Friday, February 14, 2014

Options For Heel Pain Treatment San Francisco Residents May Wish To Know

By Serena Price


Planter fascitis is one of the commonest causes of heel pain worldwide. If not properly controlled, the pain causes significant impairment of function and marked discomfort. There are a number of modes of heel pain treatment San Francisco residents may wish to consider if suffering from the condition. To benefit from the available benefits, there is need to understand the condition first. The therapies are aimed at relieving the pain and consequently restoring normal function.

The prevalence of planter fascitis has been shown to be very high among professional athletes. In the course of their activities, the athletes tend to strain the planter fascia. The planter fascia is a sheet of thin muscle that stretches between the heel and the toe. Its function is to provide stability to the foot. When stretched excessively, it undergoes inflammatory changes and this is what causes the extreme pain that is experienced. The wearing of improper shoes is another predisposing factor.

As the symptoms set in, there are a number of things that can be undertaken. Taking of adequate rest is one of the things that should be done as soon as the condition is diagnosed. Take a break from strenuous physical activities that are likely to stretch the planter fascia. This will give time to the inflamed fascia to heal. Walking on concrete surfaces also tends to aggravate the injury and should be avoided.

It has been shown that 9 in 10 affected persons respond positively to conservative therapies. This is as long as there is adherence to the prescribed therapy. A majority of these respond within one year. On many occasions, several modalities of management are combined in an attempt to better on the outcomes. The decision is determined by the severity of the condition and the effectiveness of individual therapies.

Symptomatic relief can be achieved by use of a number of drug types. NSAIDS or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a common choice. Some drugs that are found in this group include naproxen, diclofenac, aspirin and ibuprofen and naproxen. Unfortunately, these drugs only work for short periods of time and the symptoms will keep recurring. Side effects that may occur include peptic ulcer disease and renal failure.

Putting on improperly designed shoes or those that are non-fitting is a common predisposing factor. If the shoes are causing discomfort, then they need to be replaced. Ideal shoes are those that have shock absorption and arch support mechanism. To achieve better cushioning, orthotics may have to be added. Cushioning helps to reduce the strain that is exerted to the planter fascia and minimizes injury.

Physical exercise plays a very important role in management. There are a number of exercises that have been shown to be helpful in providing symptomatic relief. They include among others, calf stretching, toe stretching and towel stretches. These should preferably be done every morning on a regular basis.

If they do not show improvement with conservative heel pain treatment San Francisco residents may need to start considering the surgical options available. For any form of treatment chosen, it should be remembered that success rates are widely variable. Some people respond almost immediately while others take a much longer period of time.




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