Plantar Fasciitis-heel Pain- Conservative And Surgical Treatments

Every mile that you walk places approximately 60 tons of stress on each foot

. Now that is a lot of stress! Even though your feet can handle a heavy load, too much can push them to the limit. While participating in various sports, or by wearing shoes that irritate sensitive tissues, you may develop heel pain, which is the most common problem affecting the foot and ankle.

If you give your sore heel plenty of rest, it may eventually get better on its own. However, we live such active lives that it is often not the case. When heel pain occurs, many people try to ignore the early signs and continue doing the activities that caused it. If you continue to use a sore heel, it will only get worse and could eventually become a chronic condition that leads to more serious problems. Conventional treatments work well in treating heel pain, but surgery may be needed in more severe instances.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis, which may have several different clinical presentations. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the band of tissue that extends from the heel to the toes. In this condition, the fascia first becomes irritated and then inflamed, resulting in heel pain.

One of the most common causes of plantar fasciitis relates to the faulty structure of the foot. For instance, people who have problems with their arches, either overly flat or high-arched feet, are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis. Wearing non-supportive footwear on hard, flat surfaces puts abnormal strain on the plantar fascia and can also lead to plantar fasciitis. This is particularly evident when one's job requires long hours on the feet.

Non-Surgical, Conventional Treatment

When your podiatrist has come to the diagnosis of heel pain, or plantar fasciitis, the first line of treatment includes conservative efforts. These conventional treatments can be completed at home:

*Stretching exercises

*Avoid going barefoot

*Heat

*Limit activities

*Shoe modifications

*Medications

If you are still experiencing pain after several weeks, visit your podiatrist in St. Louis who may add one of more of these treatments:

*Padding and strapping

*Orthotic devices

*Injection therapy

*Removable walking cast

*Night splint

*Physical therapy

Surgical Treatment

Most patients with plantar fasciitis will respond well to non-surgical treatments. However, a small percentage of patients may require surgery. If, after several months of non-surgical treatment, you continue to experience heel pain, surgery will be considered. Your podiatrist in St. Louis will discuss the surgical options with you and determine which approach would be most beneficial for you.

No matter what kind of treatment you undergo, the underlying causes may still remain. Even if your pain is gone it is important to continue to maintain preventive measures. Talk to your St. Louis, MO podiatrist for more information.

by: Gen Wright

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