Doctor's Notes on Plantar Fasciitis
Inflammation of the fibrous tissue (plantar fascia) on the bottom of the foot is referred to as plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia stretches underneath the sole of the foot from the heel to the toes. Inflammation of the plantar fascia may occur due to injury or disease.
Symptoms of plantar fasciitis may come on gradually or appear acutely following an athletic activity such as running, and may include heel pain and tenderness on the sole of the foot; difficulty in weight-bearing and walking on the affected foot, especially the first few steps after waking from sleep; burning, sharp, heel pain, which can be severe; warmth and swelling of the bottom of the foot; and swelling and tenderness at the insertion of the plantar fascia to the heel, on the bottom of the foot.
What Is the Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is treated by a combination of medications to control pain and inflammation and lifestyle changes to promote rest and healing of the affected foot. Possible treatments for plantar fasciitis include:
- Short-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium
- Night splints to be worn while sleeping
- Icing the affected area
- Physical therapy
- Rest or cessation of certain types of activity while healing
- Supportive footwear or shoe inserts
- Cortisone injections, in more severe cases
Feet Facts : Test Your Medical IQ Quiz
QuestionAll ___________ have flat feet.
See AnswerMust Read Articles:
-
Arch Pain (Foot Pain)
Arch pain can occur whenever something goes wrong with the function or interaction of the structures in the foot. Causes include injury (trauma), sprains, muscle strains, poor biomechanical alignment, stress fractures, overuse, or the tightness or lack of tightness of the joints in the foot. Symptoms are pain and tenderness. Home treatment includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE), and over-the-counter pain medications. Physical therapy, new shoes, orthotics or insoles may be recommended. -
Arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. Arthritis causes include injury, abnormal metabolism (such as gout), inheritance (such as in osteoarthritis), infections (such as in the arthritis of Lyme disease), and an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and systemic lupus erythematosus). Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited joint function. Treatment may include pain medications, pain-relieving creams, and dietary supplements. -
Bone Spurs
A bone spur is an outgrowth of bone that occurs along the edges of a bone, commonly the neck (cervical spine), low back (lumbar spine), shoulder, knee, foot, and heel bones. The cause is usually continued stress or rubbing of a bone for a prolonged period of time. Symptoms include pain or loss of joint motion. Treatment depends on symptoms and can include medication, physical therapy, or surgery. -
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) causes bone to form in abnormal places. DISH is diagnosed using X-rays. Treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms. -
Foot Pain
Common causes of foot pain include fracture, bunions, blisters, plantar warts, plantar fasciitis, gout, osteoarthritis, and peripheral neuropathy, among others. Associated symptoms and signs may include swelling, redness, and tenderness. Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Home remedies include resting and icing the foot, using orthotics, and applying Band-Aids. -
Heel Spurs
Heel spurs are pointed bony outgrowths on the calcaneus bone. Tenderness on the back of the heel is the main symptom. Treatment may involve using orthotics, taking anti-inflammatory medications, applying ice to the area, cortisone injections, or physical therapy. -
Severe Foot Pain: Is It Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis causes severe foot pain and is common in athletes and other active people. Orthotic shoe inserts and stretching exercises are common treatments for plantar fasciitis. -
What Is the Best Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis?
Pain in the heel area and inflammation are plantar fasciitis symptoms. Some of the causes of plantar fasciitis include wearing high heels, overtraining, high arches, flat feet, and running on hard surfaces. Treatment may involve resting, icing, stretching exercises, and taking over-the-counter medications like Advil and Aleve. -
What Is the Success Rate of Plantar Fasciitis Surgery?
Surgical release of the plantar fascia has a 70-90% success rate in treating plantar fasciitis, but it's only performed as a last resort, when all other treatments have failed but the condition persists up to a year. Plantar fasciitis is painful inflammation of the tissue at the sole of the foot that binds the foot bones together. -
X-Rays
X-Rays are a form of radiation used to image solid forms inside the body. X-rays are administered by radiologists for many different routine tests, such as mammograms, checking for broken bones, upper GI series, and dental exams, among others. Radiologists carefully monitor the X-ray equipment to make sure the patient receives the smallest dose of radiation possible.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.