YOUR STORIES

PAIN

DIAGNOSES

WOMEN

MIND & BODY

TREATMENTS

RECOVERY

RESOURCES

[?] Subscribe To This Site

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 pain syndrome reported amongst adults. The majority of patients have mild to moderate pain that is usually activity related. Some patients have serious unresolved foot pain that prevents them for living an active life. Foot pain can be one of the most recurrent types of discomfort, with some patients undergoing years or even decades worth of unsuccessful treatments.

Plantar Fasciitis

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 sudden, 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 abused. 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 will heal 100%. There are quite a variety of treatments available for foot pain 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

Additional information on many of these therapies can be found on my TREATMENT PAGE

Foot pain treatment is a big industry within the healthcare system. Many care providers specialize in foot pain and are more than able to recommend a variety of treatment options that will meet the patient’s specific needs.

Psychosomatic Plantar Fasciitis

Patients with long term chronic foot pain 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. This foot pain is usually misdiagnosed and causes the patient to endure endless and needless misdirected physical treatments which have no chance of curing their psychogenic pain. Psychosomatic pain 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 pain is also a symptom associated with a variety of psychologically induced pain syndromes. If your treatments are not curing your painful feet, consider using an alternative treatment to end your pain forever.

Plantar Fasciitis to Back Pain Home 4/6/07 Revised 10/1/09