Plantar Fasciitis

A stabbing sensation in your heels characterizes plantar fasciitis pain. The condition gets worse over time and eventually ruins the quality of your life. Fortunately, there are multiple conservative therapies available, and 90 percent of patients are pain-free within the first 10 months of plantar fasciitis treatment. Don’t allow your condition to get worse. Dr. Velimir Petkov and his team at a podiatry clinic in Clifton, NJ, deliver plantar fasciitis relief. Call them today to make an appointment.

One of the most common causes of heel pain, plantar fasciitis occurs when the thick band of tissue connecting your heel and toes becomes inflamed. It’s a progressive, degenerative condition that not only hurts, but can also lead to falls and eventual disability.

Plantar fasciitis pain resembles a stabbing sensation. It’s usually the most acute during the first steps you take in the morning. The pain tends to subside once you become active, although it may return after extended periods of sitting or standing.

Roughly two million people seek professional plantar fasciitis treatment each year. If you’re suffering from this painful and possibly debilitating condition, you need an expert plantar fasciitis doctor like Velimir Petkov, DPM at Premier Podiatry in Passaic County, New Jersey.

Plantar Fasciitis Causes

The plantar fascia stretches across the bottom of your foot to absorb shocks and support the arch. Unfortunately, too much stress and tension can cause tears in this otherwise durable tissue. While the cause isn’t entirely understood, researchers believe that the inflammation results from frequent and excessive tears. As a result, your heels become sore and tender from plantar fasciitis pain.

While the condition can affect anyone, certain risk factors make it more likely for some. These risk factors include:

• Gender. Although plantar fasciitis affects both sexes, it strikes women more than 2.5 times as often.
• Age. Advancing years also correlates strongly with plantar fasciitis pain. It’s most common in the 40-to-60-year-old age group.
• Foot shape. Both high arches and flat feet increase stress on the plantar fascia.
• Abnormal gait. Strange walking patterns result in more stress on your feet.
• Obesity. Excess body weight places significant strain on the bottom of your feet.
• Exercise. Certain activities — such as jogging, jumping or ballet dancing — can speed up the onset of plantar fasciitis.
• Stiffness. Tight calf muscles decrease the flexibility of your feet.
• Work. Long work hours, especially when you have to stand or walk on hard surfaces, put additional stress on your plantar fascia.

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Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms

The most common complaint of those with plantitis foot condition is pain at the bottom of the heel. This health condition affects only one foot but in rare cases, it can affect both feet. Pain resulting from this disorder develops gradually over time. It can be either sharp or dull. Some people experience pain on the bottom of the foot extending outward from the heel.

The discomfort tends to worsen in the morning when you take the first steps out of bed. You can also experience severe pain after sitting for a long period of time. Because of heel stiffness, it can be very difficult to climb stairs. If you suffer from plantar foot disease, you will not feel pain during prolonged activity.

Plantar Fasciitis Diagnosis

During your first consultation at Premier Podiatry, your plantar fasciitis doctor begins with a thorough review of your medical history. Next, he performs a physical examination of your foot and probes it for tenderness. The location of your pain often indicates its cause.

If your Clifton, NJ podiatrist suspects you have plantar fasciitis, he may order imaging tests such digital x-rays, which also detect heel spurs, arthritis and fractures. While rare, you may need MRIs or an ultrasound image test if your initial plantar fasciitis treatment was unsuccessful.

Plantar Fasciitis Complications

If left untreated, you are running the risk of developing chronic heel pain. It will cause changes to the way you walk and lead to further damage to your:

• Knees
• Legs
• Hips
• Back

The potential rupture of the ligament can be caused by steroid injections. When it comes to surgical treatment, it carries the risks of infection, bleeding, and reactions to anesthesia.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

While there’s currently no plantar fasciitis cure, nine out of 10 people improve within the first 10 months of simple plantar fasciitis treatment as recommended by your NJ podiatrist, such as:

• Ice. Roll your foot over a cold or frozen bottle for about 20 minutes three or four times a day.
• Rest. Temporarily eliminate any sports or activities causing you pain. Avoid running on hard surfaces.
• Medication. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, reduce the inflammation and alleviate plantar fasciitis pain.
• Physical therapy. Both your calves and the bottoms of your feet require flexing and stretching at regular intervals. Stretch each several times a day for 10 seconds at a time. A professional physical therapist can design an exercise program specifically for your needs.
• Night splints. Most people sleep with their feet flexed downwards. Your podiatrist may prescribe a splint to keep your Achilles tendon and foot stretched while sleeping. The nighttime stretching improves the flexibility of your plantar fascia.
• Orthotics. Your doctor may prescribe generic or custom-fit, arch-supporting orthotics to distribute your weight more evenly.
• Injections. Cortisone steroids have long been used to reduce swelling in the plantar fascia tissue and relieve pain. More recently, scientists have developed platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in conjunction with ultrasound technology to provide more symptom relief with less risk of damage to your tissue.
• EPAT shockwave therapy. This non-invasive procedure uses low-energy shockwaves to stimulate your body’s natural healing process. Plantar fasciitis doctors use this technique after more conservative treatments haven’t worked, but before attempting surgery.
• Surgery. The last resort for plantar fasciitis treatment, your podiatrist relies on surgery only after the other methods have failed to provide relief. The procedure involves cutting the plantar fascia ligament to relieve the tension and reduce the swelling. This is an outpatient, minimally invasive surgical procedure.

Plantar Fasciitis Home Remedies

As part of plantar foot pain treatment, it is important to limit pain and irritation in the fascia ligament. However, this will not address the underlying damage to the ligament. Home pain relief treatment entails staying off your feet and applying ice for 15-20 minutes. This should be done three or four times a day to limit swelling. It is also recommended to:

• Use arch supports in your shoes
• Replace worn-out athletic footwear
• Perform stretching exercises

Another method of home treatment is night splints. They can assist in stretching your calf and the arch of your foot. Night splints are aimed at holding your foot in a flexed position and stretch the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon during the night. This option can help prevent morning stiffness and pain. Further damage to the fascia can be prevented by special orthotics or arch supports for your shoes. They can also limit the pain by distributing pressure evenly.

Plantar Fasciitis Prevention

Making adjustments to your lifestyle should be enough to prevent this health condition. Another prevention method is to wear supportive shoes with proper arch support. If you are a runner, you should buy new shoes every 400-500 miles. Swimming and bicycling can also help avoid plantitis foot condition. Do not forget to stretch your calves before exercising. If you are overweight, you should do your best to lose weight to reduce pressure on your plantar fascia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ignoring plantar fasciitis can lead to chronic pain and eventual disability. Altering your natural walk to ease your pain may cause problems with other parts of your body. Instead, seek help from a trained professional who knows how to cure plantar fasciitis or at least treat your symptoms. Do not waste your time on looking for “plantar fasciitis doctor near me” and contact Premier Podiatry today and make an appointment.

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