Stabbing Foot Pain: Is it Plantar Fasciitis?

If you have stabbing foot pain – particularly in the heel and in the morning – you may have an inflammatory condition called plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a tough tissue band stretching from your heel to your toes. Microtears due to trauma or injury can cause the inflammation and pain associated with plantar fasciitis.

Each year, more than two million women, men, and kids in the United States are treated for plantar fasciitis. If you have heel pain or stabbing foot pain, a podiatrist can give you relief. 

At Aesthetic Podiatry & Sports Medicine Centers in White Plains, New York, and Purchase, New York, our experienced podiatrist, Mariola Rivera, MD, diagnoses and treats plantar fasciitis. She may recommend treatments such as night splints or shockwave therapy to alleviate your pain and get you back on (your) track.

Why your plantar fascia matters

The plantar fascia plays a crucial role in supporting the arch of your foot. Every step absorbs shock so you can walk, run, and stand without pain. 

When you have plantar fasciitis, you suddenly realize how important your plantar fascia is. Now, it’s excruciating to walk, run, or jump. Your shoes may also exacerbate the problem if they don’t have sufficient arch support.

How to tell if you have plantar fasciitis

The classic symptom of plantar fasciitis is stabbing heel pain. That’s because one of the connection points of the plantar fascia is at the heel. It also connects there to your calf muscle, which might be tight and pull too much on your stiff, inflamed plantar fascia.

The pain is usually worse in the morning when you take your first steps. It tends to improve as you continue your day. Because plantar fasciitis pain tends to come and go, you may be tempted to put off getting help. Then, the recurring heel pain becomes even more than just bothersome. The sooner you address plantar fascia, the sooner you get relief.

Do you think you have plantar fasciitis? Here are the most common signs:

• Sharp heel pain
• Pain in the arch of the foot
• Heel swelling
• Achilles tendon tightness
• Flare-ups after physical activity
• Pain that’s worse in the morning
• Pain after inactivity

You may also experience shooting pains up your ankle. This is caused by surrounding nerves in the foot that become irritated by the inflammation. If you avoid putting weight on the affected foot, you can make matters worse because the imbalance puts stress on the spine. Untreated plantar fasciitis may lead to back pain.

Why you have plantar fasciitis

Even after treating plantar fasciitis, your job isn’t done. Without taking preventive measures, it could return. Any kind of stress on the fascia – which can cause irritation or small tears – increases the chances of a new or next case of plantar fasciitis. 

Your risk grows as you get older. Plantar fasciitis usually develops in women and men between the ages of 40 and 60. While you can’t control your age, you can control certain other risk factors.

If you’re overweight, the extra pounds place extra stress on the plantar fascia. Maintaining a healthy weight may cut your chances of recurrence.

You're also vulnerable to plantar fasciitis if you have a certain foot type, such as flat feet or high arches. These conditions cause an uneven distribution of weight, which can put stress on the fascia. 

An occupation that keeps you on your feet is also a risk factor. So are certain physical activities that stress the heel, such as long-distance running. 

Plantar fasciitis treatment

Rest is the initial recommendation for plantar fasciitis. Sometimes, simply avoiding activities that exacerbate the inflammation is enough to promote healing. 

Our team may recommend stretching and strengthening exercises if rest isn’t enough to resolve the issue. Targeted stretches can relieve tension on the plantar fascia. Specific exercises strengthen the foot and ankle muscles to provide added support that eases the pressure on the fascia. 

You might also benefit from orthotic devices, such as shoe inserts or custom-made orthotics, which help distribute pressure evenly across the foot. They also provide additional arch support. 

Our team may recommend corticosteroid injections if your case fails to respond to conservative treatments. You could also benefit from shockwave therapy, which breaks up scar tissue in the plantar fascia and stimulates tissue healing and rebuilding. Dr. Rivera also favors platelet-rich plasma injections to help boost your own body’s healing mechanism. 

In some cases, surgical intervention is the most appropriate option. Plantar release surgery (fasciotomy) cuts the plantar fascia to release tension on the foot. 

Do you have heel pain or foot pain? Find out if you have plantar fasciitis and get the treatment you need today by calling our office nearest you or booking online.