If you are in the Lexington area and one of the many individuals who is plagued with foot pain and the reoccurring question of “Why do my feet hurt when I wake up?” consulting Crown Foot & Ankle Center, a podiatry practice in Lexington, Kentucky, should be your next step. When faced with the pain of plantar fasciitis, learning about what this injury is and how the pain from the injury can be treated is the best thing you can do.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
If you wake up in the morning and the first step you take sends a jolt of pain that travels from the sole of your foot into your heel that seems to stay present until your muscles have warmed up, plantar fasciitis may be the cause. Plantar fasciitis is an overuse injury. The Mayo Clinic has defined plantar fasciitis as one of the most common causes of heel pain involving pain and inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the band of fibrous tissue that connects your heel bone to the rest of your foot.
When strain is put on the plantar fascia, rather it be from a specific sport-related injury, weight gain, flat feet, or high arches, the tissue becomes damaged. Because the plantar fascia tissue shortens when you are sleeping, when you reapply pressure on the already weakened tissue that has been contracted for a long period of time during sleep, it’s like you freshly strain the muscle every time you take your first steps in the morning. Though this stabbing pain is usually triggered by the first steps after sleeping, some suffers also experience this pain after sitting or standing in the same position for long periods of time.
Treatment Options
There is a wide range of non-surgical treatment options for plantar fasciitis. Stretching, avoiding going barefoot, limited activity, shoe modification, and over the counter medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, can all help alleviate the pain of plantar fasciitis. By resting the plantar fascia as much as possible, the injury can heal properly and quickly. Unfortunately, plantar fasciitis is a hard injury to heal because total immobilization of your foot for the duration of the healing process is a hindrance, and every time the tissue is re-strained the process starts over.
Many people with plantar fasciitis will need to be seen by a podiatrist or surgeon because at-home treatments, though helpful, are less likely to solve the whole issue around the injury. The best treatment for plantar fasciitis usually comes from a mixture of at-home, non-surgical treatments combined with the professional treatments that Crown Foot & Ankle Center specializes in. When it comes to plantar fasciitis pain we can help you take the next step in your recovery with treatments that include padding and strapping, custom orthotics, injection therapy, night splints, and physical therapy.
If you are tired of foot pain when you wake up in the morning contact Crown Foot & Ankle Center at (859)-317-9019 today and we’ll begin your journey to a pain free life.
