Plantar Fasciitis Treatment in Kolkata
The plantar fascia is a ligament (connective tissue) that connects the heel bone to the toes of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of this ligament that is one of the primary causes of the heel spur. If you experience acute heel pain periodically, please contact CuraFoot Clinic for an appointment.
As you take the first steps in the morning (such as getting out of the bed), the pressure caused results in acute pain in your heels, which is the primary symptoms of plantar fasciitis foot pain. As the day progresses, the pain is reduced to a dull throbbing pain that stays persistent. The acute pain reappears if you get up after a period of rest (such as getting up from the chair after some time) or if you walk or stand for a long period of time.
Plantar fascia is experienced by middle-aged people, but can also be faced by people who are on their feet a lot (causing continuous pressure). It is common amongst athletes, soldiers, teachers, policemen, dancers and others whose jobs require them to be on their feet for a continued period of time or to cause stress on the feet persistently.
Causes:
Plantar fasciitis pain develops gradually, although the exact reasons for it are not clear.
- Overuse: Plantar fasciitis is diagnosed in people who overuse their feet, wherein incessant pressure is created to the feet due to long stretches of walking, standing or running. However, there are other causes that contribute to the development of the plantar fasciitis.
- Flat feet: If you have flat feet, your weight does not get evenly distributed through your foot and can instead fall upon one area, which causes the pain over a period of time.
Over-pronation
- Obesity: Extra weight causes extra pressure on the feet, which can develop into plantar fasciitis.
- Overpronation: If your feet have a tendency to roll inwards while walking, it puts pressure to the inside of the foot and puts stress on the plantar fascia, causing inflammation.
- Ill-fitted shoes: Shoes that don’t fit well, or are worn out can create pressure in a particular area of the foot, and cause of pain.
In case you suffer from piercing pain or swelling in the heel with no apparent reason, it is recommended you see a doctor immediately to rule out plantar fascia. The condition, if not treated in time, can lead to severe pain and immobility.
Treatment:
In case you are diagnosed, there are a few things you can do to heal the inflamed plantar fascia and cause relief to your feet:
- Consult a physiotherapist, who can show you certain exercises to relax the feet and bring stability to your feet. The exercises can also help you with the strengthening of the muscles of your lower leg, and therefore reduce the pressure of your feet.
- Wear a splint while sleeping at night to help with the stretching of your legs and feet, since the splint will assist with holding the plantar fascia in a stretched position through the night.
- Invest in custom orthotics or custom insoles that will help in evenly distributing the stress to your foot and balance out the pressure. This will gradually decrease the irritation caused and this will provide relief from pain.
- Give enough rest to your feet and use hot and cold compressions to reduce the inflammation to the feet.
- Anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen, as prescribed by the doctor, can help in causing temporary relief from pain. However, make sure to take limited painkillers since they can cause side effects and are detrimental to health.
- Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy can be recommended by the doctor for chronic heel pain where sound waves are used to stimulate ligament healing. However, this treatment can cause numbness, bruises or swell as side effects.
In severe cases of plantar fasciitis, where none of the above has provided relief, the doctor can recommend surgery as the last resort. In this case, a portion of the ligament can be detached as a solution. However, surgery can also cause limited mobility of the foot or the arch can be weakened.
Ignoring the condition can lead to chronic hip, back, knee or leg pain and can increase the severity and the complications. It is worthwhile to consult a foot specialist on an immediate basis if you show signs of plantar fasciitis to facilitate early treatment and cure.
