“Plantar fasciitis is a degenerative condition of the thick band of tissue (also called a fascia) at the bottom of your foot that runs from your heel to your toes.
Doctors once thought that bony growths called heel spurs, brought on the pain. Now they believe that heel spurs are the result — not the cause — of plantar fasciitis” [1]
So What Are the Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis?
This disorder creates pain in your heel area. Generally speaking, it is worse in the morning when you take your first steps, or after you have been sitting for a substantial amount of time. This condition usually ameliorates when you are active, for example, when you are out walking; however, if you spend a lot of time on your feet, it deteriorates again [1].
Getting a Diagnosis With a Pain Specialist
If you book an appointment with an Experienced Pain Consultant, they will review your medical history, ask you various question related to you pain (including when it first appeared); and then conduct a physical examination. This will allow them to ascertain which regions of your foot are tender, and as a result, they will have a batter idea as to what the root cause of the problem is. Generally speaking, Pain Doctors who treat Plantar Fasciitis, do not need to carry out any imaging tests. The exception to this, would be if they thought that there is another issue, for example, a stress fracture [2].
So What Type of Treatment Can I Get For Plantar Fasciitis?
Your Pain Consultant may prescribe a pain reliever such as ibuprofen; and naproxen sodium (Aleve), for the purpose of reducing both the pain and the inflammation. Moreover, they may use a multi-treatment approach, which includes referring you for physical therapy [2].
Surgical & Other Procedures
After a few months, if more conservative modalities do not show any promise, then your Pain Specialist may suggest one of the following:
• Injecting steroid medication
• Injecting the tender region of your foot with platelet-rich plasma (from your own blood)
• Using extracorporeal shock wave therapy ( if the patient has long-term plantar fasciitis which has not been ameliorated by more-conservative methods)
• Using minimally invasive ultrasonic tissue repair technology, which utilises ultrasound imaging to guide a needle-like probe into the affected tissue [2].
References
[1]. WebMD (2021). “What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/understanding-plantar-fasciitis-basics
[2]. Mayo Clinic (2022). “Plantar Fasciitis.”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plantar-fasciitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-
