Are you suffering from chronic heel pain? You may have plantar fasciitis, a common condition that often presents with heel pain. Plantar fasciitis can have a number of causes and has a proven link to another condition: central sensitization.
In this blog, the Foot Specialists of Birmingham explain plantar fasciitis and central sensitization, the connections between the two, and potential treatment options.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a condition affecting the plantar fascia, which is a strip of tissue that runs along the sole of the foot. With plantar fasciitis, the tissue becomes inflamed, causing lingering pain in the heels and/or arches of the feet.
This condition can be caused by a number of factors, including advanced age, obesity, prolonged standing, overuse, and weight-bearing activities. It is particularly common in athletes, as frequent athletic activities such as running put strain on the tissues of the feet. Plantar fasciitis is often chronic, lasting for months.
What is Central Sensitization?
Central sensitization is a form of hypersensitivity that causes pain in response to stimuli that would not normally induce discomfort. Physical pressure or touch, even if mild, can trigger intense pain in those suffering from this condition.
Central sensitization arises from issues in the central nervous system and can trigger pain in both the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. It has been associated with several other types of chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia, migraines, and joint dysfunction.
How Central Sensitization May Be Affecting Your Plantar Fasciitis
Although it might sound as if plantar fasciitis and central sensitization are two unrelated issues, there are far more links between them than appear at first glance.
Pain in the musculoskeletal system can be attributed to nociceptive or neuropathic pain. In the case of central sensitization, nociplastic pain is the most likely culprit.
Nociplastic Pain
Nociceptors are sensory neurons located throughout the body. They play a key role in responding to painful stimuli. Nociplastic pain is a chronic pain condition that results from altered nervous system processing. It arises from central sensitization, causing nociceptors to induce hypersensitivity to pain and other sensations, which leads to synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system.
Where Plantar Fasciitis Comes In
Studies have shown that plantar fasciitis is more common in individuals with altered central nervous system processing, AKA nociplastic pain. In other words, if you have chronic plantar fasciitis, there may be larger issues at play; central sensitization could be the root cause of your pain. If this is the case, treatment may need to address more than just your plantar fasciitis.
Treatment
In-office treatment options for plantar fasciitis vary and can include (but are definitely not limited to) physical therapy and night splints. However, if central sensitization is a factor, treatments addressing this underlying issue may also need to be considered. Tricyclic antidepressants and desensitization are common treatments for reducing hypersensitivity and treating central sensitization.
If you’re concerned about plantar fasciitis and/or central sensitization, contact our office. Our helpful, experienced team is here to help with your foot pain. Come see why we’re trusted by so many patients in the Birmingham, AL metropolitan area.
