Plantar fasciitis isn't something you hear about every day, but it's a source of heel pain that podiatrists like Dr. Nancy Jagodzinski in Naperville, Illinois frequently diagnose and treat. Read on to learn about plantar fasciitis and discover if it might be the reason why standing, walking, or running has become difficult for you lately.
What is the plantar fascia?
You might not have even known this structure existed until seeking out your Naperville podiatrist. Along the arch of each of your feet spans a thick, stretchy band of tissue known as the plantar fascia. It's a ligament, which means it connects one bone to another - in this case, it goes between the bones just behind your big toe to the heel bone. It helps you stay balanced while you're standing and allows for flexibility and range of motion.
What is plantar fasciitis?
When the plantar fascia becomes inflamed from overuse, that's when your Naperville podiatrist suspects plantar fasciitis. It's a common diagnosis for people whose jobs require them to spend a lot of time on their feet: retail and restaurant workers, teachers, and so on. People who run for exercise also frequently experience this problem. The symptoms include pain in the heel when standing or walking; it's also common to have more pain first thing in the morning when you get out of bed.
How is plantar fasciitis treated?
For most of our Naperville patients, rest, ice, and special shoe inserts help to alleviate the pain from plantar fasciitis and allow the ligament to heal. There are also specific exercises that Dr. Jagodzinski can show you that will help to stretch your arches. A handful of people may not find relief from conservative methods of treatment, at which point cortisone injections or surgery may be considered.
If your foot pain sounds like it might be plantar fasciitis, it's time to contact the Ankle & Foot Center of Fox Valley in Naperville to set up an appointment with podiatrist Nancy Jagodzinski. Call us at 630-778-7670 to take the first step to move more comfortably!
