You were ready to get up and go on your morning run; however, the minute your feet hit the floor you noticed a sharp, searing pain in one of your heels. Luckily, as you began to move around you noticed that the pain eased up a bit. If this sounds like something you’re dealing with it’s very possible that you have plantar fasciitis. From the office of our Naperville, IL, podiatrist Dr. Nancy Jagodzinski find out more about plantar fasciitis and how to treat it.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is a stabbing pain at the bottom of the heel that can sometimes spread to the arches of the foot. This is because the plantar fascia also provides support to the arches. The pain is usually worse in the morning or after long periods of sitting.

While plantar fasciitis is most common in runners, those who wear worn-out shoes, as well as those who are overweight are also at risk for developing plantar fasciitis related heel pain.

Treating Plantar Fasciitis

In some cases, plantar fasciitis will go away with the help of conservative care, including:

• Stretching the arches daily
• Resting and staying off your feet whenever possible
• Avoiding running and other physically demanding activities
• Wearing supportive shoes
• Taking pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications

In some cases, your Naperville, IL, foot doctor may also recommend wearing a night splint, which will lengthen and stretch out the fascia while you sleep to reduce severe morning pain. Physical therapy and custom orthotics may also be recommended.

Sometimes plantar fasciitis can become chronic. In this case, you may need more advanced treatment options in order to get ample pain relief. Some of these treatment options may include:

• Cortisone Injections (to reduce inflammation)
• Tenex procedure (the removal of plantar fascia scar tissue)
• Surgery (rare)

Other Causes of Heel Pain

Even though plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain it doesn’t mean it’s the only cause. Your heel pain may also be the result of:

• Achilles tendonitis
• Heel spur
• Bursitis
• Sprains and strains
• A heel fracture
• Osteomyelitis (an infection of the bone)
• Arthritis

If you are dealing with heel pain and are unsure how to treat this issue or what might be causing it then it’s a good idea to turn to our team of foot and ankle specialists in Naperville, IL. Call Ankle & Foot Center of Fox Valley today to schedule an appointment.