Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common disorder caused by inflammation in the tissues on the bottom of the heel. If you have heel pain, talk to the team at Montgomery Podiatry in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. The experienced podiatrists provide effective solutions for plantar fasciitis, including innovative amniotic injections. Find out how they can ease your plantar fasciitis pain by calling Montgomery Podiatry or scheduling an appointment online today.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the primary causes of heel pain. It affects the bottom of your heel, with pain spreading into the arch and ankle in severe cases.

It develops when the plantar fascia on the sole of your foot becomes inflamed. The plantar fascia is a strong band of connective tissues that attaches to your heel bone and runs up under the foot’s arch.

Damaging the plantar fascia is easy to do through overuse, which creates tiny tears in the tissue. As the tears multiply, the plantar fascia becomes increasingly tender and painful. 

Why would I get plantar fasciitis?

The tissue damage that causes plantar fasciitis can come from several sources, including:

• Wearing unsupportive footwear
• Walking on hard surfaces
• Spending many hours on your feet
• Excess body weight
• Flat feet
• High arches

It’s usually a combination of risk factors that trigger plantar fasciitis — for example, doing a lot of walking or running on hard surfaces when you have high arches.

What symptoms does plantar fasciitis cause?

Plantar fasciitis symptoms revolve around heel pain and tenderness. There might also be heat, reddening, and some swelling in the painful area.

The pain is generally worst when you get up in the morning after lying down all night. You might have difficulty walking at first, but this should ease as you move. However, if you continue walking on the affected heel, pain can worsen and may become even more severe.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

You can reduce the strain on your plantar fascia by adopting the following measures:

• Applying ice packs
• Reducing physical activity
• Wearing supportive footwear
• Taking anti-inflammatory painkillers
• Not going barefoot
• Doing stretching exercises

The Montgomery Podiatry team offers expert padding, strapping, and physical therapy for plantar fasciitis. They can also fit you with a removable walking cast or splint you wear at night. Many people find custom-fitted orthotics (shoe inserts) enormously beneficial.

For more persistent cases, Montgomery Podiatry offers amniotic injections. These contain many substances that promote healthy tissue growth and repair, helping your body heal with minimal downtime. This regenerative medicine treatment helps with plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and Achilles tendonitis.

Most patients find non-surgical treatments effective in relieving plantar fasciitis pain. However, your podiatrist might suggest plantar fascia release surgery if your symptoms don’t improve after several months. It involves cutting the plantar fascia to reduce pressure.

To find relief from plantar fasciitis pain, call Montgomery Podiatry or book an appointment using the online form today.