Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of mysterious heel pain. The plantar fascia is a thick ligament that runs across the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel to your toes, supporting the arch of your foot. It can become inflamed through simple trauma (like stepping on a Lego in the dark), overuse (from too much walking or running), or as a result of certain medical conditions (like psoriatic arthritis).
Unfortunately, because of the location of the inflammation, it's hard to go about your day without causing yourself additional pain and inflammation. To reduce the amount of strain on the plantar fascia and the overall inflammation, consider consulting with an orthopedic specialist about some of the following treatments.
1.) Steroid injections.
Cortisone, a steroid that's naturally produced by the human body, can be injected directly into your plantar fascia or into the side of your heel. It acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory which can start giving your relief within days and last for several weeks. That may be able to help you manage to go about your necessary daily activities, like work or school, with a minimum of pain until the plantar fascia heals.
2.) Orthopedic Shoes
You may need to invest in a pair of orthopedic shoes for a while until your plantar fascia heals. Orthopedic shoes provide additional arch support for your feet, essentially relieving the plantar fascia of its job for a while so that it can mend. You may want to consider investing in two pairs: one for street use and one that can be kept for indoor use only so that they stay clean. That way you aren't risking more damage to your plantar fascia when you're walking around your home.
Orthopedic shoes sometimes can be covered by prescription and need to be fitted specifically to your feet, so discuss this with your doctor as soon as possible.
3.) Specialized Wraps For Healing
There are specialized foot wraps that can help gently put pressure on your plantar fascia at night, while you sleep. These wraps are generally designed to help promote blood flow deep beneath the surface of your skin which, in turn, helps promote healing. Foot wraps that target the plantar fascia are sold over-the-counter at most drug stores, but the smart thing to do would be to consult with a sports medicine doctor or an orthopedic specialist about what type of wrap will work best for you.
Healing an inflamed plantar fascia takes a considerable amount of time—that particular ligament isn't really easy to heal once it gets injured and it can be prone to re-injury. That makes investing in the necessary orthopedic treatments, like shoes and wraps, well worth the cost. The odds are, unfortunately, high that you'll likely experience a re-injury at some point in the future. For more advice, talk to an orthopedist or sports medicine doctor today.
Share29 December 2016
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