Options For Heel Pain Treatment San Francisco Residents May Wish To Know

By Serena Price


Heel pain is synonymous with planter fascitis. This pain characteristically starts in the morning when one wakes up and abates as the day progresses. It is known to cause a significant impairment of functionality. There are several options for heel pain treatment San Francisco residents may explore if they have been diagnosed with the condition. The main objective of these treatment modalities is to relieve the pain and to help restore normal function.

The prevalence of planter fascitis has been shown to be very high among professional athletes. In the course of their activities, the athletes tend to strain the planter fascia. The planter fascia is a sheet of thin muscle that stretches between the heel and the toe. Its function is to provide stability to the foot. When stretched excessively, it undergoes inflammatory changes and this is what causes the extreme pain that is experienced. The wearing of improper shoes is another predisposing factor.

It is important to intervene as soon as you notice symptoms that are suggestive of planter fascitis. Taking adequate rest is one of the measures that can be undertaken in the early stages of the disease. You should avoid any strenuous physical activities that may aggravate the pain. This will help in the healing of the fascia. At the same time, avoid walking on concrete surfaces as this may worsen the condition.

As many as 9 patients out of 10 that are affected respond to conservative therapies. Most of them actually heal completely within a year. The only condition that has to be fulfilled is adherence to the prescribed therapy. There may or may not be a need to combine several therapies. This is determined by the effectiveness of the individual therapies and the severity of the condition.

Drugs belonging to the group of NSAIDS are the most commonly used for relief. Some of the drugs classified under this group include aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen. It should be emphasized that these drugs only provide short term relief and the symptoms tend to recur. Drugs belonging to the NSAID group are known to cause some serious side effects such as peptic ulcer disease and should be used sparingly.

If you are using shoes that are smaller than your size and are causing discomfort then this is another area that you may need to consider. Ensure that you go for shoes that are good at shock absorption and support your arches well. In some cases, there may be a need to add orthotics to cushion the pressure points. The specialized shoes should be chosen for both feet.

When done on a regular basis, physical exercise is very helpful. Some of the routines that can be practised include calf and toe stretches and towel stretching. The best time for such routines is early in the morning. The exercises help in increasing ligament flexibility and improve arch support.

If they do not show improvement with conservative heel pain treatment San Francisco residents may need to start considering the surgical options available. For any form of treatment chosen, it should be remembered that success rates are widely variable. Some people respond almost immediately while others take a much longer period of time.




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