Walking barefoot in the grass… Dancing to your favorite song when no one is watching… Running across the finish line in your first marathon. Unfortunately, many people suffer from foot problems that limit their ability to enjoy these experiences. One such condition is called Plantarfaciitis. Also know as heel pain or heel spur syndrome, this condition usually presents as pain on the bottom of the heel and is one of the most common foot conditions that Podiatrists deal with.
Plantarfasciitis occurs at the insertion of one of the largest ligaments of the foot called the Plantarfascia which attaches to the Calcaneus (the heel bone). The role of the Plantarfascia is to help maintain the arch. The condition begins when there is a structural problem with the foot, such as a Bunion, A Flat Foot or chronic injuries (like working on your feet all day, or sports) The insertion point of the ligament then becomes inflamed and starts to hurt. Since we never allow the injured site to heal completely (because we stand and walk and work on our feet next day), the inflammatory process at the insertion site becomes chronic and starts the process of Plantarfasciitis. If this condition is left alone and allowed to become chronic, a Heel Spur can develop at the insertion point of the ligament. This bony growth is not the source of the problem, but rather a symptom.
The pain is usually sharp and most people will complain of pain on the first few steps in the morning or after sitting for a while. The treatments for this condition are mostly conservative. They can range from oral anti-inflammatories, injections of anti-inflammatories and stretching, to surgical release of the ligament. More advanced treatments that are are more recent involve ShockWave treatment to stimulate increased blood flow and eliminate the spur without surgery. Custom fabricated arch supports (Orthotics) can help prevent the recurrence of symptoms if they are due to foot structure.
Early diagnosis and intervention is important in this condition since it can lead to less treatment time and more reliable results. Your consultation should include x-rays and foot examination. You should consider visiting Dr. Sadrieh and discussing which of the above treatments is right for you if you suffer with this problem.
