Heel spurs occur in at least 50% of people who have plantar fasciitis. Past treatments for heel spurs, a bony growth that begins on the front of your heel bone and points toward the arch of your foot, included surgery to remove the growth. Nowadays, surgery is rarely a treatment option and more plans for physical therapy, ice, and pain medications are used to treat heel spurs.
What does it mean if I have plantar fasciitis?
If you have plantar fasciitis, you have a very common problem with your plantar fascia, the wide ligament that goes across the bottom of your feet from your heel to the balls of your feet.
The plantar fascia ligament absorbs a considerable amount of shock and can grow overstretched easily. This causes tiny tears, inflammation, ligament thickening, and often intense heel pain. In fact, plantar fasciitis is the most common reason for heel pain.
What are the signs I have plantar fasciitis?
Heel pain is the initial symptom for most plantar fasciitis sufferers. Usually, the pain’s quite sharp and occurs when you take the first several steps in the morning or after sitting down for a long time.
Some other symptoms you may experience with plantar fasciitis include a deep heel ache that feels like a bone bruise, a tearing feeling in your foot arch, and heel swelling. Plantar fasciitis often gets worse over time if you don’t get treatment.
What causes plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis can develop when your plantar fascia gets overstretched, overstrained, or has to bear too much weight. Some common reasons for this include:
- Flat feet
- Very high arches
- Excessive pronation, when your foot and ankle roll inward
- Overflexible footwear
- Sudden increase in physical activities, like more distance running
Biomechanical factors often contribute to plantar fasciitis, as well.
How do you diagnose and treat plantar fasciitis?
The Valley Foot & Ankle team reviews your symptoms, performs a careful exam, and does a diagnostic ultrasound to confirm your plantar fasciitis diagnosis.
You may also need an MRI to gather additional details about your plantar fascia damage or an X-ray to rule out other possible reasons for your heel pain.
Plantar fasciitis treatment can include:
- Splinting
- Taping
- Shoe changes
- Custom orthotics
- Physical therapy
Valley Foot & Ankle offers a variety of cutting-edge plantar fasciitis solutions as well, including:
Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation disables the nerve triggering your pain impulses, which changes your pain perception to relieve your pain effectively.
Radial Shockwave Therapy®
Radial Shockwave Therapy sends impulses into your plantar fascia to make your body start a powerful natural healing response. This repairs plantar fascia trauma and relieves your symptoms.
The Valley Foot & Ankle team can make the ideal treatment plan to quickly relieve your plantar fasciitis. Call Valley Foot & Ankle or book your consultation with the online scheduler today.