Your medical history and a physical examination can help diagnose plantar fasciitis. Your doctor will examine your foot to determine if it hurts. You can find out where your foot hurts by identifying the area.
Imaging tests
Plantar fasciitis is usually not diagnosed by tests. To make sure you aren't suffering from stress fractures or another health problem, your doctor may ask you to have an MRI or an X-ray.
An X-ray can sometimes show that a spur (a small piece of bone) has protruded from the heel bone. These bone spurs were once blamed for heel pain. They had to be removed surgically. Many people who have bone spurs on the heels don't experience heel pain.
Treatment: Most people with plantar fasciitis recover in a few weeks by simply resting, icing the affected area, and doing stretching exercises.
Painkillers: If you have plantar fasciitis (which can cause pain and inflammation), you can take painkillers.
Therapies
You can help by stretching and strengthening, or even using specific tools. They can also use:
* Ask your doctor for help:A physical therapist can help you stretch your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia, as well as strengthen your legs through a series of exercises. To keep your foot in place, a therapist may show you how to apply athletic taping to the bottom of your feet.
* Nightsplints: It's possible to wear one that helps you stretch your calves as well as the arch of your feet while you sleep. While you sleep, this keeps your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia stretched.
* Orthotics: Your doctor may give you orthotics (arch supports) that can be purchased off-the-shelf, or custom-made for your feet. These support your feet and distribute pressure more evenly.
* Surgical and other types of things.
Your doctor may suggest that you try more conservative methods if they don't work after several months.
* Injections Injecting steroids into the area can temporarily relieve pain. It is best to not get more than one injection as it can weaken the plantar fascia, causing it to burst. To aid in healing, you can inject platelet-rich plasma (from the patient's blood) into the body using ultrasound imaging.
* Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy: This procedure uses sound waves to target the heel area and promote healing. This is used to treat long-term plantar faciitis pain that hasn’t responded to other aggressive treatments. Although the results of some studies seem promising, it has not been shown to always be effective.
* Ultrasonic tissue repair: This minimally-invasive technology was developed by the Mayo Clinic. The probe is a needle-like and uses ultrasound imaging to guide it into damaged plantar fascia tissue. The probe tip vibrates rapidly to break up the tissue and remove it.
* Surgery To remove the plantar fascia from your heel bone, it is not necessary to visit the doctor. Surgery is usually recommended when the pain is severe and has not responded to other treatment options. You can have it done through an open or small cut using local anesthesia.
These self-care tips can help you reduce the pain caused by plantar fasciitis.
Keep your weight in check. Additional weight can place extra strain on your plantar fascia and can cause it tear.
Strong shoes are best. Before you purchase shoes, take a look at them. Shoes should have moderate to low heels, thick soles and additional cushioning. Don't go barefoot.
Wearing worn out sports shoes is not a good idea. Get new shoes for your feet before they become too stiff.
You can change your game. Instead of running or walking, try a low-impact activity like swimming or biking.
Ice can be applied to your skin. To ease the pain, you can place a cloth-covered icepack over the affected area for up to 15 minutes each day. Ice can be used to reduce inflammation and pain. You can get relief from plantar fasciitis by using icing.
You will feel better if you stretch your arches. You can stretch the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon as well as your calf muscles with simple home exercises you can do.