Plantar fasciitis. How to treat this pathology?

Plantar fasciitis is a pathology that is the most common cause of pain in the heel.

Etiology and Clinic

Causes of the disease:

• flat feet;

• long standing, walking;

• overweight;

• high-heeled shoes;

• age changes.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis? Treatment of manifestations of the disease depends on the degree of trauma of the tendon of the heel. The main complaint is the pain that occurs in the sole when walking. She appears after rest at the first steps.

Aseptic inflammation develops, and with the accumulation of calcium salts begins to form a bone outgrowth - an osteophyte. What is plantar fasciitis? Photos of the results of this pathology and knowledge of the anatomy of the foot can help.

It is interesting that the pain sensations in fasciitis can disappear on their own, but this does not mean that the problem is solved, as the disease progresses.

If you have a plantar fasciitis, how to treat this ailment? Before starting therapy, an appropriate diagnosis should be made, which is based on clinical symptoms, examination and X-ray examination.

If a plantar fasciitis is found, how to treat, the doctor decides. Do not think that this is a simple damage, which you can eliminate yourself. If you confine yourself to one method of therapy, it will be difficult to achieve the desired result, so an integrated approach should be used.

For correct diagnosis, you also need to conduct a laboratory test that will exclude certain rheumatological diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, Bechterew's disease or, for example, Raynaud's syndrome, other systemic inflammatory pathologies) that initially can occur with the appearance of pain in the heel area, and only then acquire Characteristic clinic.

Treatment must include the selection of comfortable shoes. It is also recommended to use orthopedic insoles, which, when walking, reduce pressure on the heel.

Plantar fasciitis: how to treat medication?

With severe pain, non-narcotic analgesics are used - "Analgin", "Paracetamol" or "Aspirin". Effective are blockades with the use of glucocorticoids (Hydrocortisone, Diprospan, Kenalog), which can quickly eliminate pain and local inflammation. If symptoms persist for more than 6 weeks, pharmacological therapy may not produce the desired result.

Plantar fasciitis: how to treat yourself?

At home, to reduce pain and swelling, you can massage with ice. It is also useful to perform exercises for stretching the Achilles tendon, and during the night rest to provide immobilization of the ankle joint.

Other therapeutic techniques

The complex treatment can include mineral and mud baths, ultrasound, laser, shock wave therapy, as well as physiotherapy methods. If necessary, surgical treatment is carried out, which provides for the prompt removal of bone growth, excision of the heel fascia, as well as neurolisis - elimination of compression of the nerves in the heel.