What should I do if plantar fasciitis is very painful?

Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Plantar fasciitis is mainly characterized by worsened symptoms after activity, with pain at the bottom of the foot, which tends to ease during rest. Typically, the most intense pain occurs when stepping down for the first time in the morning or when the affected foot bears weight painfully, possibly due to tension in the plantar fascia. This condition frequently arises in individuals who wear leather shoes or high heels for extended periods, stand for long durations, or walk on cobblestone pathways in flat shoes. Pain occurs when the plantar fascia is tense and gradually worsens, but rapidly alleviates when the fascia relaxes upon resting. Local heat application is recommended as it promotes dilation of the surrounding vessels, effectively stimulating blood circulation and thereby easing the symptoms. Additionally, it is suggested to reduce the amount of time standing and the frequency of activities, and to rest as much as possible in bed. Recovery is typically slow, generally improving gradually over about 3-4 weeks. For significant pain, medications that promote blood circulation and alleviate pain may be taken. If necessary, encapsulation therapy can be performed. In cases where repeated treatment is ineffective, fasciotomy might be considered, which can impact the function of the foot to various extents, yet the benefits outweigh the downsides and might be the last treatment option chosen. Many patients find that rest, along with medications that promote blood circulation and alleviate pain, physiotherapy, heat application, electric baking, massage, and others, help in alleviating the symptoms.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
1min 21sec home-news-image

Where to massage for plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common condition seen in clinics, often more frequent among women who wear high heels for extended periods on uneven surfaces, as this may increase the likelihood of developing the condition. Due to prolonged tension in the soles of the feet, coupled with extended periods of standing and walking, this phenomenon can easily occur. Once it happens, treatments such as heat application, physiotherapy, massage, and electric heating can help alleviate the symptoms. Methods like massage and heat application can stimulate increased local blood flow, expand blood vessels, and accelerate blood flow, effectively alleviating symptoms and thus easing the discomfort caused by plantar fasciitis. It is best to rest strictly in bed for this condition. When standing, the weight-bearing on the affected foot makes the pain more pronounced. Symptoms naturally alleviate when the fascia is relaxed during rest. Treatments such as physiotherapy and massage, as well as taking medications that promote blood circulation and relieve pain, are needed. The improvement is a prolonged process, but conditions are prone to recurrence. It is advisable to wear softer sports shoes more often, with softer, thicker insoles to reduce the frequency of outbreaks.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
1min 42sec home-news-image

What should I do if plantar fasciitis is very painful?

Plantar fasciitis is mainly characterized by worsened symptoms after activity, with pain at the bottom of the foot, which tends to ease during rest. Typically, the most intense pain occurs when stepping down for the first time in the morning or when the affected foot bears weight painfully, possibly due to tension in the plantar fascia. This condition frequently arises in individuals who wear leather shoes or high heels for extended periods, stand for long durations, or walk on cobblestone pathways in flat shoes. Pain occurs when the plantar fascia is tense and gradually worsens, but rapidly alleviates when the fascia relaxes upon resting. Local heat application is recommended as it promotes dilation of the surrounding vessels, effectively stimulating blood circulation and thereby easing the symptoms. Additionally, it is suggested to reduce the amount of time standing and the frequency of activities, and to rest as much as possible in bed. Recovery is typically slow, generally improving gradually over about 3-4 weeks. For significant pain, medications that promote blood circulation and alleviate pain may be taken. If necessary, encapsulation therapy can be performed. In cases where repeated treatment is ineffective, fasciotomy might be considered, which can impact the function of the foot to various extents, yet the benefits outweigh the downsides and might be the last treatment option chosen. Many patients find that rest, along with medications that promote blood circulation and alleviate pain, physiotherapy, heat application, electric baking, massage, and others, help in alleviating the symptoms.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
42sec home-news-image

Can plantar fasciitis be treated with moxibustion?

Plantar fasciitis can be alleviated by moxibustion to relieve foot pain, but solely relying on moxibustion may not be very effective. In treating plantar fasciitis, it's important first to understand that the main causes of the condition are excessive loading, over-exertion, and degeneration of the fascia due to aging. The primary treatment for this condition is rest, avoiding excessive exertion. At the same time, other treatments such as shock wave therapy, acupuncture, or local injections can also be utilized. If conservative treatments have been applied for over six months without relief of pain, or if the pain gradually worsens, surgery may be needed to provide relief.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Where to apply moxibustion for plantar fasciitis?

In cases of plantar fasciitis, moxibustion on acupuncture points such as Zu San Li and Qu Chi can effectively alleviate pain. However, relying solely on moxibustion for treatment is not very effective; it only serves as a supplementary role. For treating fasciitis, it is crucial to rest adequately and avoid excessive fatigue. Shockwave therapy can be utilized for treatment and requires a prolonged, gradual approach to condition management. Daily warm water foot soaks can also help mitigate symptoms and accelerate healing.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
1min 14sec home-news-image

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is mostly caused by prolonged standing, such as wearing high heels or leather shoes for extended periods. The fascia remains tense under these conditions, leading to tenderness in the sole's fascia upon examination. Pain tends to intensify while walking or bearing weight and alleviates when resting as the fascia relaxes. It is best to diagnose and treat this condition early. Applying heat, reducing the movement of the affected limb, and avoiding tension in the fascia are advisable. Consuming medications that invigorate blood circulation and relieve pain can also help, generally improving symptoms within 7 to 10 days. Recovery might be slow in some cases due to fascial damage. Furthermore, repeated pulling or tension from standing and working can lead to recurrent episodes. Rest is recommended for such individuals, and wearing softer sports shoes during activities can be beneficial. Resting and taking blood-invigorating medications usually lead to gradual recovery. For severe cases ineffective with conservative treatment, surgical cutting of the fascia may be performed to relieve pain. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)