Is it Plantar Fasciitis? Dealing with Foot Pain

People don’t think about the condition of their feet until something goes wrong. We tend to take these important extremities for granted. However, when pain begins to set in, life can begin to feel impossible. We need to take care of our feet. This is absolutely true if you work on your feet or are prone to standing for long periods of time. Retail workers, laborers, cooks, anyone in the food industry or most service industry employees all know that if their feet are in pain, it’s extremely difficult to do their jobs. If you’re an athlete, foot pain is even more common and debilitating due to the increased amounts of stress regularly put on the feet.

Foot pain is all too common. It’s the rare person who doesn’t develop it at some point if even for a short period of time. But, not all foot pain is the same. There’s common strain that can respond well to a massage or soaking your feet. Constant, nagging foot pain that makes life difficult, however, is something else and needs to be checked by a podiatrist. That pain could be a sign of plantar fasciitis and it needs to be treated so that you can continue living your life, whether it’s marathon running or doing your job. If you’ve noticed that you’re developing inflammation and redness in the heel or soles of your feet, read on to see what you need to know about plantar fasciitis.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis, which at one point was referred to as policeman’s heel, is a common inflammatory condition that can strike the foot when it’s put under consistent pressure. It tends to be at its worst first thing in the morning and can change in intensity over the course of the day. Being on your feet all day can keep it consistently aggravated and lead to significant discomfort. Some people with plantar fasciitis reach a point where they are debilitated from the pain and can’t continue their daily routines.

While it used to be known as policeman’s heel, plantar fasciitis is now more commonly associated with runners. Due to an increase in running activity and the amount of strain put on the feet from running most days of the week for long distances, it’s no wonder more people are experiencing foot pain. However, if you aren’t a runner, don’t think you can’t develop it. Plantar fasciitis develops due to pressure and lack of support. That’s why people who are overweight are susceptible to developing the condition. If you don’t wear shoes with the proper support, you could be causing more damage to your feet than you realize. Supportive shoes are especially important if you work on your feet most hours of the day.

How do you identify it?

Plantar fasciitis has some telltale signs. It’s often characterized by a stabbing pain in the heel and visible redness and inflammation in the area and along the sole of the foot. Many painful conditions can present this way, so you want to check with your podiatrist to be sure that you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis. Often, you can be diagnosed after a visual inspection of the area and a conversation going over your medical history and lifestyle habits. If it’s decided that some imaging testing is necessary, an X-ray or MRI may be recommended for confirmation. This would be suggested if there was reason to believe you may have bone spurs or something similar aggravating your foot.

Treating plantar fasciitis

Treatment often isn’t one size fits all. Your podiatrist will work with you to come up with a treatment plan that best meets your needs. Usually, the treatment is non-invasive. Patients often respond well to anti-inflammatories and therapeutic exercise to improve circulation. Custom orthotics may also be recommended. Certain lifestyle changes like losing weight can often help. In more severe cases, steroid injections may be recommended and even surgery if it’s discovered that there are spurs that need to be removed.

Conclusion

Foot pain, while common, can turn into a serious issue if it isn’t addressed. Many things can cause foot pain, which is why if you suspect it may be plantar fasciitis you have to see your podiatrist in order to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Symptoms may intensify over time, so the earlier you get your condition addressed, the better. Maintaining or improving quality of life is key when it comes to conditions that can worsen over time due to stress. Book an appointment online with us today to set up a consultation with Dr. Blue. The team at Colorado Foot + Ankle Sports Medicine is dedicated to providing you with the care you need so you can walk and run in comfort. Don’t just accept foot pain as an unavoidable part of life.