Do you step out of bed in the morning and hobble in pain to the bathroom? Does it feel like someone is stabbing a hot poker into your heel? Are you afraid to stand up after resting because you know those first few steps are going to be unbearable? Well, it is time to stop suffering and get a solution to your problem right here in Hackettstown, NJ.

    If you have experienced any of the above, you are most likely suffering from a condition known as Plantar Fasciitis. There is a thick band of tissue that connects your heel to the ball of your foot. Every time you put your foot on the ground, the arch tries to collapse and this band of tissue (plantar fascia) resists that movement. Every day our feet take a beating, and so does that fascia. As the tissue continues to pull on the heel it can become irritated, inflamed and even cause a bone spur to form. 

The most common symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis are:

• Sharp pain in the heel first step in the morning
• Pain when standing after rest
• Initial pain subsides after walking a few steps
• Achy pain at the end of the day
• Inability to walk barefoot on hard ground

    In order to treat this condition you have to target both components that are causing your pain: inflammation and tension. Most likely you have a very tight calf and find it hard to touch your toes. This tightness extends through your plantar fascia and causes the increased tension leading to your problem. You can address the tension issues with proper stretching and warming up before activity. The inflammation needs to be addressed from the inside by medication, rest or injection with steroid.

    There is no reason to continue living every day in pain. Our foot specialists at Foot Care Associates P.C., including Dr. Barry Mullen, are highly skilled at treating this common condition.  Stop living in fear of that first morning step and make an appointment today. 

By Barry Mullen