The website Competitor.com, an online resource for running and runners, has identified the 5 most troublesome injuries runners face. Number one on that list: Plantar Fasciitis, the most common cause of the heel pain that some runners experience. The doctors of Fenton Foot Care, Dr. James Hirt DPM and Dr. Erin Holdren-Otis DPM agree that 1 in 4 patients they see suffer from heel pain.
There are several treatments for Plantar Fasciitis, and since no two people’s feet being are the same, there is no cookie-cutter approach to treatment. Plantar Fasciitis is a result of the thick ligament [the Plantar Fascia] that runs from the base of the toes to the bottom of the heel stress. This stress causes the fibers that attach to the heel to pull away from the bone, causing inflammation, swelling, and pain in the heel.
Some of the most common treatments for Plantar Fasciitis and the associated pain are:
- Custom functional orthotics
- Night splints
- Proper shoes
- Stretching
- Corticosteroid injections
- NSAIDS and other anti-inflammatories
- Endoscopic plantar fasciotomy surgery (EPF)
- Plantar fascial supports
- Topical anti-inflammatories
It is typically a custom-designed treatment plan based on the individual foot, using a combination of treatments that achieves the quickest result. Dr. Hirt and Dr. Holdren-Otis are both experts in treating Plantar Fasciitis and the resulting foot pain. “Without treatment, heel pain will last, on average, for 3 years. Whereas in the office we can usually resolve it in less than a month” says Dr. Hirt, adding “I don’t know many people who can tolerate heel pain for 3 years.” If you are experiencing heel pain that is impacting your quality of life, call and make an appointment today at (810) 629-FEET (3338). Let us help you keep your feet happy so you can get back to the activities you love, just in time for summer!