Although plantar fasciitis is the most common type of heel pain, there is no denying that the condition is both painful and frustrating for the sufferer.
The plantar fascia is a ligament that connects your heel bone to your toes. The main support for the arch of your foot, the plantar fascia can become strained, weak or inflamed due to injury.
Even though the pain may be bad, ignoring it can have far worse consequences. One thing that most long-term plantar fasciitis sufferers eventually regrets is not going to a podiatrist sooner.
Every year, there are millions of people who make regular visits to podiatrists for help with foot problems.
A podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine, also referred to as a DPM. Podiatrists specialize in treating feet, ankles, and sometimes even issues that occur with the legs. Some podiatrists specialize in surgery, while others specialize in everything from diabetic care to wound care to sports medicine.
There are also podiatrists that specialize only in pediatrics. Podiatrists can be board certified by The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery as well as The American Board of Podiatric Medicine.
A podiatrist can do several things to help plantar fasciitis patients get some relief. A podiatrist will watch an injured person stand and walk as well as evaluate their issues. Questions about past illnesses and injuries will be asked to further determine the cause of the problem. Typically, injury or problems are caused by the following:
This issue is very common among sports players and people who stand on their feet for long periods at a time.
The more weight put on the feet, the more stress they are under. Losing weight often helps to solve this problem.
Wearing shoes that are too tight or too loose can cause significant foot injury. It is always the best idea to wear shoes that fit properly and cushion the feet.
Sometimes plantar fasciitis occurs simply from a person aging, and their ligaments becoming weaker.
Trauma is a leading cause of plantar fasciitis, whether it is from overuse or from the feet striking the ground too hard.
More often than not, plantar fasciitis is caused by an abnormal foot structure. After all, 90% of people are born with imperfect feet.
Most likely, the podiatrist will recommend resting the injured foot, icing the heel to reduce inflammation, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication, stretching the foot and wearing orthotics. Only about 5 out of 100 people end up needing surgery to fix plantar fasciitis, so there is no need for someone to be nervous about seeing a podiatrist. In fact, most adults experience heel problems at some point in their lives. Non-surgical treatment by a podiatrist usually brings the problem under control quickly.
It must also be kept in mind that doctor-prescribed treatments that are started when symptoms first begin are usually the most successful. The worst thing an injured person can do is attempt to treat the issue themselves. This can cause even more harm to be done and more pain to be felt.
If you are experiencing heel pain and it hurts when you walk, you may have plantar fasciitis. It is best to get evaluated by a podiatrist (foot and ankle specialist) to properly diagnose your condition(s) and prescribe the proper treatment(s).
Give us a call today or fill out the form on the top right of this page, to schedule your appointment and get back to pain free walking as soon as possible.
