I have to say that exercise for me helps with my mental health and overall wellbeing. I typically workout 6/7 days a week and enjoy running, biking, rucking and walking the dog. It is a great stress relief and helps me clear my head after a day of work. I am sure many of you can relate and as the weather clears more of us are getting back into an exercise routine.
That being said, I always see a spike in heel pain patients this time of year. It makes sense with the weather drying up and everyone wanted to get outside and ready for summer. Heel pain can really sideline you as you return to activities. It can come on suddenly and stick around for months. As a side note, the earlier you get treatment the faster you can recover. It is usually caused by inflammation of your plantar fascia.
The plantar fascia is the main support network of the foot. It is a soft tissue structure that runs from your heel to your toes. It has the function of controlling the foot and helping with propulsion. It can get worn out with time or tired from increased loads. It is by far the most common condition I treat.
Some patients wait quite a while before coming in and these cases are often what I call “stubborn heel pain” or “chronic fasiitis”. This is because the inflammation has now become chronic, and the body has given up on trying to fix it and now coexists with this pathology. These cases are harder to treat and usually require more extensive care. I think it is important to understand that once it becomes chronic, part of the treatment usually requires a reactivation of the body’s ability to recognize this condition. You must take the chronic state of inflammation and turn it back to an acute state.
I really enjoy helping my patients get their life back and their feet pain free. If you would like a consultation for your heel pain I can help. Call to make an appointment with me at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online.
Sincerely,
American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons
Issaquah’s Top Podiatrist
