Plantar Fasciitis Treatment in Eugene

plantar fasciitis

Sharp, burning, or stabbing pain felt in your heel or along the bottom of the arch of your foot is very often a condition known as plantar fasciitis. Roughly two million people seek treatment for this pain each year. Unfortunately, more than 50% of people with plantar fasciitis report that it interferes with work activities. Even worse, 7/10 people experience moderate to severe pain daily from this inflammatory condition. Although an acute injury may cause plantar fasciitis, it most often results from repeated activity and pressure. Read on for everything to know about this common, painful condition, including your options for plantar fasciitis treatment.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the medical term for inflammation and/or strain of the plantar fascia. This is the long, thick band of connective tissue that runs from your heel to your toes. This strong band of tissue sustains pressure every day. However, that repeated pressure day after day can lead to small tears causing inflammation/swelling, strain, and ultimately pain. 

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis are felt in the heel or bottom of the foot, but the pain may come and go. It is often very painful in the morning as you take your first steps out of bed. It may ache when you’re climbing stairs or during or after exercising. Prolonged periods of standing or sitting can also exacerbate pain. 

Both men and women develop plantar fasciitis, making it an extraordinarily common foot problem. It can also affect people of all ages, though it’s more common in adults over the age of forty. There are also a variety of risk factors that tend to make some people more likely to develop plantar fasciitis than others. These risk factors include:

  • Being overweight
  • Engaging in high-impact activities (running, jumping, dancing)
  • Flat feet
  • Frequently wearing high-heeled shoes
  • Having a tight Achilles tendon
  • High arches
  • Pregnancy
  • Standing on hard surfaces for extended periods
  • Wearing poorly fitting or unsupportive shoes

It’s important to remember that anyone can develop plantar fasciitis. So, if you’re experiencing pain in your heel or along the arch of the bottom of your foot, see a podiatrist for plantar fasciitis treatment.

What to Know

There are two categories of bunion surgery, also known as a bunionectomy. A head procedure will involve cutting the bone behind the joint. It will then be shifted into a more aligned position and secured with a surgical screw or pin. 

The second type of bunionectomy is known as a base procedure. There are several base procedures, but they all concentrate on the bone behind or near the joint of the big toe. We utilize primarily a 3d realignment of the joint which typically results in a single small incision on top of the midfoot.  It realigns the big toe joint and yet doesn’t typically need an incision here. This is the most cutting edge type of correction and carries with it the lowest recurrence rate. With other procedures a wedge may be removed from the bone, or a circular cut and rotation may be used to correct the position. Ligaments may be treated and adjusted during base procedures as well.

    Learn More About Bunion Surgery in Eugene

    Dr. Michael “Dusty” McCourt, founder of Eugene Foot and Ankle Health Center, is a board-certified podiatric surgeon and an associate of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. He provides bunion surgery along with complete foot and ankle care in Eugene. To schedule a consultation, call 541-683-3351 or request an appointment online.

    Contact Us

    Eugene

    Phone: (541) 683-3351
    Fax: (541) 683-6440

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