Heel Pain is very common in people, and everyone experiences it at some point. One of the major causes of heel pain is Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is when the tissue connecting the heel bone to our toes gets inflamed and causes enormous pain.

The pain of Plantar fasciitis is different from normal heel pain. It occurs during the early morning hours when someone takes their first steps. Prolonged standing or walking long distances can trigger this pain.

Plantar fasciitis is common, but scientists have not determined the exact reason. There is a conception that this disease generally occurs in people who are into running or are overweight.

Although it cannot cause many complications, plantar fasciitis management is very important. Otherwise, it can become chronic heel pain that can hinder your daily activities.

Conventional Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis Pain

Below are some of the conventional treatments for plantar fasciitis:

• Rest and Ice Therapy

Taking a break from your hectic daily routine and resting for one week can cause relief from pain. Also, during this time, you can apply ice therapy on that area to manage inflammation. You can use ice therapy twice a day for around 15 mins.

• Stretching and Strengthening Exercises

Following particular stretching exercises can release the built-up stress in the heel area and provide comfort. Performing strengthening exercises on your foot and calf muscle is also important as it helps prevent further deterioration of plantar fasciitis.

• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

You can use over-the-counter NSAIDS like aspirin and ibuprofen to manage extreme pain and inflammation. However, resist taking those medications regularly and don’t take them for more than 10 days without consulting a doctor, as it can have side effects.

•  Corticosteroid Injections

These are basically anti-inflammation injections. If you are going through extreme pain, your doctor may directly inject this medicine into your heel area to provide instant relief.

Advanced treatment for plantar fasciitis pain

Some advanced treatment options are:

• Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)

Shockwave therapy is an effective option for plantar fasciitis treatment. It helps to strengthen that area and reinforces the foot arch by providing shocks. It basically acts like a bowstring that tightens your muscles when you walk.

• Radiofrequency Microtenotomy

Microtenotomy, when done using radiofrequency, can be used to treat chronic plantar fasciitis. It is a minimally invasive procedure that fixes the heel area and causes a reduction in pain. However, it is a relatively new technique, and research is going on to prove its effectiveness.

• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

PRP is an alternative treatment plan that includes giving injections in your heel area. This injection contains your platelets, increasing the natural recovery and regeneration. As a result, it is an effective treatment plan for various tissue and muscle injuries.

• Topical Analgesics

Topical analgesics are medicines directly rubbed or applied to the injured area. It is an effective plantar fasciitis treatment option as it provides quick relief and compresses the pain better.

• Surgery

Surgery for plantar fasciitis treatment includes detaching the Fascia ligament from your heel bone. It reduces the tension in that area and relieves pain.

It is usually the last line of treatment and includes either open or endoscopic surgery. This surgery has around a 70-90 % success rate.

Comparative analysis for advanced treatments

You can use advanced treatment options if conventional techniques are ineffective. However, there are many treatment options, and you should perform a comparison between all the options before finalising one. Some parameters of comparison are:

• Effectiveness

Most of the advanced treatments for plantar fasciitis are highly effective. However, techniques like radiofrequency microtenotomy are new, and there is no solid evidence to prove their effectiveness yet.

On the other hand, surgery is an old and guaranteed method of treating plantar fasciitis. However, surgery has a longer process and recovery time than radiofrequency microtenotomy or PRP therapy.

• Cost

The cost of treatment varies highly. If you go for options like topical analgesics, it is very cheap and convenient. You can avail of them easily from any medical store in your locality.

Treatments like radiofrequency microtenotomy and PPR are mid-priced, and many people can easily afford them.

However, if you go for surgery, it will be costly, including hospitalisation for several days. The post-surgery cost also needs to be thought of as it will also be very high. Regular medical follow-up and medications will be necessary after surgery.

• Safety

Almost all the methods of plantar fasciitis treatment are quite safe.  However, some methods can have a few side effects.

For instance, radiofrequency therapy may cause mild swelling and redness in that area. PRP therapy can cause mild pain at the injection site, and special care must be taken as there can be an infection.

Most people fear surgery, thinking that it is not safe. But recent advancements have increased the success rate of surgery to a very high percentage.

The only thing to care about is the post-surgery period, where you must take utmost care. If you are afraid of side effects, you can opt for topical analgesics, which have almost no side effects.

Factors to Consider While choosing Advanced Treatments

Choosing an advanced treatment means investing a lot of time and resources. So, here are some factors you might think about when choosing a form of treatment:

• The severity of Plantar Fasciitis Pain

The pain of plantar fasciitis starts as a small throbbing pain and continues to worsen in the future. If your pain is still in the early stages, you can opt for topical analgesics, which can be easily bought and requires no medical supervision.

For moderate levels of pain, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy might be a good idea, given their effectiveness. If your pain has become unbearable and you cannot perform daily activities like walking, the doctor might prescribe you to go for surgery.

• Patient Preferences

Different treatment options can be effective for different people. For example, doctors may warn against surgery for young people or people with high diabetes, as surgery can cause infection in them.

Similarly, immunocompromised patients are told to have plasma therapy. Some patients also have preferences, and you must sit and discuss with your doctor which treatment best suits you.

• Availability and Accessibility

It is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a treatment. Finding PRP therapy or ESWT may be tough if you live in semi-urban areas, as only a handful of institutions provide that service. In that case, you can go for surgical treatment available almost everywhere.

Conclusion

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause and accounts for about 11-15% of all heel and foot problems. However, plantar fasciitis management is very effective, and under the right guidance, you can completely recover from it.

Selecting the right treatment option from options like PRP and surgery is essential. Research is also going on, and more advanced forms of treatment are coming up that take less time for treatment and have negligible risk.

The post Advanced Treatments for Effective Management of Plantar Fasciitis Pain appeared first on RegenOrthoSport - Orthopedic Specialist Dr. Venkatesh Movva, Dallas & Ft. Worth, Texas | Regenexx Texas.

The post Advanced Treatments for Effective Management of Plantar Fasciitis Pain appeared first on RegenOrthoSport - Orthopedic Specialist Dr. Venkatesh Movva, Dallas & Ft. Worth, Texas | Regenexx Texas.