Plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of heel pain, occurs when the plantar fascia — the fibrous band of tissue that runs from your heel to your toes, connects your foot bones, and creates your arch — becomes inflamed.
Plantar fasciitis is an overuse injury, in which the tissue becomes stretched more than its normal tolerance and swells, making it painful to walk. You usually develop it in one foot at a time, but you can have it in both feet.
At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our board-certified podiatrists diagnose and treat plantar fasciitis at our many offices in and around Chicago, Illinois. If you’re experiencing heel pain, especially when you first get out of bed, seek medical attention. But is plantar fasciitis reversible? Our experts weigh in here.
Plantar fasciitis can develop from anything that stresses the fascia, including:
Other causes are having extremely high arches or flat feet, or carrying more weight than is healthy for your height.
The most characteristic symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain in your heel where the fascia attaches to the bone. Other symptoms include:
The pain may change based on what you’re doing or the time of day. You may feel it when you first get out of bed in the morning or when you get up after sitting for a while, but it usually goes away after a few minutes of walking.
You may feel a dull, constant ache or a sharp, stabbing pain when you put pressure on your heel. Exercising can temporarily relieve the pain, but it usually returns as soon as you stop.
Some common treatments for plantar fasciitis include:
The good news is that with rest and proper arch and heel support, plantar fasciitis is reversible. You just need to give it the time to heal and provide the support to distribute your weight more evenly across the tissue to avoid overuse injuries.
If you plan on ramping up your distance or time running, do so in small increments. Doing too much too fast can lead to a recurrence of the problem.
Are you struggling with heel pain and need help? Call any of our locations (Mount Greenwood and Portage Park areas of Chicago, as well as Orland Park, Bartlett, Niles, and New Lenox, Illinois) to schedule a consultation, or book your appointment online today.
