specialist might recommend steroid injections which are great for pain. Other treatments include biological therapy and extracorporeal shockwave therapy.
Tips that can help
Before your specialist suggests any aggressive treatment methods, they will give helpful tips to help you to deal with the condition.
Maintaining a healthy weight
If you are overweight or obese, you might exert extra pressure on your feet. The excess weight gives your feet more work to handle. To minimize the likelihood of the condition or its symptoms, it is important to lose extra weight and maintain a healthy weight.
Custom orthotics
Wearing custom orthotics can help manage your plantar fasciitis. The devices will help support your arch and cushion your sensitive and painful heel. You can visit your podiatrist to create a custom orthotic or request a company to send you the footprint imprint kit.
Massage therapy
Massage therapy is beneficial for relieving pain and tension in your plantar fascia. Your specialist can perform deep tissue massage to release any knots and help your tissues relax and promote healing. Common massage therapy techniques include rolling a ball under your foot and thumb pushing on the sole of your affected foot.
If you have chronic heel pain that makes it difficult to walk or exercise, visit Vargas Foot & Ankle Specialists for treatment. Get qualified and experienced specialists to evaluate your foot and offer personalized and suitable treatment. Call or schedule an appointment online today and enjoy a pain-free foot.
