If you have noticed that you have a sharp, stabbing pain in your foot when you first awaken, you may have plantar fasciitis. If you’re in the Rancho Santa Margarita and Newport Beach area and you believe you may have this condition, we offer plantar fasciitis treatment.
What Puts Someone at Risk for Plantar Fasciitis?
Age, obesity, and the type of work you do can all increase your likelihood of having plantar fasciitis. In addition, hobbies such as dancing or long-distance running can also put extra stress on this band. If you have high arches in your foot or are flat-footed, this affects the way you walk and can lead to plantar fasciitis.
Diagnosis
Doctors will not normally order any type of imaging to diagnose plantar fasciitis. Diagnosis is typically based on symptoms and the location of your pain. However, your physician may want an x-ray done just to rule out other causes of pain. Untreated plantar fasciitis can lead to bone spurs, which will show up on an x-ray. In general, though, unless used to rule out other causes, you should not need an x-ray for a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis.
Complications
Some incidences of plantar fasciitis may go away on their own without intervention, but if the inflammation doesn’t subside, it can cause more debilitating pain. You will naturally walk differently in an attempt to alleviate the pain, which can lead to knee, back, and hip problems in the future. This is when you would want a specialist to go over plantar fasciitis treatments in Newport Beach.
At-Home Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
Doctors generally recommend a conservative approach to treating plantar fasciitis. This means taking over-the-counter pain and inflammation relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
You can also apply ice to the inflamed area and rest the foot to alleviate the pain. There are also stretches that you can do at home. One common and very effective exercise is to roll a cold can of frozen juice under your foot. The rolling motion stretches and strengthens the plantar fascia, while the coldness of the can alleviates the pain.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment at Foot & Ankle Specialty Group
If you’ve been noticing stabbing fain in your foot, it’s a good idea to see your podiatrist. Caught in time, pain from plantar fasciitis can be greatly improved. Foot & Ankle Specialty Group was founded in 2001 by Dr. Salma Aziz, who has built her reputation on time-tested practices. She spends plenty of time with her patients in order to develop the ideal treatment plan for their unique needs, and has become a staple in the Rancho Santa Margarita and Newport Beach community. Now with the additions of Dr. Petrina Yokay and Dr. Jessica Arneson and the specialties they bring to the team, we have even more to offer our patients.