Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition that affects the underside of the foot. Foot pain is one of the most prevalent types of chronic
mindbody pain syndromes
reported amongst adults. The majority of patients have mild to moderate discomfort that is usually activity related. Some patients have serious unresolved foot symptoms which prevent them for living an active life. Foot pain can be one of the most recurrent types of physical torture, with some patients undergoing years or even decades worth of unsuccessful treatments. Others exist by spending large sums of money on symptomatic podiatric care which provides temporary relief, but seldom actually resolves the underlying sources of pain.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis
This type of
foot pain
describes a usually idiopathic inflammation of the plantar fascia, which connects the toes to the heel, supporting the arch of the foot. This connective tissue can cause pain from a variety of factors and causes:* Obesity or substantial weight gain.
* Overuse and abuse of the feet.
* Long periods of standing or running.
* Poor quality or ill fitting shoes.
* Poorly formed arches on one or both feet.
* Psychosomatic origin of pain.
Feet are like any other area of the body. They can suffer wear and tear, especially if they are ill treated. It is important to take good care of your feet and wear
shoes
that fit well and are appropriate for any given activity. Fasciitis is sometimes associated with the development of
heel spurs.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatments
Physically caused foot pain is usually responsive to proper treatment and should heal 100%. There are quite a variety of treatments available for foot ache complaints, with the most common being:* Exercise and stretching of the Achilles tendons
* Hydrotherapy
* Heat or ice therapy
* Posture therapy
* Weight loss
* Pharmaceutical relief
* Cortisone injections
* Orthotic shoes
* Arch supports or braces
* Wave energy treatments / Ultrasound
* Surgery
Foot pain treatment is a big industry within the healthcare system. Many care providers specialize in foot issues and are more than able to recommend a variety of treatment options that will meet the patient’s specific needs. However, if the diagnosed source of symptoms is incorrect, then subsequent therapies will likely be ineffective. This explains why many patients do not achieve lasting resolution of pain despite many attempts at active care.
Psychosomatic Plantar Fasciitis
Patients with longterm chronic foot discomfort are often suffering from a common manifestation of
psychosomatic pain.
Many patients who have been diagnosed with
tension myositis syndrome
experience foot pain as part of their psychologically induced symptoms. These foot symptoms are usually misdiagnosed and cause the patient to endure endless and needless misdirected physical treatments which have no chance of curing the underlying mindbody source. Psychosomatic symptom perpetuation is also very common for patients with plantar fascial pain. Many cases of psychosomatic fasciitis begin as a physical condition and are corrected. However, the mind continues to use the previously existent pain as a source of credibility to keep the symptoms occurring, long after the physical cause has been resolved.
Recommendation on Plantar Fasciitis
This condition often has a combination of physical and psychological causes. Many patients actually experience both causations within the same syndrome with the mind exaggerating a mild to moderate physical pain condition. It is important to remember the link between the
mind and the body
when considering treatment for common foot pain. It is also wise to remember that this condition often acts as a
back pain substitute symptom
for patients with
psychological back pain.
Foot ache is also a symptom associated with a variety of other psychologically induced syndromes. If your treatments are not curing your painful feet, consider using an
alternative treatment
to get to the root source of suffering and possibly even to end your pain for good.
Plantar Fasciitis to Back Pain
4/6/07 Revised 11/18/11
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