If you’re experiencing chronic pain due to plantar fasciitis, you know all too well the discomfort that this condition can cause. This pain, which is usually felt in the heel or the bottom of your foot, can make even simple tasks like standing or walking a challenge.
Thankfully, there are effective treatment options to alleviate this persistent, often long-term pain. Let’s take a look at what’s available.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that affects the band of tissue (fascia) that connects your heel bone to your toes. It’s frequently seen in runners, overweight individuals, and those wearing shoes with inadequate support. This painful condition causes inflammation in the plantar fascia, leading to heel pain that is often worse in the morning or after periods of rest.
What Treatments Are Available for Plantar Fasciitis?
Medical practitioners have a range of treatments that can help reduce or even eliminate the chronic pain caused by plantar fasciitis (and a long list of other painful conditions). Keep in mind that every patient is unique and may respond to treatments differently.
Non-invasive Treatments
There are many non-invasive treatments for plantar fasciitis, including rest, ice, stretching exercises, and over-the-counter pain relievers. In some cases, wearing proper footwear with good arch support and cushioning can also help alleviate symptoms.
Physical Therapy and Exercises
Physical therapy is often recommended as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for plantar fasciitis. Certain exercises and stretches can help strengthen your lower leg muscles, which stabilize your walk and lessen the workload on your plantar fascia.
Medication and Pain Management
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. If pain persists despite these treatments, your doctor may recommend a different approach.
Injections for Plantar Fasciitis
Injection therapy has been growing in popularity as a treatment option for its more immediate and sometimes long-term effects. This involves injecting a medication directly into the affected area to relieve pain.
Injection therapy for plantar fasciitis typically involves either corticosteroid injections or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory medicines that can be injected directly into the plantar fascia. PRP injections use a concentration of your own blood platelets to accelerate healing.
These injections work by reducing inflammation in the plantar fascia, which typically relieves some level of pain. They can be an effective treatment option for those with severe or persistent plantar fasciitis pain that hasn’t responded to more conservative treatments.
Benefits of Injection Therapy for Chronic Pain Patients
For chronic pain patients, injection therapy can offer several benefits:
Immediate Pain Relief
Many patients experience significant pain relief shortly after the injection.
Reduced Inflammation
The medication in the injection can reduce inflammation in the plantar fascia, helping to relieve pain and discomfort.
Improved Mobility and Function
By relieving pain and inflammation, these injections can improve your mobility and ability to perform daily activities.
Risks and Side Effects
Like any medical procedure, injection therapy is not without its risks. Potential side effects include infection, nerve damage, or a decrease in the fatty tissue around the heel. Repeated steroid injections can weaken the plantar fascia and potentially cause it to rupture.
Choosing whether to undergo injection therapy is a decision that should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider. Factors to consider include the severity of your pain, your overall health, and how much you’ve responded to other treatments.
Turn to HPM for Plantar Fasciitis Injections
At HPM, we operate a network of pain management clinics in rural communities, making it easier and faster for patients to access pain treatments close to home. Our medical staff are specially trained to diagnose and treat a long list of painful conditions, including headaches, joint pain, back and neck problems, and injuries resulting from work or sports.
If you’re struggling with plantar fasciitis pain and considering injection therapy, contact HPM today. Find a location near you and take the first step towards a life with less pain.
