Plantar Fasciitis Causes and treatments Offered by a Podiatrist In North Richland Hills TX
Plantar fasciitis is caused by weakening, swelling and inflammation of the plantar fascia tissue, this disorder is one of the main causes of pain in the heels. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that cuts across the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to the toes, and responsible for supporting the foot’s arch.
The inflammation, weakening and swelling occurs due to straining of the tissue. Tiny tears also occur on the supporting ligament when the strain is continued. In most cases, it happens due to injuries that occur over time.
Plantar fasciitis is common among athletes. Wearing shoes with inadequate support also poses a risk of contracting the condition. It is common among young people or soldiers who are very mobile. If your feet are rolling inward too much while walking, there are high chances of having plantar fasciitis. Wearing shoes that are worn out or which do not fit properly also poses the same risk.
The condition usually causes a stabbing pain when you make the first steps in the morning. Although this pain will ease when the foot limbers up, it could return after standing for a long period of time or after standing from a seat. Plantar fasciitis is also most hurting if you walk up stairs.
Prevention of plantar fasciitis is possible: for instance buying shoes that provide a nice arch is very helpful. If the shoes do not have nice heel cups, try some shoe inserts (orthotics) in order to provide cushioning to your heel. If you must stand for a long time for instance when working, stand on a thick rubber mat. This reduces stress on your foot as may occur when standing for a long time on a hard surface. The Achilles tendon at the back of your foot heel can be stretched during exercises and this is highly recommended to prevent the occurrence of plantar fasciitis. This is crucial for people in sports, although to any other people as well. It is important to consult the doctor about a workable stretching routine.
It is also important to choose what sports and exercises to pursue. You could also combine running with sporting activities that do not cause heel pain.
Common treatments
Foot pain at night is indicative of a different problem such as arthritis or tarsal tunnel syndrome nerve problem. Thus it is advisable to see a doctor if suspecting a Plantar fasciitis. Normally, the doctor will check the foot and ask questions relating to your past health conditions – for instance he/she may seek to know what previous injuries you had. The doctor may ask you at which time of the day the foot hurts most, place where there is pain, and which physical activities you normally engage in. The doctor may proceed to take an X-ray if they suspect stress fracture or other problems associated with bones. A family medicine physician, podiatrist, orthopedist, or sports medicine specialist can be able to assist on this condition. Usually, it will depend with your existing or historic conditions. An orthopedist or podiatrist can help if nonsurgical treatments do not succeed. Your doctor may also refer you to a sports medicine specialist to investigate problems relating to how your foot strikes the ground or the training routine. Seeing a doctor is also helpful to ensuring that you put into place training that works for you and your schedule.
Doing toe, calf and towel stretches several times after waking from sleep can help ease out the problem. A towel stretch is where you roll a towel and put it under the ball of the feet and pull its two ends. Ensure that your both shoes have a good arch support or simply get new ones. Shoes usually have their padding, treads or heels wearing down after some time. You can also help support the arch by doing exercises that strengthen your foot and ankle. For purposes of training, you need to avoid hard surfaces. Your weight might also be part of the problem in the development of this condition, and some Podiatrists may recommend a weight-loss program.
If you are nearby, a Podiatrist North Richland Hills TX, may also recommend wearing splints at night just in case the above methods are not helpful. These will stretch and keep tight the plantar fascia ligament and the Achille’s tendon. Doctors might also recommend shots of medicine such as steroids in the ailing foot. It is not usual for a foot pain specialist to recommend or do surgery unless all other treatment options have failed after trying them for 6 to 12 months.
Treatment makes the pain to wane within a few weeks, but it will take months to about a year for it to go away completely. It is also important to start off treatment as soon as possible to stop the pain soonest. It is also advisable to stick to your treatment schedule.
There are a couple of things you can do to manage the pain that comes with plantar fasciitis. The first step could be trying to rest and ice the foot when the pain starts. Icing can help ease inflammation. It is advisable to first stop the activity causing the pain – for instance running, walking, standing for long or standing on a hard surface. Avoid running through the pain since this can result to a chronic condition that is more difficult to treat. You could also request your human resources manager to advice on other ways of accomplishing your work tasks apart from standing.
Contrast bathing, which involves alternating hot and cold water, can also be very helpful. For some people, heat makes the condition worse, and thus it is advisable to soak the foot in cold water after a contrast bath. If ice doesn’t help after 2 or 3 days, use heating pads set on low. Pain and inflammation can also be eased by taking ibuprofen (such as Advil and Motrin), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and naproxen (such as Aleve). NSAIDs come in pills or creams that can be rubbed over the sore area. Putting into place good and effective preventative measures is important to preventing the return of the condition after healing.