Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief

Plantar fascia is a long stretch of tissue that runs along the bottom of your food. When the fascia becomes inflamed, the condition is called plantar fasciitis. Heel pain is the primary symptom of plantar fasciitis, and is usually worse in the morning after a long night's sleep. There are several ways to treat plantar fasciitis pain, including medication and lifestyle changes.

Rest

• Stay off your feet when you are experiencing plantar fasciitis pain. Rest will help the tissue heal without aggravating it further as you move around.

Ice

• Reduce the inflammation and pain by icing the bottom of your foot. Roll a frozen can of juice back and forth across your sole to numb the pain. Ice can be used for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.

Medication

• An over-the-counter pain relieve may help relieve mild cases of plantar fasciitis pain. More severe discomfort may require you to see a doctor and have a dose of corticosteroids injected into the affected area.

Splinting

• Wearing splints on your feet at night helps the plantar fascia stay in a stretched-out position, and thus not be as painful. When the facia is not stretched, it tightens overnight and can cause acute heel pain in the morning.

Footwear

• Sneakers or other shoes with good arch support and shock absorption can protect your plantar fascia by reducing the pressure on that area of your foot.