An individual who has been coping with foot pain may finally decide it’s time to make an appointment with a podiatrist. One common type of foot discomfort involves pain on the bottom of the heel that tends to be worse when the person stands and walks after sitting or lying down for several hours. A podiatrist at a clinic such as First Coast Foot and Ankle Clinic may diagnose this common type of discomfort as caused by plantar fasciitis in Jacksonville FL. When a person has this condition, the connective tissue that runs from the heel bone to the front of the foot has become inflamed. Nevertheless, usually, only the heel feels painful, although some people do experience pain in their foot arch when they have plantar fasciitis. The tissue, medically known as the plantar fascia, attempts to heal the inflammation when the person is at rest. When he stands and walks, discomfort and pain ensue once again.
A person experiencing this type of foot pain may be surprised when his podiatrist recommends exercises that strengthen the calf of the affected leg. The exercises not only stretch and strengthen the calf, however, but also the bottom of the foot. For immediate reduction of pain, the podiatrist generally recommends taking an anti-inflammatory over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen. Prescription pain medication should not be necessary.
The foot doctor will also provide recommendations for proper shoes that help the connective tissue heal and prevent inflammation in the future. Sturdy shoes with good support are best for resolving and preventing foot pain. In fact, women who wear high heels regularly are very susceptible to developing plantar fasciitis because the foot is kept in a stressed position. Wearing old, worn-out shoes of any sort regularly also can be a factor in the development of plantar fasciitis in Jacksonville FL, especially if the person is doing activities such as taking long walks, jogging, or dancing in those shoes.
It’s important for a person experiencing this kind of foot pain to make the effort to resolve the inflammation and to follow his podiatrist’s instructions. Plantar fasciitis in Jacksonville FL can become a chronic condition with ongoing tissue damage and degeneration, especially if the patient participates often in activities that involve bouncing on the feet, such as jogging or jumping rope, and continues to wear shoes that are hard on the feet.
