Plantar Fasciitis
HOME / PAIN CONDITIONS / Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis can result in stabbing pain near the heel, which is usually worse in the morning.
If you fall into the category of “average” adult, then you take between 5,000 and 10,000 steps every day. The bones, ligaments and muscles in your feet bear the brunt of this activity. However when the plantar fascia ligament is inflamed or damaged, the resulting pain can be excruciating, preventing you from taking part in your own life.
The plantar fascia runs along the sole of your foot, and is comprised of fibrous tissues which stretch outward from the bone in your heel like a very tough piece of elastic. When the plantar fascia stretches and moves more than it should, small tears in the tissue can result, creating inflammation and pain. Plantar fasciitis is a progressive condition, and when it is not treated, it can become a debilitating condition.
Symptoms Associated with Plantar Fasciitis
If you have developed plantar fasciitis in one or both feet, you may have the following symptoms:
- Pain which may decrease after you have been up in the morning for a while, then can return later in the afternoon or evening
- An aching, burning or sharp, stabbing pain in the sole of your foot
- Foot pain which is worse upon rising in the morning, or after you have been sitting for a long period of time
- Plantar fasciitis pain can build gradually, or can come on suddenly
- Feelings of “heat” in the heel area
- Redness or swelling in the heel area
- Foot pain which persists for more than a few days
Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis
Typically, plantar fasciitis affects both ends of the spectrum—sedentary individuals as well as highly active individuals. Other factors which can contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis include:
- Overuse of the feet
- Inadequate rest for the feet
- Standing for long periods of time, particularly on a cement floor
- Pronation (a foot condition in which the plantar fascia does not transfer your weight in an even manner)
- Achilles’ tendon tightness
- Flat feet
- High arches
- Being overweight or obese
- Poorly-fitting shoes or boots
- Wearing worn-out shoes or boots
- Foot trauma
- The normal aging process, which causes a loss in elasticity of the plantar fascia
Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
For minor cases of plantar fasciitis, ice, resting your feet and wearing high-quality orthotic inserts can relieve your pain. For more persistent cases, the Seattle Pain interventional pain management specialists can help. We will evaluate your foot pain and develop a comprehensive pain treatment program which may combine traditional and non-traditional treatments. At Seattle Pain, we want to help you avoid surgery, whenever possible, and offer the following treatments for your plantar fasciitis:
- Corticosteroid injections
- Pain medications, both OTC and prescription
Suffering from heel or foot pain?
Contact Our Seattle Interventional Pain Management Specialists
We understand that plantar fasciitis pain can significantly reduce your mobility and be excruciating. At Seattle Pain, our primary goal is to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life. We believe in treating the whole patient – and not just the injury. You do not have to live in pain.
