Waking Up On the Wrong Foot?

Podiatrist Michelle Dunbar, D.P.M.

The Ashtabula Clinic. 

Does your foot hurt somewhere between the heel and the ball of the foot, especially when you take your first steps after getting up the morning? If so, you may have plantar fasciitis.

The plantar fascia is a band of tissue, much like a tendon, that starts at your heel and goes along the bottom of your foot. It attaches to each one of the bones that form the ball of your foot. The plantar fascia works like a rubber band between the heel and the ball of your foot to form the arch of your foot. If the band is short, you'll have a high arch, and if it's long, you'll have a low arch, what some people call flatfeet. A pad of fat in your heel covers the plantar fascia to help absorb the shock of walking. Damage to the plantar fascia can be a cause of heel pain.

As a person gets older, the plantar fascia becomes less like a rubber band and more like a rope that doesn't stretch very well. The fat pad on the heel becomes thinner and can't absorb as much of the shock caused by walking. The extra shock damages the plantar fascia and may cause it to swell, tear or bruise. You may notice a bruise or swelling on your heel.

Other risk factors for plantar fasciitis include:

·                                                         Overweight and obesity

·                                                         Diabetes

·                                                         Spending most of the day on your feet

·                                                         Becoming very active in a short period of time

·                                                         Being flat-footed or having a high arch

Most people with plantar fasciitis say the pain feels like a knife or a pin sticking into the bottom of the foot. After you've been standing for a while, the pain becomes more like a dull ache. If you sit down for any length of time, the sharp pain will come back when you stand up again.

Over the counter medications such as Aspirin, acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol), naproxen (brand name: Aleve), ketoprofen (brand names: Orudis, Actron), or ibuprofen (some brand names: Advil, Motrin, Nuprin) can ease your heel pain, but talk to your doctor before you take any medicine.

If you are starting your morning off in pain, I would be happy to assess your situation and discuss your condition. Many times stretching techniques, arch supports, medicine and exercises provide fast and effective treatment. You may need to wear splints on your foot at night, tape your foot or have injections of corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory medicines) into the plantar fascia. In a few cases, surgery is needed. I look forward to determining the best treatment for you.

Dr. Dunbar earned her medical degree from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. She completed her residency at UH Medical Center, where she was honored as Podiatry Resident of the Year in 2006 and named chief resident from 2007 to 2008. Dr. Dunbar offers convenient Saturday hours for her patients. To make an appointment, simply call 440-997-6970.