Pain is the number one joy killer. You can be grinding through your everyday activities one moment and dealing with a sharp pain in your heel the next.
Most times, heel pain is caused by an injury. However, if you haven’t had a recent injury, it may be time to get your foot checked out.
There are various reasons why this kind of pain happens, one of which is a condition known as plantar fasciitis. This condition stems from inflammation in a vital ligament that primarily affects the heel of the foot.
In this blog, Dr. Ahmad, your Charlotte physiatrist, has put together everything you need to know about plantar fasciitis, including its causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is an orthopedic condition that affects the plantar fascia in the heel of the foot. When too much pressure is applied to your plantar fascia ligaments for an extended period of time, it can cause damage and even tears in your ligaments, eventually resulting in chronic plantar fasciitis.
This condition primarily affects one foot. It will typically start as a dull pain or burning sensation and gradually increase to an even sharper pain.
What Are the Causes of Plantar Fasciitis?
The plantar fascia is a ligament in the foot that acts as a shock absorber when we walk, run, or do anything on foot. When we strain this ligament by not resting our bodies properly after strenuous activities, we put it at risk for long-term damage.
If you continue to strain yourself, the ligament will become inflamed, resulting in stiffness and pain. Research shows that about 10% of Americans experience pain in their heel, which causes about a million visits to the hospital per year. Plantar fasciitis is a growing problem, which is why you need to be aware of its causes and how to handle it.
Plantar fasciitis has different causes, from strenuous exercise (without rest) to standing for long periods of time. While there isn’t specific cause of plantar fasciitis, there are some risk factors to pay attention to:
- Obesity
- The anatomy of your feet (flat feet or a high arch)
- Jobs that require you to stand for hours at a time (factory workers, nurses, and restaurant servers)
- Age (adults aged 40-70)
- Pregnancy
Common Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis cannot be self-diagnosed. However, if you have the following symptoms, you should see your physiatrist as soon as possible.
- Pain at the bottom of your foot very close to the heel
- Sharp pain in your foot as soon as you take a few steps after a long period of rest
- Extreme pain after a strenuous physical activity (exercise, long-distance cycling, or walks)
When you visit our physiatrist, you will go through physical examinations and have X-rays and an MRI taken to determine if the source of your pain is from inflamed plantar fasciitis.
Get a Plantar Fasciitis Treatment in Charlotte, NC With Stem Cell Therapy
If you have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, your next step is to find the right treatment. This is where Stem Cell Carolina comes in. With our methods, you can have plantar fasciitis treated without surgery. We use regenerative treatments like stem cell therapy to provide our patients with effective, long-lasting solutions to their pain.
For plantar fasciitis, our practice can help you with a specialized plantar fasciitis treatment in Charlotte, NC, so you can get back to your daily grind pain-free. If you notice any symptoms of plantar fasciitis, don’t hesitate to contact our team of professional physiatrists. Schedule an appointment with us today!
Disclaimer: The benefits of regenerative medicine have not been reviewed or approved by the FDA.
