When you have heel pain from plantar fasciitis, there are many things you can do to help the healing process along. We will likely start you out with RICE therapy, shoe modifications to reduce irritation, or custom orthotics to correct faulty foot movements or foot structures. These, along with any anti-inflammatory medications we prescribe, can go a long way toward relieving your symptoms.
When it comes to conservative treatment options for heel pain, some traditional ones include:
- Stretching. When those key connective tissues connected to your heel bone are overused or faced with excessive physical stress, they become inflamed and cause heel pain. Improving your flexibility and staying limber can help to both relieve painful symptoms and prevent pain from developing in the first place.
- Footwear choices. Shoes featuring plenty of arch support and ample cushioning in the heel area are beneficial in preventing Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. More than that, they can be useful in improving an existing condition.
- Orthotic devices. If proper footwear does not provide enough support, you might benefit from custom orthotics. These medical devices are crafted to work specifically with your unique foot structure and gait pattern. Correcting abnormal biomechanical patterns can help prevent the connective tissues from enduring excessive strain or force.
- Rest. In many cases, heel pain is the result of overuse. Accordingly, taking time off from your normal high-impact activities (running, jumping) or, even better, cross-training with low-impact activities (cycling, yoga, swimming) will help.
However, if you need pain relief from a chronic problem like plantar fasciitis, and these remedies haven’t fully addressed it for you, we have some more advanced options, including:
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP). In this treatment, we draw blood from your arm, centrifuge it (to concentrate platelets), and then inject the PRP into the damaged fascia. This can be quite effective because the platelets have growth factors that promote healing.
- Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT). This treatment utilizes high amplitude pulses of mechanical energy to stimulate blood flow and nerve response in the area. The cells undergo microtrauma to promote inflammatory processes your body uses to remove damaged tissue and repair itself.
- Cortisone injections. In addition to being a potential treatment option, cortisone injections can actually play a role in diagnosing some cases. When used to treat an existing condition, this injection decreases inflammation.
No matter if you have heel pain or any of the other common problems that cause difficulty and pain in your feet, contact us online to connect with Massapequa Podiatry Associates right now.