Tell Your Heel Pain to Heel
If you step out of bed every morning with a wince or an “ouch!” as your heel hits the floor for the first time, you might be dealing with a very common affliction called plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia – the band of tissue stretching from your heel bone through your foot’s arch – becomes inflamed.
Common causes of plantar fasciitis
- Overuse, especially during activities like jumping or running on hard ground.
- Poorly fitting shoes
- Mechanical issue with the foot
- Foot trauma
- Tight Achilles tendon
Symptoms
Plantar fasciitis symptoms often start at the very beginning of the day with agonizing heel pain with those first morning steps. During the night, the plantar fascia has tightened up, making it inflexible and painful to step on. As you walk on it more throughout the day, it stretches out and the pain subsides.
The pain often returns at the end of the day though. Walking and standing on inflamed tissue can be irritating and uncomfortable.
Most common treatments
Plantar fasciitis can take time to treat. If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, Dr. Stuart Snyder here at Maple Springs Foot Center recommends you take prompt action and get it checked by a podiatrist immediately. Often treatments will include:
- Icing the inflamed area
- Starting a regimen of stretching exercises
- Strapping or bracing
- Using anti-inflammatory medications (only take medicine if prescribed by a doctor)
- Wearing custom orthotics
Most patients respond and recover thanks to the above treatments. If more aggressive treatments are needed, your professional foot doctor will help assess the next steps.
If you experience heel pain, or any other foot or ankle symptoms, request an appointment online or call our office conveniently located in Gaithersburg, MD at (301)762-FEET (3338).
