If you’ve ever been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis you know the classic symptoms are very sharp heel pain first thing in the morning or after prolonged sitting. The pain can be so severe that it feels like you are stepping on shards of glass or thumb tacks. Show We see a lot of “plantar fasciitis” (heel pain) cases that have not responded to traditional treatment methods. Why is this? The term plantar fasciitis means inflammation of the plantar fascia. So typical plantar fasciitis treatment recommendations are rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medication. If inflammation of the plantar fascia is responsible for your pain, then these methods should work for you, and they should work quickly (in just 3-4 days your symptoms should decrease significantly or disappear). If you have tried the traditional approach of reducing inflammation, then why do you still have pain?The answer is usually simple. You likely were misdiagnosed. A more accurate term for your case is likely plantar fasciosis – which involves degeneration, microtearing and cell death, NOT INFLAMMATION. In fact, fasciitis and fasciosis are virtually opposite of one another and need to be treated entirely differently. Without proper diagnosis, your chance of proper treatment is extremely low. Inflammation may be a necessary component to healing your case.With plantar fasciosis, the tissue literally breaks down as a result of one or more factors: overuse, improper footwear, lack of flexibility and decreased circulation to the tissues. How is plantar fasciosis treated?Circulation must be improved, the loading mechanism must be removed and healing must begin. Think of it as you digging yourself a hole. Every time you overload it (via exercise, prolonged standing, improper footwear, etc) you dig your hole a little deeper. Initially the pain is intermittent, but eventually the pain becomes more frequent, more intense and sometimes constant. How do I dig myself out of the hole?New, healthy tissue must be stimulated and the tensile strength of the tissue must be increased. We use several soft tissue techniques to reduce scar tissue, normalize load and increase circulation-all of which begin to get you out of the hole you’ve dug. Additionally we perform specific ECCENTRIC exercises and stretches to restore adequate strength to the tissue and minimize load to the tissue. Potential solutions to your condition are Active Release Techniques(r) and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization. Both techniques effectively reduce adhesion formation (scar tissue), increase circulation (bring essential healing nutrients to the area and flush out waste products) and stimulate the fibroblast to produce collagen (replace scar tissue and dead cells with new, healthy tissue) all of which are necessary for effective plantar fasciosis treatment. Often times when we see stubborn cases of “plantar fasciitis” it was as simple as a misdiagnosis (either by a physician or the patient themselves) and improper treatment for their heel pain is being rendered. Essentially it’s like trying to revive a dying plant that lacks sunlight by using water. Water should be good for the plant, but why doesn’t it work? Simple, it didn’t lack water, it lacked sunlight. Effective treatment for your heel pain can only be administered after a proper diagnosis. We are very good at diagnosing heel pain. If we determine you suffer from plantar fasciosis rather than one of the other potential diagnoses, we have the tools to help you get on the path to recovery and eliminate the nagging symptoms you’re experiencing. Thank you for reading. Often times we can help you classify your case and get you on the RIGHT path to recovery just by hearing your story. Click below to schedule a complimentary phone consultation with one of our doctors. We hope we can offer you effective foot pain treatment in Cincinnati.
With plantar fasciitis, you suffer from chronic pain in the bottom of your heel or the bottom of your foot. While it may feel like inflammation, it is associated with a degenerative problem involving the tissue that connects your toes to your heel bone. Plantar fasciitus happens a lot with runners and people who have flat feet, high arches, are overweight, or who are on their feet a lot. It can take 6-12 months for your foot to get back to normal. You can do these things at home to ease the pain and help your foot heal faster: Rest: It's important to keep weight off your foot until the inflammation goes down. Ice: This is an easy way to treat inflammation, and there are a few ways you can use it. To make an ice pack, wrap a towel around a plastic bag filled with crushed ice or around a package of frozen corn or peas. Put it on your heel 3 to 4 times a day for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Or you can fill a shallow pan with water and ice and soak your heel in it for 10 to 15 minutes a few times a day. Be sure to keep your toes out of the water. Another option is to fill a small paper or foam cup with water and freeze it. Then rub it over your heel for 5 to 10 minutes. Never put ice directly on your heel. Pain relievers: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can make your foot feel better and help with inflammation. Stretching and exercise: Stretch your calves, Achilles tendon, and the bottom of your foot. Do exercises that make your lower leg and foot muscles stronger. This can help stabilize your ankle, ease pain, and keep plantar fasciitis from coming back. Athletic tape: Tape can support your foot and keep you from moving it in a way that makes plantar fasciitis worse. Shoe inserts. Also called insoles, arch supports, or orthotics, they can give you extra cushion and added support. You can get them over-the-counter (OTC) or have them custom made. Typically, your results will be just as good, and cheaper, with OTC inserts. When you choose one, firmer is better -- and make sure it has good arch support. You might also see advertisements for magnetic insoles to help with plantar fasciitis. Research has generally shown that these don't work. Heel cups. With each step you take, your heel pounds the ground and puts tension on your plantar fascia. These heel-shaped pads that go in your shoes may help. They raise your heel to relieve tension and give you extra cushion. They often don't work as well as inserts, but they're a cheap option to try. Night splints. Most of us sleep with our feet pointed down, which shortens the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon. Night splints, which you wear while you sleep, keep your feet at a 90-degree angle. So instead of shortening your plantar fascia, you get a good, constant stretch while you sleep. They can be bulky, but they tend to work really well. And once the pain is gone, you can stop wearing them. Walking cast or boot. Typically, your doctor would suggest a walking cast or boot -- called a controlled ankle motion (CAM) walker -- only when other treatments have failed. The cast or CAM walker forces you to rest your foot, which can help relieve pain. But it's not a cure. When the cast comes off, the pain may return. That means you'll need other treatments too, like insoles and stretching. Once your foot feels better, you can make a few lifestyle changes to help keep plantar fasciitis from coming back. These include: Lose weight. If you're overweight or obese, you may put more pressure on the bottom of your feet. That pressure can lead to plantar fasciitis. Choose shoes with good support. Replace your athletic shoes often. Stay away from high heels. Don't go barefoot on hard surfaces. This includes your first few steps when you get up in the morning. It's common to feel plantar fasciitis then. So you'll want to keep some supportive footwear by your bed. You may also want to ask your doctor if it would help to wear inserts in your shoes. Do low-impact exercise. Activities like swimming or cycling won't cause plantar fasciitis or make it worse. After you're done, stretch out your calves and feet. For instance, curl and relax your toes and make circles with your feet and ankles. Avoid high-impact activities. These include running and jumping, which put a lot of stress on your feet and can make your calf muscles tighter if you don't stretch them out. Keep doing your leg and foot stretches. Two of these include: Untuck your bedsheets. If your sheets are tucked too tightly and you sleep on your back, your feet will be in a pointed position while you sleep.
SOURCES: American Family Physician: "Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis." American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society. Mayo Clinic. Medscape: "Plantar Fasciitis Treatment & Management." The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association: "The integration of acetic acid iontophoresis, orthotic therapy and physical rehabilitation for chronic plantar fasciitis: a case study." UpToDate: “Plantar Fasciitis.” American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: “Plantar Fasciitis and Bone Spurs.” © 2021 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. What Is Plantar Fasciitis? |