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Every year more than a million patients visit their doctor due to heel pain! The most common foot and heel discomfort is caused by an excruciating disorder known as plantar fasciitis.
What is plantar fasciitis?
The foot is comprised of many different bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments; these include the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a band of ligament tissue. It stretches from the heel of your foot to the middle, and it is responsible for reinforcing and supporting your arch. When this area becomes inflamed due to extreme tension on the ligament, pain erupts every time you take a step, and if left untreated, many people will even experience discomfort while at rest.
Because plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot issues; one in ten people will experience it at some time in their life. Usually, the pain is concentrated in the heel area, and it is generally caused by small injuries that occur over an extended period of time. It’s quite common for heel spurs, which are bony protrusions under the heel bone to coincide with plantar fasciitis.
There are many treatment options that you can do at home with the guidance of your podiatrist to try and alleviate the painful symptoms of plantar fasciitis. But, because of weight bearing, this area of the foot, in particular, is challenging to heal on its own, The key to getting your foot health back to normal, and you free from pain is to have medically based procedures provided by your podiatrist.
What are my options?
Stretching and Anti-Inflammatory Medications
This treatment targets the contractures and inflammation of the plantar fascia and Achilles tendons that contribute to the painful symptoms associated with plantar fasciitis.
Stabilization/Immobilization
The 2nd of the two mentioned treatment options is stabilization/immobilization. This option is achieved through a variety of devices, including braces or foot orthoses which control the function and position of the foot throughout the gait cycle. Alternatively, immobilization in a Cam boot or cast can be employed in more severe or resilient cases.
Corticosteroid Injections
This treatment allows the administration of anti-inflammatory medication at the precise area of concern and can be an intrical component of decreasing pain and inflammation.
Surgery
There is, of course, a more permanent stabilization option, which includes surgery of the foot and ankle, but not all patients need this. If your symptoms and pain are unbearable and not responded to traditional therapies within the specified amount of time, surgery is the most logical choice to get you back on your feet again.
The procedure is minimally invasive and requires cutting of the ligament to release the tension in the plantar fasciitis. It can be performed endoscopically with two small incisions on either side of the heel bone.
At Home Care
There are many medical ancillary options that your podiatrists can prescribe, such as ankle braces, high top orthotic shoes, lace up supports and shoes made with a medial-lateral supportive base. It’s important to be examined by an experienced podiatric professional if you’re experiencing any foot pain.
Along with these treatment options, Lakeside Foot & Ankle Center will provide you with personalized instructions on the necessary amount of rest, stretching exercises and home care to get you back to doing what you love.
Lakeside Foot & Ankle Center
Podiatrists in Leesburg and The Villages, Florida
Our practice provides superior foot and ankle care for every walk of life using state of the art and time proven diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. We believe that prevention, prompt diagnosis, and early intervention are the key ingredients to minimize the impact of any problem on your life. We provide the full range of podiatric care, exhausting all conservative treatment options prior to graduating to surgical intervention when necessary. Our board-certified physicians are well versed in the arena of podiatric medicine and provide skilled and compassionate surgical care.
Our staff is committed to creating a warm and friendly environment to provide a relaxed and comfortable experience for you. We take pride in taking the time to thoroughly understand your concerns and make certain you comprehend all aspects of the treatment plan we formulate specifically for you. We work closely with primary care physicians and all other specialists to create a comprehensive care plan that takes all aspects of your health into consideration.
Lakeside Foot & Ankle Center offers a full array of podiatric services to help you maintain healthy feet.
Lakeside Foot & Ankle Center
910 Old Camp Road
Bldg 110, Suite 112
The Villages, FL 32162
352.259.0854
1330 Citizens Blvd.
Suite 301
Leesburg, FL 34748
352.728.1252
