Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is a foot condition that can make it painful to walk and also interfere with daily activities when left untreated. If you are experiencing heel pain, then the best solution is to contact our experienced team to learn more about surgical and nonsurgical treatments to alleviate your symptoms.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

When the tissue in the heel of your foot becomes inflamed, it can cause pain on the bottom of your foot. This area of the foot helps to absorb the shock and pressure, and provide support for the arches of the feet. High levels of stress or pressure can cause inflammation and small tears in the tissue. This foot condition often occurs in runners or other athletes. Other risk factors include age, obesity, flat feet, and spending a lot of time standing.

Symptoms usually start small, then continue to progress as the heel tissue is aggravated through daily activities. If you have Plantar Fasciitis, then you will likely experience a sharp pain in the heel area on the bottom of the foot. Most people find that the pain flares first thing in the morning, or when walking or standing after sitting for an extended period of time. Additionally, it is common for the symptoms to get worse after exercise.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

When you visit a Denver podiatrist because of heel pain, a thorough examination will be completed to identify the cause of the pain. Not only is a physical examination completed, but x-rays and other digital imaging tools can be used to evaluate the structure of the foot.

Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the condition. For example, minor cases of Plantar Fasciitis can heal with stretching, ice, rest, and over the counter pain relievers. Sometimes, physical therapy or shockwave therapy is used.

Chronic problems can be treated using splints that are worn at night to stretch the arch of the foot while you are sleeping. Steroid injections can also be used as a treatment for immediate relief, and are most effective when paired with other treatments.

If these treatments are ineffective, and the symptoms are severe, then surgery is the final option that will be evaluated as a way to reduce the pain and discomfort.

There is no reason why you should continue suffering from heel pain. Our team at Rock Canyon Foot and Ankle invite you to schedule an examination so we can find the right treatment plan for your needs. Call us right away to discuss your symptoms with an expert podiatrist in Denver.