What Is Plantar Fasciitis and How to Know if I Have It?

Chronic pain in the bottom of your heel or bottom of the foot is a sign of plantar fasciitis, a condition that affects the bottom of the foot. It is associated with a degenerative problem involving the tissue that connects the toes to the heel bone and causes intense pain and inflammation. Schedule an appointment with local foot doctors at Premier Podiatry to find out more about your condition and treatment options. Dr. Velimir Petkov and his team are dedicated to providing the most exceptional conservative and surgical foot care treatment and come up with personalized, advanced solutions to eliminate discomfort and help you live a pain-free life.

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation in the plantar fascia in your foot, the ligament that connects your heel to your toes and helps support the arch of the foot. It is one of the most common foot conditions and causes of heel pain in adults.

Plantar fasciitis occurs when you overuse or put too much stress on your feet. It is a dull, annoying heel pain that worsens or a sharp pain in the arch that stops you from routine activities.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is pain at the bottom of your foot, around your heel and arch. It involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of each foot and connects the heel bone to the toes, known as plantar fascia. Plantar fasciitis happens when your plantar fascia is overused or stretched too far. Anything that damages the plantar fascia can make it swell and cause inflammation that results in pain when you walk or use your foot.

While the exact causes of plantar fasciitis are not exactly identified, you may know you have plantar fasciitis if:

• You feel stabbing pain in the morning after taking your first steps
• The pain decreases with exercise or movement, but it returns if you stand for longer periods or stand up after sitting
• You find it difficult to raise your toes off the floor

It usually occurs in runners and in people who are overweight. While most people experience plantar fasciitis in one foot at a time, it is not unusual to experience pain in both feet at the same time. This pain can be relieved with over-the-counter medications, icing, rest, and stretching, but if it does not improve within 2 weeks, it needs medical attention.

Read on to learn more about plantar fasciitis symptoms and causes, how it is diagnosed, and when you need to see a podiatrist.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

Planter fasciitis does not have any external symptoms. The heel pain is the most common symptom that is felt on the inside. Some people also feel pain in the arch of their feet.

Other symptoms include:

• Swelling around the heel
• A tight Achilles tendon
• Stiffness

What Does Plantar Fasciitis Feel Like?

Everyone experiences planter fasciitis differently. This pain is often described as:

• A dull to sharp, stabbing pain in the heel
• Aching or burning that extends from the heel through the bottom of the foot
• Pain and stiffness, especially when you take your first steps after getting out of bed in the morning or if you have been sitting or lying down for some time
• Pain that increases as the day goes on, particularly if you have been standing or walking a lot

If you are having stabbing pain above your heel or the back of your ankle, some injury or Achilles tendonitis may be the reason behind it.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Repetitive motion or anything that puts a lot of pressure on the arch of your foot can cause planter fasciitis such as:

• Running
• Jogging
• Walking
• Consistent long periods of standing or being on your foot

The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the base of the toe. It supports the arch of the foot and absorbs shock when walking. Planter fasciitis happens when the planter fascia ligament is strained. This strain causes the ligament to become weak, swollen, or inflamed, which leads to pain in the foot heel, and arch. Repeated stress or tension on the ligament can also cause tiny tears, intensifying the pain.

How Do You Get Plantar Fasciitis?

Anyone can get plantar fasciitis, but some people are more likely to get it than others. Your risk of developing it may increase if:

• You are overweight
• You are between the ages of 40 and 60
• You are pregnant
• You are a runner
• You stand your feet for longer periods, possibly on harder surfaces
• You walk on the inside of your foot
• You have high arches, flat feet, or a tight Achilles tendon
• You wear shoes that do not fit well, offer arch support, or are worn out

How Is Plantar Fasciitis Diagnosed?

Planter fasciitis can be diagnosed by a podiatrist, a doctor specializing in foot and ankle conditions. The specialist will examine your foot and ankle and check for areas of tenderness. He will also ask you to stand and walk around to confirm a diagnosis.

He will also ask you about things like:

• Your health, past illnesses, and injuries
• Where and when do you feel the most pain
• How active you are, or how much you exercise

Your podiatric doctor may recommend an x-ray depending on your symptoms, or if he suspects you have a plantar bone spur, stress fracture, or another issue. The location of the pain can help determine its cause.

How Is Plantar Fasciitis Treated?

Planter fasciitis pain can get better with conservative treatment such as icing the painful area, stretching, and modifying or avoiding activities that cause pain. Since plantar fasciitis is caused by repetitive movements and pressure, easing the load on your feet gives ligaments time to heal.

There are some effective at-home treatments and simple foot exercises that relieve the pain.

The most common treatments for plantar fasciitis include:

• Over-the-counter medications – Over-the-counter NSAIDs (like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen) can ease the pain and inflammation of plantar fasciitis.
• Physical therapy – Exercise and stretching are the best treatments for plantar fasciitis. With the help of a physical therapist, you can learn to stretch the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon and strengthen your leg muscles. Doing these exercises several times a day will keep the pain down and stabilize your ankle.
• Night splints – Your physical therapist may recommend wearing a splint to hold the planter fascia and Achilles tendon in a lengthened position overnight. This night splint can keep the ligament stretched while you sleep.
• Orthotics – Wearing off-the-shelf or custom-fitted arch supports can help to distribute the pressure on the feet more evenly and keep the pain down.
• Walking boots, canes, or crutches – Your doctor may recommend one of these for a short period to keep you from moving your foot or to keep you from placing full weight on your foot.

If home remedies and conservative measures do not work after several months or your pain continues to worsen, your healthcare provider may recommend:

• Injections – Steroid injections can provide temporary relief from pain. Your doctor may also suggest injecting platelet-rich plasma, obtained from your own blood, into the tender area to promote tissue healing.
• Extracorporeal shock wave therapy – Sound waves are directed at the area of heel pain to stimulate healing. This therapy is for chronic plantar fasciitis that does not respond to more conservative treatments.
• Surgery – If your pain is severe and other treatments have failed, plantar fasciitis surgery is the last option. The plantar fascia is detached from the heel bone. It can be done as an open procedure or through a small incision with local anesthesia.

The more severe the pain and the longer the symptoms have been present, the longer the treatment may take. Additionally, athletes and runners may require a longer course of treatment.

How Long Does Plantar Fasciitis Last?

Planter fasciitis can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months to get better. Healing time also depends on your level of activity and what treatment options you have been using. If your pain does not improve or begins to affect your normal life and movement, do not delay seeing a podiatrist.

A specialist can rule out other possible injuries and recommend treatment options and techniques to speed up recovery.

Do not let plantar fasciitis pain affect your routine activities and movement. Call our foot care center today for safe and effective treatment options to heal your heel faster. Dr. Petkov is an experienced podiatrist and understands how pain and discomfort from plantar fasciitis can affect your life and work. He focuses on identifying the causes of foot pain and comes up with personalized treatment plans that elimhttps://www.premier-podiatry.com/inate your discomfort in the shortest possible time. He also recommends lifestyle changes and therapies to help keep plantar fasciitis from coming back.