Plantar fasciitis: how to treat at home with folk remedies, ointments

Legs are an organ that gives us the joy of movement, and the freedom of human action depends on how well it functions. It is clear that any pain in the legs limits our movement and negatively affects the quality of life. For example, a fairly common pathology, which is scientifically called plantar fasciitis, and among people is known as a heel spur, can significantly spoil the life of middle-aged and older people, because any pressure on the foot in the heel area causes severe pain.

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Causes plantar fasciitis

According to statistics, plantar fasciitis is a disease of people over 40. Yes, inflammatory and degenerative changes in the fascia of the foot are mainly experienced by middle-aged and elderly people who have already accumulated a certain stock of health problems, the lion's share of which falls on the musculoskeletal and circulatory systems. And the tendency to gain weight increases with the onset of hormonal changes in middle age.

We are talking mainly about menopause in women, which is often accompanied by weight gain. Perhaps this is the main reason why heel spurs often appear in the weaker sex at Balzac age and later.

Since the disease is associated with a heavy load on the legs (this is the reason for degenerative changes in the plantar fascia and their inflammation), it is most susceptible to those people whose profession involves prolonged standing or is associated with the manual movement of heavy loads. Quite often, such pathology affects athletes who are professional runners and heavyweights.

But so far we have been talking about professional activity. But what about the percentage of patients whose working and living conditions do not fall under the above factors? It turns out that in order to get plantar fasciitis, it is not at all necessary to play sports or work as a loader.

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Risk factors

Risk factors for the development of this inflammatory pathology are considered to be:

• Excessive body weight (and not just obesity, because even a small amount of extra pounds significantly increases the load on the legs), which is why plantar fasciitis is more common in:
  • people with metabolic disorders, and as a result, weight gain,
  • pregnant women who gain a significant amount of weight while expecting a child,
  • those who are used to eating all kinds of delicacies to relieve stress.
• development of flat feet (while other areas of the fascia also receive excessive stress),
• clubfoot with load on the outer edges of the fascia,
• a pathology opposite to flat feet, when the arch of the foot is excessively raised, and the load is mainly on the heel and the area where the fascia attaches to the heads of the metatarsal bones,
• hyperpronation of the foot, when it can collapse strongly inward, resulting in increased pressure on the lateral, weaker part of the fascia,

But the cause of plantar fasciitis can be not only standing work, excess weight and foot defects, but also some diseases of bone and cartilage tissue (arthritis and arthrosis of the legs, gout, osteochondrosis, etc.), vascular pathologies (diseases of large lower limbs, circulatory disorders in the legs), heel injuries. The disease can also develop against the background of problems with the spine, as a result of which the pressure on the foot is distributed unevenly.

Another risk factor for plantar fasciitis is wearing uncomfortable shoes, such as a very raised toe box, which increases the load on the heel. Tight or over-worn shoes with a tilted foot during wear are also not conducive to healthy feet.

Those who enjoy hiking, which puts a lot of stress on the feet, should not relax either.

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Pathogenesis

We all know from anatomy that the human lower limb consists of the thigh, shin and foot. These are the main parts of the leg, which must act in a coordinated manner when moving, which gives us the ability to maintain balance and move.

It just so happens that, while performing essentially the same work, different sections of the lower limb experience different loads. The smallest, horizontal part of the leg – the foot – suffers the most, because it is forced to withstand not only the weight of our body, but also the pressure of the other sections (thigh and shin).

In principle, the foot bears such a load every day throughout a person's life that it is not surprising if various degenerative-inflammatory changes begin in it. And plantar fasciitis is exactly such a disease.

The word "fasciitis" itself indicates that we are talking about an inflammatory pathology (most inflammatory processes in various organs have names ending in "itis", for example, gastritis, cystitis, stomatitis, etc.). In this case, the plantar fascia or aponeurosis becomes inflamed.

What is it? It is a strip of dense connective tissue that connects the heel bone (calcaneal tuberosity) and the toes (the beginning of the metatarsal bones). In fact, the plantar fascia are ligaments that run along the bottom of the foot, supporting its longitudinal arch and participating in the process of transferring body weight from one side of the foot to the other.

If a person stands straight, the plantar aponeurosis of one foot accounts for half of the total body weight. But the load on the foot is distributed unevenly. It is easy to understand that the greatest pressure falls on the part of the fascia that is closer to the calcaneal tubercle. Therefore, pain in plantar fasciitis is localized mainly in the heel (the junction of the calcaneus and plantar fascia).

With regular load or injury, fascia can be damaged, which is manifested mainly in the appearance of microcracks on them. If the load is excessively great, the smallest tissue tears, which in a normal situation heal on their own and without consequences, begin to inflame. And subsequent episodes of pressure on the fascia will be accompanied by pain syndrome.

