Sam’s plantar fasciitis caused him so much pain that he needed airport personnel to drive him to his gate before departure. The pain first started one morning as he rose out of bed to go take a shower. Just stepping down on his foot from the bed caused shooting pain under the sole of his foot and he fell back down into his bed.
Whenever his wife would press down on his heel to try to soothe it, he would cry out in pain. The pain would worsen if he tried to walk on the balls of his feet, and he noticed pain from even standing. Any activities that made him bear weight on his foot were problematic.
It’s a medical fact that between 50 to 70% of those with plantar fascitis, also spelled plantar fasciitis, have heel spurs.
The Pain of Plantar Fasciitis
The pain of plantar fasciitis can begin when the arch of the foot starts to collapse. No one really understands why arches of the foot collapse and there are only theories about the matter, nothing confirmed by the research.
Why People Get Plantar Fascitis
It’s the two longitudinal arches in the foot are usually the arches that are involved in this collapse, not the metatarsal arch. Once the arch starts to collapse, the tendons and ligaments in the bottom of the foot now have the responsibility of absorbing the compression pressure from walking. These tendons and ligaments extend from the heel bone all the way to the ball of the foot. That’s why flat feet predispose people to the development of plantar fasciitis and pain in the sole of the foot.
But flat feet aren’t the only reason why people get this condition. If you participate in activities with a lot of running or jumping, you’re prone to develop it.
Orthotic Arch Supports Required For Plantar Fascitis
And if you have flat feet, that’s probably the best place to start for treatment. Get some orthotic arch supports! The orthotic arch insoles will correct the flat foot positioning of your feet and give the ligaments and tendons on the bottom of your feet some relief. Orthotic arch supports from The Insole Store.com can be customized to your needs. And they do make your feet feel different! You’ll notice less fatigue at the end of the day and may even find yourself standing up straighter easily without telling yourself to straighten up.
Orthotic arch supports may sometimes have a metatarsal pad implanted in them as well. In this case, the added support to your metatarsal arch can make a big difference in those who have additional foot problems such as bunions, hammer toes, corns, and blisters, or those with a fallen metatarsal arch.
Superfeet Premium Insoles May Be Your Solution
Orthotic arch supports aren’t the only thing to start with for this condition. You may also consider insoles, such as the Superfeet Premium Insoles. Offering the highest level of cushioning for the entire foot, the Superfeet Insoles are called Premium because they have a patented stabilizer heel cup that can cradle the heel and assist with alignment of the bones of the foot.
Superfeet Blue Premium Insoles are made for those with low to medium arches, including those with flat feet (Consider the Superfeet Green Insolesfor High Arched Feet). You can wear them in everything
from athletic to fancy dress shoes. If your shoes are a little tight, Superfeet Blue Premium Insoles will still work. But let’s diverge for a moment – why would you still be wearing tight shoes if you have plantar fascitis? Tight shoes will only worsen the condition.
The superfeet blue premium insoles are full length but can be trimmed. And these insoles have a way of dealing with foot odor by treating them with Algion which reduces bacteria, so expect fresher smelling feet after wearing them.
When Seeking Relief From Plantar Fascitis, Don’t Do This
The treatment for plantar fascitis is the same as that for heel spurs. You’ll want to decrease the inflammation that is occurring in the foot – and not with modern day painkillers or cortisone injections unless absolutely necessary. That’s because as you know, many painkillers can become addictive and have serious side effects. Cortisone injections in the foot can actually worsen your plantar fasciitis because they erode away the fat pads in your feet that are there to cushion your feet. Not good! Check out the Best Plantar Fasciitis Insoles Today.
The cortisone injections are also known for their connection with actual rupture of the tendons and ligaments and fascia, so who wants more pain and suffering? Since the inflammation doesn’t go away overnight and your healing could take up to one full year, you’re better off looking for answers from the alternative healing professions. Some of these answers include herbs known for their anti-inflammatory effects, such as ginger, cat’s claw and turmeric.
Get More Relief From These Plantar Fasciitis Recommendations
Icing down the involved foot always can be expected to provide some relief. This idea may literally send shivers down your spine before you get near the ice, and if so, it just means that you have a prior association of ice with coldness that wasn’t too pleasant. By immersing your foot into a cold water bath, then adding some ice, you will find the results pleasant and feel less pain. Don’t let a prior association of ice with unpleasantness keep you from experiencing plantar fasciitis relief. The ice baths work!
Some podiatrists even use night splints so that your foot won’t cramp up and increase the amount of pain you feel when your eyes first open in the morning.
One medical treatment called ESWT or Extracorporeal shock wave therapy sends energy impulses right directly into the area of the heel or fasciitis, causing a healing reaction to occur. It’s a method used when all other treatments fail, but guess what the instructions are for recovery. They are to use orthotic arch supports or insoles such as Superfeet Blue Premium insoles to prevent the condition from occurring again. Kind of makes you think about the effectiveness, doesn’t it? (You’ll still need the arch supports or insoles no matter what.)
For more suggestions on treatment, see the article on heel spurs.
When you have plantar fascitis, give yourself a minimum of three months for healing. Many people – over 90% of those with the condition – are healed within 12 months. Again, for the Best Orthotic Arch Supports for Plantar Faciistis, check out The Insole Store.com Today!
By Dr. Donna Schwontkowski (ret. D.C.)