Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis - How to Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

Everything That You Must Know On Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, a fibrous band of tissue on the bottom of the food supporting the arch, is overloaded or overstretched. With overtime or overuse, the fascia loses certain elasticity or resilience and can become inflamed, leading to pain.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

The common symptoms of plantar fasciitis are:

• Heel pain.
• Stiffness.
• Swelling around the heel.
• Pain in the arch of the foot.
• A tight Achilles tendon.

Causes

The plantar fascia is a tissue band called fascia, which links from the heel bone to the toes' base. It assists the arch of the foot and absorbs shock during walking.

Tension & stress on the fascia can cause small tears. Recurrent stretching and tearing of the fascia can inflame or irritate it, although the cause remains obscure in many cases of plantar fasciitis. 

What Does Plantar Fasciitis Feel Like?

Plantar fasciitis normally creates an achy pain in the heel or along the foot's bottom. The pain can alter based on what you are doing or the time of day. Certain types of pain you might feel include:

• Pain occurs when standing up following sleeping or sitting down. The pain normally goes away after walking for a few minutes.
• A dull, constant ache.
• Exercising or moving might briefly relieve your pain, but it'll usually worsen as soon as you stop.
• Sharp pain when you use your affected foot or put pressure on your heel.
• Increased pain is the initial thing in the morning or when you stand up after sitting or sleeping.

Diagnosis

If you think you have plantar fasciitis or are experiencing continuous foot pain, you should see your healthcare provider for a relevant diagnosis and treatment plan. 

Early intervention and appropriate management can assist in easing symptoms & improving your quality of life.

Your healthcare provider will analyse your foot, looking for the following risk factors of plantar fasciitis:

• An area of utmost tenderness on the bottom of the foot, just in front of the heel bone
• The lack of symptoms from other foot conditions that may share similar symptoms with plantar fasciitis, like calcaneal (heel) stress fracture, insertional Achilles tendinitis, or plantar nerve entrapment.
• A high arch or flat foot (a risk factor)
•  Limited dorsiflexion, or "up" motion, in your ankle

Moreover, your health care provider may consider obtaining x-rays or ultrasound evaluation for a physical exam of your foot if your history or physical exam highlights other injuries or conditions like heel spurs, fractures, or arthritis. 

Also, ultrasound may show thickening and swelling of the plantar fascia, a typical condition feature.

Your healthcare provider may also consider ordering (MRI) or ultrasound if your pain is not eased by first-hand treatment methods; otherwise, if your doctor is concerned that a different problem is causing your pain.

Risk Factors

• Age
• Obesity
• Foot mechanics
• Certain types of exercise
• Occupations that keep you on your feet.

Complications of Plantar Fasciitis

Ignoring plantar fasciitis may lead to chronic heel pain, which hinders regular activities. You will likely alter your walk to avoid plantar fasciitis pain, which might lead to knee, foot,  hip or back problems.

Treatment

To assist in treating pain caused by plantar fasciitis, your healthcare provider may suggest that you:

• Wear night splints while sleeping
• Take pain-relief medicines for your foot as much as possible
• Wear shoes with good support & cushioning
• Insert heel pads or arch supports (orthotics) in your shoes
• Apply an icepack to your foot for ten to twenty minutes up to 4 times daily

They may also recommend a few exercises for you to stretch your plantar fascia and better absorb your body weight.

Plantar fasciitis can frequently last for weeks or months.

If these measures don't work, your doctor may:

• Suggest surgery
• Give you steroid injections in your heel

These treatments are uncommon and are usually only used in severe cases.