When you get up in the morning, and your feet hit the floor, having a stabbing pain in one or both heels can really ruin the mood and set your day up for an unhappy experience. If this happens frequently, and you also notice the same pain when you stand up after being seated, you could have plantar fasciitis.
At Optima Foot and Ankle in Bend, Oregon, Drs. Laura Schweger and Evan Ross can correctly diagnose plantar fasciitis as the source of your heel pain and help you combat this unpleasant condition.
Plantar fasciitis is caused by inflammation that develops in the band of tissue that stretches across the bottom of your feet from your toes to your heel, known as the plantar fascia. Stress can cause small tears to develop in your plantar fascia, leading to the inflammation called plantar fasciitis.
Almost anyone can develop plantar fasciitis, but you are more at risk as you age and:
In one study, more than half of the participants with plantar fasciitis said the pain at least moderately interfered with their normal work activities, and one in three participants said they suffered from severe or extreme interference.
Once you have a confirmed diagnosis of plantar fasciitis, our team can lay out a course of treatment to help you repair damage to your plantar fascia and relieve your pain. You’ll need to lay off the exercise and rest your feet, since more impact can cause tears to worsen. Over-the-counter pain medication is typically sufficient to manage discomfort.
Your podiatrist may recommend orthotics, which are custom-made shoe inserts that can help relieve plantar fascia strain. We’ll also decide if specialized stretching exercises can help lengthen and strengthen your plantar fascia. If necessary, we can administer platelet-rich plasma injections to speed healing and mitigate pain.
In most cases, you won’t need to have surgery to deal with your plantar fasciitis. The above treatments will allow your plantar fascia to heal naturally, and you can continue conditioning exercises to keep the band of tissue supple and flexible, preventing future problems.
Learn much more about plantar fasciitis and whether you may be a good candidate for particular treatments by calling 541-383-3668 or scheduling an appointment online.
