Plantar Fasciitis – Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis

Scans and Other Imaging Methods

Doctors usually start with your medical history and a foot exam when you come in with heel pain and inflammation. They’ll press along the bottom of your foot, looking for those sensitive spots that scream plantar fasciitis.

They don’t often order imaging like X-rays or MRIs, but sometimes they use them to rule out other things—maybe a stress fracture or Achilles tendon trouble.

Sometimes, an X-ray shows a heel spur. These spurs pop up a lot in folks with flat feet, high arches, or extra weight, but honestly, not everyone with a spur feels pain or stiffness.

Key facts:

• Imaging mainly helps doctors rule out other problems.
• Bone spurs aren’t always the culprit behind your symptoms.
• Heel pain shows up more often in people who stand or run for work.

Other Diagnostic Clues

Plantar fasciitis pain usually flares up when you take your first steps in the morning or after sitting a while. That “first-step pain” is a big red flag.

Your provider might also ask you to flex your foot or press your toes upward to see if that makes the pain worse.

They might check your walking pattern, shoe wear, or how flexible your foot and ankle joints are. These things all help spot issues that could be making your plantar fascia more irritated.

If your pain’s been around a long time or hasn’t improved with rest and home care, your provider may dig deeper with other tests or refer you to a specialist.

Options for Care

Medications for Relief

You can grab over-the-counter pain meds to take the edge off plantar fasciitis pain and swelling. People usually reach for ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. These NSAIDs work for short-term relief.

They don’t fix the problem, but they do make stretching and daily stuff a bit easier. Don’t keep taking them for weeks without checking with your doctor, though.

Supportive Therapies and Devices

A physical therapist can really help you get back on your feet. Physical therapy focuses on stretching the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon, plus building up the lower leg muscles.

Therapists often show you taping tricks to support your foot. Night splints—those awkward braces you wear to bed—keep your foot and Achilles stretched overnight. A lot of people find they wake up with less pain.

Custom or store-bought orthotics slip into your shoes to help spread your weight out more evenly. Sometimes, just popping in a heel cushion or a shock absorber does the trick.

If pain gets bad, your provider might suggest a walking boot, cane, or crutches for a short stretch to take the pressure off.

Here’s a quick look at supportive devices:

Device Type	Purpose
Night Splint	Stretches foot overnight
Orthotic (Arch Support)	Supports and relieves arch
Heel Cushion	Adds padding to heel
Walking Boot	Restricts movement
Cane/Crutches	Limits weight on affected foot

Procedures and Advanced Treatments

If months go by and nothing’s working, you might need to try something more. Doctors sometimes use steroid injections right into the sore spot for quick relief, but too many can weaken the fascia, so they’re careful.

Another option is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. They draw your blood, spin out the good healing cells, and inject them where it hurts. Some doctors use ultrasound to make sure they hit the right spot.

Shock wave therapy uses sound waves on your heel to try and jumpstart healing. It’s called extracorporeal shock wave therapy—some folks swear by it, others not so much.

Ultrasonic tissue repair is a newer, less invasive method. A tiny probe, guided by ultrasound, breaks up and removes damaged tissue from the fascia. Surgery is a last resort.

Doctors only suggest it for people with stubborn pain that just won’t quit. They might cut the fascia from the heel bone, either through a small incision or open surgery, sometimes while you’re awake.

Providers choose treatments based on what works best for each person and how bad the symptoms are.

Everyday Tips and Self-Care for Plantar Fasciitis

You can do a lot at home to manage plantar fasciitis. Keeping a healthy weight helps take pressure off your feet.

Proper Footwear Matters

• Go for shoes with solid arch support, tough soles, and extra padding.
• Skip the flats and don’t walk barefoot.
• Swap out old shoes before they’re totally worn down.

Helpful Activities and Rest

• Try low-impact sports like swimming or cycling if walking or running hurts.
• Give your feet breaks and avoid stuff that makes the pain worse.

Pain Relief and Stretching Exercises

• Ice your heel for 15 minutes a few times a day to calm pain and swelling.
• Rolling a frozen water bottle under your foot can feel surprisingly good.
• Stretch your arches, Achilles tendon, and calves every day to help healing along.

These small changes can make a big difference and help you bounce back.

Getting Ready for Your Visit

Steps You Can Take Beforehand

Getting ready for your appointment with a foot specialist can make things smoother. Jot down all your symptoms, when they started, and anything that might have triggered the pain.

Include your medical history, family health details, and what you do day to day—sometimes the little stuff matters. Make a list of all your meds, vitamins, and supplements, with doses.

Think about questions you want to ask. Some good ones:

• What’s causing this pain?
• Do I need any tests?
• Is this going to stick around for a while?
• What treatments actually work?
• Are there other options?
• Anything I should avoid?
• Got any good brochures or websites, like Healthnile or healthnile.com?

Bringing this info helps you get the most out of your visit.

Topics The Specialist Will Likely Cover

Your foot doctor will ask some questions to get the full picture.

Here are a few examples:

Question Type	Example
Symptom details	When does the foot hurt most?
Footwear habits	What shoes do you usually wear?
Physical activity	Do you participate in running or sports?
Work demands	Is your job physically demanding?
Other symptoms	Do you have pain anywhere else?
Symptom triggers	What makes it worse or better?

They might also ask about past foot issues and talk through ways to ease the pain. Being ready for these questions can help you get the answers you need.