Below I have put a list together of the Top Ten treatments for heel pain or Plantar Fasciitis. Heel Spur Syndrome and Plantar Fasciitis can be cured in most any circumstances. Some of these treatments can be performed by yourself or in the presence of a physcian or podiatrist. Some of these treatments for Heel Spur syndrome or Plantar Fascitis require you to see a podiatrist. I have placed the treatments for heel pain in order from most complicated and debilitating to easiest with good success rates. Let us begin, first plantar fasciitis or Heel Spur snydrome is pain located on the bottom of your foot which tends to become aggravated when you first wake up in the morning and put weight on your heel, or move from a sitting to standing position. Let us begin with the list
10. Cast or CAM Walker for Plantar Fasciitis– This may sound extreme but for recalcitrant cases of plantar facsiitis the application of a CAM walker (walking boot) or being placed in a cast can help with the pain. Usually this should be combined with crutches and staying non weight bearing on the foot for at least a month maybe six weeks. One would have to see a doctor to apply a cast, but a walking boot and crutches can be purchased easily:
9. Surgery, Plantar Fascial Release-Yes, it is called Heel Spur syndrome but it is actually the Plantar Fascia which is causing your discomfort. One way to eliminate that heel pain is surgery. Plantar Fascial surgery should not be attempted until at least three to four of the non surgical interventions on the list are tried. However, Heel Spur surgery is fairly easy with little risk and a fairly high success rate.
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8. Oral Steroids–This treatment for Plantar Fasciitis would require you to go to a doctor to obtain a prescription. However generally, it requires just a week and the Podiatrist will most likely prescribe you a Medrol Dosepak. Obviously, if you are a diabetic this treatment is not an option. No this is not the steroids that are illegal and you will not become Lance Armstrong. In fact you might feel sluggish while taking them. but these have a fairly high success rate.
7. Physical Therpay for Plantar Fasciitis-This is not the same as stretching exercises, but actually refers to a Physcial Therpaist who can see you three times a week for four weeks. Generally Physical Therapists tend to be effective and can perform stretching exercises on the plantar fascia which you are unable to perform at home. Some of the treatments they may apply would be Iontophersis and other such treatments.
6. Cortisone Shot- Cortisone shots in the heel for plantar fascitis can be effective and generally have a high rate of success. One should see a Podiatrist to have the shot performed. The shot can even be done on the first visit. About 70% of patients will have immediate relief following the Cortisone shot, and then tend to have a great deal of success.
5. Night Splints-Night Splints are a device that hold your foot and ankle at 90 degrees. Occasionally, you may want to see a podiatrist to see if they are covered by insurance. If the Night Splints are not covered by your insurance for Plantar Fasciitis, fear not they can be purchased for no more then thirty bucks off the internet. The night splint has also a high success ratio but before ordering one you must ask yourself if you will be able to sleep with one on. Remeber you wear the night splint at night to hold your foot at 90 degrees in order to relax the plantar fascial ligament. Here are some Night Splints you can purchase here:
4. Low Dye Taping-A Low Dye taping is a taping that can be applied by a Podiatrist or a Physical Therapist. It is simply a taping along the foot which helps biomechanically control the pain. While it is not a long term solution, what with it being just tape around your foot, it is a non invasive way of giving the Heel Pain sufferer immediate relief.
3. Orthotics-Generally Plantar fasciitis is caused by a biomechanical abnormality. This abnormality can be corrected generally with an orthotic device. There are several types of orthotic devices available to the patient. One is simple over the counter orthotics such as the ones listed below for sale. These generally retail between 10-40 dollars with a fairly good success rate and should be tried first. If the OTC orthotics are unsuccessful relieving the heel pain, then a custom orthotic would be the way to proceed. To obtain a custom orthotic, one would have to visit a Podiatrist in order to have their foot undergo a gait scan or get casted in order to develop the orthotic. The downside of these orthotics is they can cost upwards of 300-500 hundred dollars. Remember a quality custom orthotic can be worn for the next ten years, and sometimes they are covered by insurance. Here are some examples of Over the Counter Orthotics.
2. Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatories-Yep your grandma was correct. Sometimes all it takes is some over the counter Motrin. Now the key to the NSAID working for Plantar Fascitis or the heel pain is that you have to take the NSAID such as Motrin or Advil regularly to help the heel pain. Yes, you can use simple over the counter NSAIDs and take them regularly for a week or get a prescription from your doctor. Here are some that are available:
1. Stretching-The essential problem with plantar fasciitis is that the plantar fascial ligament is tight. The best way to treat a tight ligament is to stretch it out at home. These stretching exercises are simple and they are free.
