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.

It has been established through research that planter fascitis has the highest incidence among athletes. As they compete or exercise, athletes subject the plantar fascia to undue strain. The plantar fascia is a sheet of tissue extending from the toes to the heel. It is designed to stabilize the foot. When subjected to excessive strain, the fascia becomes inflamed and this causes excessive pain and limits functionality. The same may also occur if when you wear improper shoes.

The early stages of the condition are treated mainly by conservative therapies. As the symptoms set in, adequate rest is very helpful. Ensure that you desist from engaging in activities that are likely to aggravate your condition. This allows the planter fascia to heal in the areas that have been affected by inflammatory changes. Concrete surfaces are known to be especially harmful and should be avoided.

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.

The most commonly used drugs belong to the NSAID group. These are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Aspirin, naproxen, diclofenac and ibuprofen are all examples of drugs that belong to this group. You need to remember that these drugs will only provide short term relief and the symptoms will recur after a short period of time. Remember that they may lead to some serious side effects such as renal failure and peptic ulcer disease.

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.

Physical exercise when done on a regular basis plays a major role as well. Affected persons should set aside some time every morning where they can practice some routines such as toe stretching and calf starching. This helps to increase ligament flexibility and foot arch stability.

If they fail to get relief from conservative heel pain treatment San Francisco patients may consider the available surgical options. It is important to make it clear that there is variability in response rates among different persons. Some people show some good progress in a few weeks while others take a little longer.




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