How Podiatrists Diagnose and Treat Plantar Fasciitis
Remember: foot pain is never normal. If you notice any of the symptoms above, it’s time for a professional examination by one of our foot health specialists at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle. Here’s what to expect.
Plantar Fasciitis Tests
Even though this condition is common, diagnosing it isn’t always easy. Before prescribing medication or administering a cortisone injection, one of our podiatrists will:
- Ask questions about your health history.
- Review your medical records.
- Perform a physical examination.
- Assess your range of motion.
- Use special tools and instruments to measure your gait.
You might also be asked to take a medical imaging test—such as an X-ray or an MRI—to rule out a stress fracture, or if you were diagnosed with plantar fasciitis in the past, or if your body hasn’t responded to treatments that typically have a high rate of success.
Common Plantar Fasciitis Treatments
Your podiatrist will recommend options for plantar fasciitis treatment that take into account your lifestyle, employment, and overall physical well-being. Most of our patients experience significant benefits through a combination of the following:
- Over-the-counter and prescription-grade anti-inflammatory medication
- Icing more frequently to further reduce inflammation
- More comfortable footwear or, in some cases, custom orthotics
- Temporary immobilization, such as night splints or strapping
- Special stretching exercises or, if necessary, physical therapy
- Platelet-rich plasma therapy, sometimes referred to as PRP
Cortisone, a type of steroid that can reduce both inflammation and pain, isn’t what most podiatrists use to treat mild to moderate cases of plantar fasciitis. But it might be the advised course of treatment when damaged tissue won’t heal and symptoms refuse to fade.
Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Offers Plantar Fasciitis Cortisone Shots in Caldwell—But an Injection Isn’t Always Ideal
Podiatrists, doctors, and other medical professionals sometimes use cortisone to suppress symptoms that keep getting worse or don’t go away. The cortisone used to treat foot injuries and abnormalities is a synthetic version of the same hormone your adrenal glands produce to reduce mental stress and physical inflammation. It’s safe, cost-effective, and can be administered within a matter of minutes. Many people who receive injections notice their pain subsiding quickly, and their symptoms occasionally disappear less than a month after their first appointment.
However, if taken too frequently or without a thorough assessment of your health history and risk factors, cortisone can trigger problems that can cause elevated blood pressure, short-term tissue damage, and nerve dysfunction. The results of some scientific studies also indicate that, while cortisone is an effective tool for managing plantar fasciitis-related pain, its benefits can fade within a year.
Trust the entire team at our Meridian and Caldwell clinics to provide you with knowledgeable and experienced patient-focused care that includes a variety of surgical and non-surgical options for your plantar fasciitis relief.