Plantar Fasciitis- Wakeup In The Morning Without Pain
Heel pain sufferers share the common complaint of intense heel pain upon awakening in the morning
. While resting, the foot is not in a weight-bearing position. If there is no pull on the plantar fascia, the fascia shortens and the first step in the morning causes a sharp pull or tear on the plantar fascia. This makes your first step in the morning extremely painful, which can confirm the diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain).
What is Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)?
The most common cause of plantar fasciitis relates to faulty structure of your foot. When you have problems with your arch, either because of flat feet or high-arched feet, you are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis. If you wear non-supportive footwear on hard, flat surfaces it puts an abnormal strain on the plantar fascia and can also lead to plantar fasciitis. This is seen a lot when your job requires long hours on your feet, as well as if you suffer from obesity.
Symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:
*Pain on the bottom of the heel
*Pain that is usually worse upon standing
*Pain that increases over a period of months
The inflammation of plantar fasciitis may continue to be aggravated by the shoes that you are wearing that may lack support in the arch area. Chronic irritation may also accompany an athletic lifestyle, creating difficulties while performing sports activities.
Resting may provide temporary relief, but when you resume walking, especially after a night's sleep, you may experience sudden elongation of the fascia band, which stretches and pulls on the heel. As you walk, your pain may lessen, but it is only a false sense of relief. The pain will often return after prolonged rest or extensive walking.
What are Heel Spurs?
A heel spur is a bony growth on the underside of the heel bone that causes pain. The spur is visible by x-ray and appears as a protrusion that can extend forward as much as half an inch. If there is no indication of a bone enlargement, it is often referred to as heel spur syndrome.
Resulting from strain on the muscles and ligaments of the foot, stretching of the long band of tissue that connects the heel and ball of the foot and from repeated tearing away of the lining or membrane that covers the heel bone, heel spurs can cause extreme pain. Heel spurs can also result from biomechanical imbalance, running, jogging, improperly fitted shoes, excessively worn shoes or obesity.
Treatment Options
In approximately 90% of patients, conservative care is all that is required to alleviate painful symptoms of heel pain, heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. At your initial visit, x-rays will be taken to rule out other causes of pain such as a broken heel bone. A heel cup may be employed in combination with a foot strapping applied to your foot to help maintain the plantar fascia in a lengthened position. To reduce the inflammation, an anti-inflammatory medication may also be prescribes in addition to directions on how to properly stretch. If conservative treatments fail, then Shock Wave Therapy or surgery may be recommended.
Whether you suffer from heel spurs or plantar fasciitis, heel pain should not be tolerated. If pain and other symptoms persist, you should limit your daily activities and contact your Frederick and Hagerstown podiatrist for further consultation and diagnosis. Early treatment is vital in preventing further complications with your feet.
by: Gen Wright
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