Millions of people have suffered from plantar fasciitis. If you scan the aisles of your drug store, there are miracle cures and inserts everywhere. Even running shoe companies have developed shoes with “biomechanical control” to ward off this problem. Many wonder why their coworker resolved her problem with flimsy arch support while their pain continues to worsen after trying all sorts of products.
The truth is, not all cases of plantar fasciitis are the same. Many are minor injuries to the plantar fascia, while others are much worse.
General Information
Your foot has a thick band of tissue running from your heel bone to your toes. It provides support for the arch as well as the bottoms of your feet. It’s a ligament known as the plantar fascia. When it becomes inflamed, you develop a condition known as plantar fasciitis. This condition causes an aching pain when you stand for prolonged periods or very sharp pain when you first wake up. Some people notice the sharp pain even after sitting down to take a lunch break.
The Main Cause of Plantar Fasciitis
The cause of plantar fasciitis is tearing of the plantar fascia. These tears tend to occur from repeated tension stress to the plantar fascia. Patients in their mid-thirties and older will begin to notice that their ligaments and tendons) begin to lose their elasticity. This is why it is more common for people over forty to develop tears in the plantar fascia even during their normal day-to-day activity.
Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis
When you visit one of our podiatrists in Horseheads, Waverly, Elmira, NY, you will be asked about your lifestyle and will also take into consideration your body mass index and age since certain factors make you more at risk for this condition. As we mentioned previously, as you age, your risk for this problem increases, particularly once you reach the age of 40.
Increased risk factors for plantar fasciitis:
- Age (over 40)
- BMI (over 35)
- Those that earn a living on their feet
- Nurses, Factory workers
- Delivery service, restaurant industry
- Work/ School activity
- Aerobic exercise
- Soccer, basketball, running (younger patients)
Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis:
As you can see, a lot of us are at risk for Plantar fasciitis. Many of these risk factors are not something that can be readily changed.
The challenge for the podiatrist is to:
A) Determine the level of injury and
B) Initiate the appropriate treatment plan to manage it.
Unfortunately, many physicians tell their patients to take anti-inflammatory medicine and roll their foot on a water bottle or tennis ball. They’re missing an opportunity here. As an injured ligament elsewhere in the body is splinted and supported until it's healed, why should the Plantar Fascia be any different?
Mechanical control of the foot is an imperative first line of treatment. Anti-inflammatory medications or steroid injections can be helpful but will fail if used solely on their own.
Our podiatrists are specifically trained to treat this problem with our goal to resolve your pain within a specified time frame. We customize your treatment plan to suit your problem and situation.
With this in mind, we stock devices of all types in our offices which are expressly designed to manage your problem. This erases the need to make a second trip or order something online only to find that that insert or other device didn’t work. You will be able to try different devices out in our office and leave with a device that you have confidence in.
Unlike drug stores, Amazon, and sporting goods devices, ours are qualified to be submitted to insurance companies to be considered for coverage.
What if traditional treatments don’t work?
Surgical Management:
Should you not be progressing as desired and wish to discuss your surgical options, we offer podiatrists with 3-year surgical residencies in foot and ankle surgery. This extensive training provides our patients with an opportunity to achieve the best outcome.
Non-Surgical management (Regenerative Measures):
- Although these treatments are not a coverages service under any insurance plan, they may be considered for coverage under your HSA or Flexible Spending Plan
Shock Wave Therapy (EPAT): This technology evolved from the treatment of kidney stones, where pressure waves are used to break up the stones and restore normal urine flow. Similarly, these pressure waves can break up accumulated scar tissue from repeated injuries to the plantar fascia.
MLS Laser: Recent Laser technology has advanced from the early days to provide a therapy that increases blood flow to the targeted site and subsequently an added ability to heal.
Contact Thurber & Thurber Podiatric Medicine & Foot Surgery today at one of our locations:
Elmira – 607-734-4582
Horseheads – 607-739-8318
Waverly – 607-565-8128