Plantar Fasciitis: Part 4

Treatment

In almost all individuals, the treatment of plantar fasciitis begins with conservative care. Besides pain control, one may require physical therapy, splints, and proper shoe wear. In the majority of cases, this leads to healing of the disorder in just a few months. There are no magical treatments for plantar fasciitis and most treatments offered on cyberspace are nothing more than a scam.

Drugs

Most people do find relief in pain with use of NSAIDs. These drugs do not cure the condition but do help resolve pain. There are many types of NSAIDS and they all work similarly.

Corticosteroids are also used to treat plantar fasciitis. These potent drugs are used in two ways. Some physicians inject corticosteroids and others use a technique of iontophoresis to help the drug enter skin. Iontophoresis uses low electrical current to help the corticosteroid migrate into the deeper tissues. Corticosteroids do help inflammation and pain but do not work immediately. Further, corticosteroids should not be used more than 2-3 times a year, as they are associated with their own complications. Corticosteroids can soften bone and can even rupture the plantar fascia. At least 30% of individuals fail to respond to corticosteroids. Some physicians use ultrasound to help guide placement of corticosteroids into the heel. Use of ultrasound is not always necessary and adds up cost of the procedure

Additional treatments

Physical therapy can be very helpful for treatment of plantar fasciitis. The therapy can help one increase muscle strength, heal fascial tears, and even stabilize the ankle joint. One can also learn ways to prevent plantar fasciitis with proper footwear and exercise.

Night splints are recommended for individuals who have severe pain at night. Splints can help support the calf and foot. This leads to decreased mobility of the foot, and hence pain is less.

Orthotics is basically getting newer custom shoes or shoe supports for your foot. The field of orthotics has gone way beyond helping people with foot problems. Many of these devices or shoes are exorbitantly expensive and not worth the money. One can get similar shoe support from a physical therapist or an orthopedic surgeon. Foot doctors are definitely not worth the expense. At most, one may need to get a support for the arch. These soles can be bought at any shoe store for 1/20th price instead of a foot doctor.