Surprising Ways to Manage Plantar Fasciitis Pain

You may forget all about the heel pain from plantar fasciitis until you hop out of bed in the morning. But it’s not a big deal, since the pain usually subsides after a few minutes on your feet.

But the pain may return after your workout or it may get worse, causing sharp shooting pain whenever you put pressure on the injured heel. Plantar fasciitis is an overuse injury that can take weeks or months to heal. 

Our experienced podiatrist, Dr. Richard Hochman, knows how plantar fasciitis pain can affect daily life. Though time is the healer of this injury, you can take steps to manage pain.

In this month’s blog, we want to share with you ways to manage plantar fasciitis pain — including some that may surprise you.

Give your feet a break

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, the tight ligament on the bottom of your feet that runs from your heel to your toes. The inflammation occurs when you overwork or overstretch the ligament, like standing for long periods of time or running on hard surfaces.

Because activity contributes to the inflammation and pain, giving your feet a break gives your injury some time to heal, reducing pain. 

Rest is good for plantar fasciitis, but you don’t need to sit around for months waiting for the ligament to heal. Go about your normal routine, but modify activities that put a lot of pressure on the foot. 

For example, take sitting breaks when you need to stand for long periods of time, go for a bike ride instead of a run, and avoid walking on hard surfaces. 

Don’t go barefoot

Shoes provide support for the plantar fascia. Walking around barefoot puts extra stress on the ligament, aggravating the foot condition.

Give your feet the support they need, and wear shoes all the time, even at home. We recommend getting supportive slippers or house shoes when walking around at home.

Get more support

Not all shoes are created equal when it comes to your feet. If you’re not wearing shoes that provide enough support, it may take longer for your injury to heal. Buy shoes with good arch support to manage your plantar fasciitis pain.

You may also benefit from custom-made orthotics that perfectly fit your feet and give your feet the extra reinforcement it needs. 

Shockwave therapy

We also recommend stretching exercises and medications to help manage plantar fasciitis pain. But when conservative care fails to provide relief, we may try extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). 

ESWT is a nonsurgical, in-office treatment for plantar fasciitis that uses sound waves to break up unhealthy tissue and speed up the natural healing process. Most patients experience improvements in their plantar fasciitis symptoms quickly. 

Don’t let plantar fasciitis pain keep you from your active lifestyle. We can help you manage the pain. Call our Coral Gables, Florida, office in the greater Miami area or request an appointment online.