The plantar fascia is a large piece of tissue which connects the front of the foot to the heel. When this area, which supports your foot's arch, is strained or injured, plantar fasciitis can occur. You can readily recognize symptoms of plantar fasciitis, since the primary symptom is severe pain.
Instructions
Recognize Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms
1. Take note of foot pain that is localized under the heel. This is a classic symptom of plantar fasciitis.
2. Keep a record of when your foot pain occurs. Pain from plantar fasciitis is often greatest when you take your first steps after you wake up in the morning. Foot pain upon walking again after sitting for a long period of time can also be a sign of plantar fasciitis.
3. Tell your doctor if your foot pain gets steadily worse as the day goes on. This can also be a sign that the plantar fascia tissue is inflamed.
4. Take the stairs at work. You can recognize plantar fasciitis by noticing increased foot pain when climbing stairs, since climbing stretches the plantar fascia.
5. Inform your doctor if your feet hurt when you are reaching for something off a high shelf. An inflamed plantar fascia will cause sharp pain when your body weight is on your toes.
6. Make a note of foot pain you experience after standing for long periods of time. Standing for extended periods stretches the plantar fascia and can aggravate any inflammation.
7. Remember how your feet feel during a workout. Plantar fasciitis symptoms can include foot pain that goes away as you continue to exercise, but which returns once you cool down.
Differentiate Plantar Fasciitis From Other Conditions
8. Ask your doctor to X-ray your feet. The symptoms of plantar fasciitis are similar to the symptoms caused by a stress fracture of the heel bone. Since plantar fasciitis doesn't involve your bones, an X-ray will provide the correct diagnosis.
9. Watch for redness, swelling and limited movement in combination with foot pain. These can be indicators that the real problem is arthritis.
10. Review your recent activity level. If you have greatly increased your physical activity or started a new job that requires you to stand all day, your foot pain may simply be caused by sudden overuse.
11. Tell your physician about any pain which shoots down your legs. In combination with other plantar fasciitis symptoms, this can indicate pressure on your sciatic nerves.
Tags: foot pain, plantar fascia, plantar fasciitis, your foot, your doctor, your feet