Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
If you dread stepping out of bed or getting up from a chair because you know that the moment your foot hits the floor, you’ll get stabbing pain on the bottom of your heel, you may well have a case of plantar fasciitis. It’s the most common heel pain diagnosis, with at least a million cases estimated every year.
If you are struggling with heel pain, schedule a visit with our podiatrist today for help!
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation and pain in the heel connection of the strong, fibrous tissue band running from the heel along the sole of your foot, all the way to the part of your foot where the toes connect. This tough band provides arch support and contributes to the actions of walking, running, dancing, really, anything you do on your feet.
Plantar fasciitis heel pain often develops because of:
- Having a job where you’re on your feet on hard surfaces all day
- Being a runner or athlete
- Low or flat arches
- Unsupportive footwear
- Being overweight
Interestingly, more women than men tend to develop plantar fasciitis, and it’s also more common among people between the ages of 40 and 60. Some people report plantar fasciitis when starting a walking or other exercise program after a period of inactivity.
Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief Treatment
Plantar fasciitis responds well to non-surgical treatments, but it can take a long time to resolve without professional diagnosis and treatment. Our podiatrist in Flower Mound, TX, can examine your feet and discuss your lifestyle to create a heel pain relief plan that works faster for you. Depending on your particular situation and diagnosis, he may recommend the following treatments:
1. “RICE”
Otherwise known as Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, this is a good first-stop therapy to reduce the inflammation and pain temporarily. You can also freeze a water bottle and then roll your heel and the bottom of your foot back and forth on it for some relief. Try this for three to four sessions of 20 minutes each day.
2. Stretches
Tight calf muscles often aggravate plantar fasciitis problems, so doing gentle calf, ankle, and heel stretches regularly helps. If it is especially painful getting out of bed in the morning, make sure to stretch the affected heel several times before putting all of your weight on that foot.
3. Custom Orthotics
Everybody’s feet are different. Plantar fasciitis often happens when people have been on their feet for a long time, wearing shoes or footwear that does not provide good support for their feet. Here at DFW Foot and Ankle, our podiatrist can have custom orthotics created specifically to support your feet to relieve heel pain.
Depending on your situation, Dr. Suh can also recommend additional therapies like laser therapy or shockwave therapy to reduce plantar fasciitis scar tissue and other issues that may be contributing to your heel pain.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Flower Mound Podiatrist for Plantar Fasciitis Relief
Contact us in Flower Mound, TX, to schedule an appointment with Dr. Suh if you are struggling with any kind of heel pain or suspect you may have plantar fasciitis. He can help you get faster pain relief so you can get back to enjoying your favorite on-foot activities without pain again.
