Treat Plantar Fasciitis And Minimize Discomfort Associated With The Condition
If you are experiencing discomfort in both of your heels, you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis often occurs if the ligament on the bottom of each foot becomes strained from walking or standing for extended amounts of time. The following tips can be used to treat the condition and minimize discomfort while recovering from the condition.
Meet With A Podiatrist
Set up an appointment with a podiatrist to have your feet examined and x-rays taken if necessary. A podiatrist can determine how severe the foot problem that you are experiencing is and will offer ways to reduce pain while you are waiting for the ligaments to heal. If you are participating in an activity that is aggravating the condition, a podiatrist may suggest that you alter your schedule for a specific amount of time. Follow up with the specialist as requested until your feet have healed completely.
Apply A Compress Before Stabilizing The Bottom Of Your Feet
Apply a warm compress to the bottom of each foot to reduce swelling in the painful area. Once you experience relief, stabilize the bottom of your feet by wrapping an even layer of gauze around each foot. Wrap the gauze snugly, but not too tight, because doing so could restrict blood flow. Gauze will not cause your feet to sweat. It will also prevent you from scrunching your toes or stretching the arch of each foot, which could contribute to more ligament damage and intense pain. Reapply a warm compress as often as needed.
Elevate Your Feet And Wear Comfortable Shoes
Place a large wedge pillow on the bottom of your bed and lay down while elevating your feet. Elevating your feet will assist with regulating blood flow through each one, which could reduce swelling during times that you are not using a warm compress. The reduced pressure in each foot will allow you to rest comfortably.
When you need to stand up or walk around, put on a pair of shoes that have built-in gel inserts or thick liners. Shoes that are a little bit larger than you would normally wear will prevent you from needing to squeeze your feet into them and cause additional stress to the swollen ligaments. Stay off your feet as much as possible and refrain from wearing shoes that you normally would until your feet have healed properly and you are no longer experiencing pain.
For more information, check out websites like http://www.advancedfootclinic.org.