What Not to Do When You Have Plantar Fasciitis

What Not to Do When You Have Plantar Fasciitis

Getting plantar fasciitis can quickly ground even the most ardent athlete. Heel pain coupled with a stiff foot makes it difficult to move or perform at a high athletic level.

For non-athletes, the condition can have similar effects, forcing an individual to slow down or even take time off to treat the burning pain.

While people will look for ways to feel better, including visiting a podiatrist, others might try to do things that will only worsen the condition.

This article discusses what NOT to do when you have plantar fasciitis, including mistakes to avoid that could lead to more severe symptoms.

Ignore the pain and try and push through it

As an active person, you might decide to push through the pain of plantar fasciitis. If you are an amateur athlete, you might think pushing through with exercise will help. However, the only way around plantar fasciitis is rest and rehabilitation. Pushing through will only worsen the condition and can cause injury.

Walk barefoot to give the foot a more ‘natural’ posture

Sometimes the pain can get so bad all you wish to do is remove your shoes and walk barefoot. While this can provide temporary relief, a lack of arch support can prevent the foot from healing correctly. Worse yet, it can lead to a collapsed arch, a precursor for flat feet.

Keep wearing the same shoes and hope for the best

The type of shoes you wear matters when treating PF. If the shoes you are currently wearing are not making the condition better, you may need different shoes or orthotic shoe inserts. Remember that shoes will play a significant role during recovery if you have PF.

Get endless cortisone injections 

Steroid (cortisone) injections can help alleviate heel pain, albeit temporarily. One mistake to avoid is getting endless cortisone injections because this will only worsen the condition. If PF is causing excruciating pain, you can get a cortisone injection, but plan for other treatments.

Go straight for surgical treatment

Surgery for PF works in cases where other non-invasive treatments have had no effect. Rushing to get surgery can be a mistake because of the potential complications of invasive surgery. Also, it does not make sense to take a sledgehammer to an issue that might have a more straightforward solution.

Look for a miracle cure

No silver bullet treatment exists for PF. At best, a combination of remedies effectively treats the condition. Avoid looking for that one treatment that will instantly cure the PF because none exists, and trying to find one can cause more harm than good.

Rush treatment and recovery 

The uncomfortable truth is it takes time to recover from PF. It requires taking time off from intense activities like running and jumping, and, in some cases, it can necessitate the need for crutches and bed rest. Suffice to say, it will take time to recover from PF, and there is no way around it.

Treat Plantar Fasciitis Correctly

If you have PF, the right way to treat it is to visit a podiatrist, get a foot exam, and discuss treatment options. During treatment, they will guide you on the dos and don’ts so you can recover quickly and resume your active lifestyle.