For heel pain that has progressed from a nagging annoyance into a chronic, daily issue, there are treatment options to help. Many people assume that once a condition becomes chronic, there isn’t much that can be done to help alleviate the pain. This is not so. A common cause of chronic heel pain is plantar fasciitis. Our podiatrists, Dr. Anthony Benenati, Dr. Neil Shaw, and Dr. Mckenna Green of Podiatrists At Benenati Foot and Ankle Center often treat plantar fasciitis in St. Clair Shores, Warren, & Macomb, MI.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is degeneration or inflammation of the thick band of connective tissue that runs along the sole from the heel to the forefoot. This thick band of connective tissue is called the plantar fascia and works to support the arch of the foot and acts as a shock absorber when walking.

You certainly do not need to be an athlete to experience plantar fasciitis. Many people suffer from heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis that is not involved in sports. Some common causes of plantar fasciitis can be:

  • Rapid weight gain places an extra load on the foot without giving it the time it needs to adapt to this extra force
  • Pregnancy
  • Long-distance running
  • Mechanical problems of the feet such as flat feet or high arches
  • Frequent jumping leads to repeated high-impact stress on the foot
  • Standing for long periods, particularly on hard surfaces and without proper, supportive footwear
  • Exercising without adequately stretching the calf muscles

What are some treatment options?

There are many treatment options that may be recommended by your podiatrist regarding chronic heel pain as a result of plantar fasciitis in St. Clair Shores, Warren, & Macomb, MI. There is most likely an inflammatory component to chronic heel pain and for this reason, over-the-counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) will almost certainly be recommended. Some additional treatment strategies that may be recommended are:

  • Physical therapy is a hallmark treatment for treating and managing pain from plantar fasciitis by teaching specific and targeted stretching and strengthening exercises of the foot and calf. PT may also include pain and inflammation-reducing modalities such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation.
  • Taping  of the foot
  • Corticosteroid injections
  • Custom orthotics for your shoes and wearing more supportive footwear
  • Wearing night splints that keep the calf muscles in a stretched position throughout the night

Rarely, if the above conservative measures are attempted and fail to adequately relieve the pain, surgical intervention may be indicated to release the plantar fascia or lengthen the calf muscle.

Contact us

Don’t accept that you must live with this pain. Treat your plantar fasciitis pain in St. Clair Shores, Warren, & Macomb, MI. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Benenati, Dr. Shaw, or Dr. Green of Podiatrists At Benenati Foot and Ankle Center by calling our St. Cair Shores location at (586) 779-6140, our Warren office at (586) 756-3338, or our Macomb location at (586) 416-3668.