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If you have the following symptoms, you may have an uncomfortable foot condition known as plantar fasciitis. The most common symptoms include severe pain in or around the heel, foot pain after rest periods or prolonged activity, tingling or burning sensations, limping, and pain when you flex your foot. If you believe you have this condition, make an appointment with a podiatrist at a clinic like Collier Podiatry PA. He or she will recommend effective treatment options for your heel pain that may include the following:

Therapeutic Measures

Physical therapy is an effective therapeutic measure in the management of plantar fasciitis and its related heel pain. Your physical therapist will teach you how to perform exercises that will help stretch your tendons and fascia to strengthen the surrounding structures of your foot. In addition to exercise, your therapist may also show you how to effectively ice your foot and how to tape the heel for extra support and pain relief.

Another effective therapeutic measure to help relieve your foot pain is wearing orthotics in your shoes. Also known as arch supports, these products will help relieve heel discomfort by helping to evenly distribute foot pressure while supporting your arches. While shoe insert orthotics can be purchased at your local pharmacy, you should check with your podiatrist about where to obtain them. 

NSAIDs

While over-the-counter acetaminophen can help tame the pain of plantar fasciitis, it does little to dampen inflammation. A better choice for managing your symptoms is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, which include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium. Not only do NSAIDs decrease pain, but they also relieve the inflammation of the fascia and surrounding structures.

If you are unable to take NSAIDs because of gastrointestinal problems or kidney disorders, talk to your podiatrist about alternative pain management. He or she may recommend prescription pain medications — however, many prescription pain drugs can cause severe side effects such as fatigue, dizziness, urinary retention, and confusion.

If you experience severe foot pain, inflammation, increased skin temperature on the foot or ankle, weakness, or redness, make an appointment with your foot doctor. He or she will perform a physical examination of your foot, and if needed, take a series of x-rays to determine where the source of your pain is originating from. When foot problems are diagnosed and treated early on, you will be less likely to experience complications such as limited mobility, progression of disease, increased inflammation, and damage to the surrounding structures of your foot.