What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most prevalent causes of foot pain; it flares from the heel to the toe, usually after a period of inactivity, especially right after waking up.
Fascia is the sensitive, gossamer-thin connective tissue that blankets all the muscles, organs, and other internal structures in the body. Plantar fasciitis pain occurs when the plantar fascia—the fascia that supports impact from movement and overexertion of the foot—becomes inflamed.
The main causes of plantar fasciitis include aging, overexertion from sports or other physical activities, genetic predisposition, and obesity.
The Dangers of Untreated Plantar Fasciitis
If you have plantar fasciitis, you need to make an appointment with a podiatrist for treatment immediately. Left untreated, plantar fasciitis only worsens and can lead to the development of other foot conditions and more pain.
The three significant consequences of untreated plantar fasciitis include the following:
- Heel Spurs: Untreated plantar fasciitis can cause your body to attempt to heal itself by ambushing the fascia with extra, new, healthy cells at the site of inflammation.
Although that doesn’t sound too bad, the excess cells make calcium deposits. The calcium deposits form heel spurs, spiky clumps of calcium, that stab into your heel and often require surgical removal.
- Plantar Fascia Tears: Plantar tears are microscopic fissures in the fascia that occur due to untreated plantar fasciitis. The more tears that develop, the more pain you’ll feel, and your healing journey (once you start treatment) will take longer than the average of two months for plantar fasciitis.
- Plantar Fascia Ruptures: If your untreated plantar fasciitis leads to plantar tears that are also left unaddressed, the plantar fascia can rupture (snap). Signs of plantar fascia rupture usually include severe bruising in the foot, excruciating pain, and a popping sound when the fascia snaps.
Plantar Fasciitis Diagnosis and Treatment
You need to see a podiatrist to get the necessary treatment for your plantar fascia pain. We will assess your foot and discuss your symptoms, then determine a diagnosis and create a treatment plan.
One of the at-home treatment methods we always recommend is the RICE process, which involves resting the foot, icing it, wearing compression supports, and elevating it.
Get Plantar Fasciitis Treatment in Birmingham
Do you live around Birmingham and suffer from plantar fasciitis or another source of foot pain? We understand your pain better than anyone (literally, we’re podiatrists), and we’re here to help you get the healing and relief you need.
To start your journey to pain-free feet, please contact our staff at Foot Specialists of Birmingham today! We’ll gladly help you set up an appointment with our incredible team of podiatry experts and nursing assistants who are certified by the American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants.
Thanks for reading today’s blog post on plantar fasciitis. Next time, we’ll teach you more about managing this condition, specifically with foot braces.
