Not only was Peyton Manning the oldest starting quarterback in Super Bowl history, he also was able to lead his team to victory despite being plagued with a common foot problem that we see often at Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC: plantar fasciitis.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a long ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes. When this thick band of tissue becomes irritated or inflamed, severe pain in the heel and sometimes a burning sensation will occur. The pain is usually worst first thing in the morning because the plantar fascia tends to tighten up overnight or during periods of rest. Heel pain, however, can be a symptom of other disorders, including:

• Stress fracture
• Arthritis
• Tendonitis
• Nerve Irritation
• Cyst

For that reason, if you are experiencing heel pain, you should make an appointment with one of our board certified foot and ankle surgeons, Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, Dr. Christine I. Tumele, and Dr. Matthew W.E. Lewin, to get it evaluated.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The foot doctor will start by taking a complete medical history and getting details about your present symptoms. The podiatrist will examine your foot and may order digital x-rays (which can be done right in our Monroe or Lambertville office) or other imaging studies to rule out other possible causes of heel pain. X-rays can also reveal heel spurs, hook-like bone growth on the heel, which are often present with plantar fasciitis.

Once the foot and ankle surgeon has definitively diagnosed plantar fasciitis, a treatment plan that’s custom designed for you will be developed. Common treatments for plantar fasciitis include:

• Icing the heel and using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications or injections to reduce pain and inflammation
• Padding or orthotics in your shoes to protect the heel and correct structural abnormalities that may be causing the condition
• Night splints to keep the plantar fascia stretched overnight, thereby reducing morning pain
• Stretching and physical therapy

Score a win for your foot by contacting our office today if you think you may have plantar fasciitis.