Can Plantar Fasciitis Go Away on Its Own?
The plantar fascia is a tissue that runs down the bottom of the foot, connecting the toes to the heel bone. This tissue can become inflamed from overuse and cause plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis results in heel pain, which can range from a dull ache to a severe chronic pain that makes it difficult to bear weight.
The good news? If diagnosed and treated early enough, very few cases of plantar fasciitis require surgery.
How to Check for Plantar Fasciitis
A physical exam and imaging tests are required to formally diagnose plantar fasciitis. However, the most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is always heel pain. This could be any of the following types of heel pain:
Aching
Dull
Stabbing
Burning
Oftentimes this pain occurs in the morning and after long periods of standing or sitting. In the early stages of plantar fasciitis, this heel pain will fade as your daily movements stretch out the ligament. In late stages, the plantar fasciitis heel pain will spread to the bottom of the foot, causing stiffness and swelling that affects the whole foot.
If left untreated, pain on the heel will become more constant, chronic, and debilitating.
Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis
There are risk factors that increase your likelihood of your heel pain being caused by plantar fasciitis. These include:
Lack of Supportive Footwear: Routinely wearing shoes with poor arch support, such as flip-flops or high heels, increases your risk of developing plantar fasciitis.
High-Impact Activity: Runners, dancers, jumpers, and other sports that involve repeatedly hitting the heel can cause plantar fasciitis.
Long Periods of Standing: Occupations that require you to be on your feet all day (teachers, construction workers, retail, etc.) can cause the plantar fascia to become inflamed.
Age: Plantar fasciitis commonly affects people over 40-years-old.
Weight: Obesity places an additional weight burden on your feet that can irritate the plantar fascia.
Regardless of how your plantar fasciitis developed, it’s important to seek treatment for your heel pain with an orthopaedic doctor who specializes in the foot and ankle. The early treatment begins, the less likely you are to need surgery for plantar fasciitis.
Treating Plantar Fasciitis
The good news is that 90% of plantar fasciitis cases can be treated nonsurgically. Dr. Elton and his team at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery often prescribe the following conservative plantar fasciitis treatments:
Shoe inserts to support the arch
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen
Night splints that keep your foot in a flex position
Physical therapy
Stretching
Only after all conservative treatment methods are attempted will Dr. Elton recommend surgical intervention. Surgery for plantar fasciitis is reserved for cases where the heel pain is severe and chronic in a way that impacts your quality of life.
Stretches for Plantar Fasciitis
Stretching is the best treatment for plantar fasciitis. A dedicated stretching program for your plantar fascia is the mainstay of treatment and dramatically reduces the chance of recurrence.
The three best stretches for plantar fasciitis are:
Standing Soleus Stretch: Lean forward onto a countertop, spreading your feet apart with one foot in front of the other. Flex your knees and squat down, keeping your heels on the ground as long as possible. Your heel cords and foot arches will stretch as the heels come up in the stretch. Hold for 10 seconds, relax and straighten up. Repeat 20 times.
Standing Calf Stretch: Lean forward against a wall with one knee straight and heel on the ground. Your other knee is bent. Your heel cord and foot arch stretch as you lean. Hold for 10 seconds, relax and straighten up. Repeat 20 times for each sore heel. It is important to keep the knee fully extended on the side being stretched.
Plantar Fascia Massage: Cross your affected leg over your other leg. Using the hand on your affected side, take hold of your affected foot and pull your toes back towards your shin. This creates tension/stretch in the arch of the foot/plantar fascia. Hold the stretch for a count of ten for ten repetitions.
Rolling a frozen water bottle on the bottom of your foot or applying ice to the sore area for 20 minutes 3-4 times a day can help relieve your symptoms.
The most important times to stretch are before taking the first step in the morning and before standing after a period of prolonged sitting.
Doctors Who Treat Plantar Fasciitis
Dr. Elton is known throughout Colorado for his skill, compassion, and expertise in the area of plantar fasciitis. With three conveniently located clinics in Eagle and Summit County, getting expert treatment for heel pain has never been easier.
Schedule your appointment today by calling (970) 476-7220 or through our online appointment request form.
Get plantar fasciitis now and potentially avoid surgery later!