Heel Spurs/Plantar Fasciitis
Heel spurs occur in at least 50% of people who have plantar fasciitis. Past treatments for heel spurs, a bony growth that begins on the front of your heel bone and points toward the arch of your foot, included surgery to remove the growth. Nowadays, surgery is rarely a treatment option and more plans for physical therapy, ice, and pain medications are used to treat heel spurs.
What is plantar fasciitis?
A tight band of connective tissue known as the plantar fascia runs along the sole of your foot and helps maintain the shape of your foot’s arch. Normal wear and injuries to your feet can cause this band to become irritated and inflamed, a condition known as plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis can cause the band to become tighter, worsening the condition, and sometimes causes bony growths in your heel, called heel spurs, to form.
What causes plantar fasciitis?
Sometimes plantar fasciitis arises without an obvious cause. However, some factors can increase your risk for the condition, including:
- High arches
- Flat feet
- Tightness in your calf or Achilles tendon
- Abnormal gait
- Excess body weight
- Jobs that require extended time standing
- High-impact exercise
People between the ages of 40-60 are also more likely to develop plantar fasciitis.
What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?
The hallmark symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain. Also, if the first steps you take when you get out of bed in the morning cause pain in the bottoms of your feet, you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis.
This is because the irritated plantar fascia tightens during inactivity, then stretches quickly when you first step down. The pain usually goes away after a few steps.
How is plantar fasciitis treated?
The team at City Podiatry generally begin with conservative treatments for plantar fasciitis, including:
Structural supports and medications
Your provider may recommend strappings or splints that maintain the length of your fascia and support your arch. In conjunction with supports, cortisone injections or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be prescribed to decrease inflammation in your fascia and/or heel.
Orthotics
Prescription inserts or custom-molded orthotics that fit in your shoes can be worn long term to help keep your plantar fascia lengthened, support your arch, and maintain a healthy gait when walking.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy can address gait issues and strengthen foot muscles, and your physical therapist can use ultrasound, electric laser stimulation, and other therapeutic equipment to promote the healing of fascia and other tissues.
Surgery
If conservative treatments aren’t successful, the podiatrists at City Podiatry have expertise in a number of minimally invasive surgical procedures to release the taut band of fascia so it no longer causes you pain.
To learn more about plantar fasciitis and available treatment options, call City Podiatry or schedule a consultation online today.