Pain that prevents you from moving around can disturb your regular daily routine more than anything else.
If you experience pain in the ball of your heel, it may be beneficial to seek medical attention. Your pain could be coming from an inflammatory state in your plantar fascia ligament.
In severe cases, you may want to consider surgery, but in most cases, nonsurgical treatment may provide relief from the inflammation.
This post examines plantar fasciitis in more detail, covering symptoms, causes, treatment options, and recovery times.
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia of your foot. It is the most typical reason why people get heel pain.
Plantar fascia is a strong, fibrous attachment that connects your heel to the ball of your foot and your toes. It has the stretch of a thick rubber band. The plantar fascia creates the arch at the base of your foot by joining the bones in your foot together.
When your plantar fascia is overused or overextended, it can result in plantar fasciitis. Your plantar fascia may swell as a result of any damage. It hurts to walk or use your foot because of this inflammation. Although it can happen to both of your feet at once, plantar fasciitis typically affects one foot at a time.
Symptoms of plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis typically manifests as one of the following symptoms:
- Heel pain.
- Pain in the arch of your foot.
- Stiffness.
- Swelling around your heel.
- A tight Achilles tendon.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis can be brought on by anything that irritates or damages your plantar fascia, such as:
- Standing on your feet all day for work.
- Playing sports.
- Working out or exercising on a solid surface (such as the sidewalk or the floor of a warehouse).
- Stretching and warming up before working out.
- Wearing shoes (like flip flops or flat, flexible sneakers) that don’t provide adequate support for your feet.
- At home, go barefoot or stand barefoot.
Plantar fasciitis can be brought on by a few medical conditions, such as:
- High arch feet
- Flat feet
- Obesity
Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis
Given below are the list of the various treatment of Plantar Fasciitis are:-
- common treatments:
- Over-the-counter NSAIDs: NSAIDs, which include naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin, lessen inflammation and pain. Always consult a healthcare provider before taking NSAIDs for longer than ten days in a row.
- Orthotics insoles or shoe inserts: You can enhance the arch support in your shoes by adding inserts. Your healthcare provider will recommend custom orthotic insoles. They are molded to the precise shape of your foot. They might also suggest pre-made inserts that you can buy over-the-counter.
- Rest: If possible, stop the activity that caused the plantar fasciitis. Avoid sports for at least one week.
- Applying ice: Twice daily, apply ice to your foot for 10 to 15 minutes each time. To reduce foot inflammation, wrap a thin towel around a frozen water bottle. Then, roll it along the bottom of your foot.
- Wearing supportive footwear: Put on robust, cushioned footwear. Do not wear sandals, flip-flops, or other flat shoes. They do not have arch support. Never go barefoot on the ground.
- Immobilization: Using a walking boot, also called a pneumatic cam walker or walking cast, for a few weeks will immobilize your foot. This will relieve pressure on your plantar fascia. The duration of your boot wear will be determined by your provider.
- Surgery Treatments
If you have plantar fasciitis, the above-mentioned treatments should be sufficient to alleviate your symptoms. The need for surgery is extremely uncommon. The following two surgical specialties are the most popular:
- Gastrocnemius recession: To lessen the strain on your plantar fascia, your surgeon will extend your calf muscles.
- Plantar fascia release: To release some of the excess tension, your surgeon will make tiny incisions (cuts) in your plantar fascia.
You’ll find out what kind of surgery you require to treat plantar fasciitis from your surgeon or healthcare provider.
In conclusion
Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain resulting from inflammation of the plantar fascia in the foot. Symptoms include heel and arch pain, stiffness, and swelling. Treatment involves rest, NSAIDs, icing, supportive footwear, orthotics, and in rare cases, surgery. Prevention includes proper footwear and avoiding activities that strain the foot.