The cause of inflammation in this situation is not an infectious factor, but a mechanical effect (aseptic inflammation). Moreover, over time, the fascia begins to perform its supporting functions worse and worse, and as compensation for this deficiency, osteophytes (a type of bone growths) begin to form in the heel area. It is these growths that are called heel spurs (by analogy with sharp growths on a rooster's leg).

It turns out that plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are not the same thing. The second pathology can be considered a complication of fasciitis.

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Symptoms plantar fasciitis

The manifestations of plantar fasciitis are very typical for this pathology. It can be confused with something else only in case of foot or ankle injury, when acute pain is felt when stepping on the sole. But usually such situations are accompanied by noticeable tissue swelling, and not slight swelling, as in the case of fasciitis.

The first and main signs of plantar fasciitis are considered to be pains that may appear when a person tries to stand on his foot after a long period of no load on it. At first, the pains are localized in the heel area. They appear in the morning after getting out of bed. Night rest is not associated with load on the lower limbs, their muscles and fascia are relaxed. But with the slightest load, noticeable pain appears in the heel.

An identical situation can be observed when a person has been sitting for a long time without support on his feet. As soon as he stands up, the disease will remind him of itself with pain in the heel bone. If you transfer your body weight to the heel, an unpleasant burning sensation may appear in it, as if you were stepping on a hot surface.

Similar sensations can be observed during long walks, carrying heavy objects, climbing stairs, and even when standing in one place for a long time, when the load on the heels is especially great.

When plantar fasciitis is complicated by the appearance of osteophytes, i.e. the development of a heel spur, the nature of the pain changes somewhat. It becomes more intense. It is especially difficult for those who have been diagnosed with a fracture or break in the heel spur.

When stepping on the heel, the patient experiences a sharp piercing pain, which can be simply unbearable. To alleviate the situation, some people resort to crutches, which reduce the load on the leg. Although such a measure can hardly be called a good way out of the situation.

Plantar fasciitis debuts primarily with pain in the heel. But subsequently, its localization can significantly expand. Pain syndrome occurs in the ankle and Achilles tendon, in the arch of the foot, and sometimes in the big toe.

The inflammatory process in the tissues of the foot is accompanied by some swelling, as a result of which swelling in the ankle and ankle area becomes noticeable. Moreover, in the connective tissue of the fascia, with chronic inflammation, strands can form that limit the mobility of the toes (flexion contracture of the toes of the lower extremities).

In addition to the strands on the sole, you can also feel other seals - osteophytes. True, this is not always possible. But if they grow strongly, you can notice a barely noticeable deformation of the foot in the area of the bone tubercle even with the naked eye.

Complications and consequences

Is it worth talking about this topic for a long time if almost everyone understands that the disruption of the motor activity of the legs, which is what is observed with plantar fasciitis, greatly affects the quality of life of patients? And yet, let us note some points that speak in favor of treating the disease, and not alleviating the symptoms with the help of the same crutches.

A noticeable pain when stepping on a foot makes a person refuse unnecessary movements, which leads to hypodynamia, slow metabolism, and, as a result, weight gain. Hypodynamia and excess weight are fraught with other complications, such as problems with blood vessels and heart pathologies. Stagnant processes in the body against the background of metabolic disorders are often accompanied by the development of insufficiency of various organs and inflammation in them.

Trying to ease their condition when they have to walk a lot, patients look for various ways to reduce pain. And crutches in this situation are not the worst thing, although in this case not only the foot but also other parts of the leg get used to the load, which causes their weakness and susceptibility to injury (without training, both muscles and bones atrophy).

What good is it to relieve pain by changing your gait when the patient walks on tiptoe or twists their foot almost all the time so as not to step too hard on the sore spot? This can lead to problems with joints, including the knee and hip.

It is clear that constant leg pain in people of working age forces them to change jobs, and this is not so easy at the age of 40-50. But on the other hand, this pathology significantly reduces the employee's performance, and what manager would like that.

If you continue to work despite the pain, other dangerous consequences may arise, which ultimately easily lead to disability. It turns out that in the absence of effective treatment, a person can become disabled due to a banal overstrain of the foot.

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Diagnostics plantar fasciitis

The symptoms of plantar fasciitis are so specific that doctors usually have no doubts about the diagnosis. After listening to a patient's complaints about pain in the foot and ankle, not associated with a fracture, dislocation or sprain, a doctor can easily suspect plantar fasciitis. This does not require any tests.

A general blood and urine test may be prescribed in connection with the prescribed treatment, because they show the condition of the liver and kidneys - the main filters of the body, sensitive to the negative effects of drugs. Based on the test results, the dosage of the prescribed drugs can be adjusted downwards so as not to injure the diseased organs. In addition, routine clinical tests may well reveal hidden pathologies, in which the prescription of a specific drug may be undesirable and even dangerous.

Physical examination and palpation of the affected limb with plantar fasciitis will show swelling in the foot and shin area. In addition, when pressing on the fascia, the patient will immediately feel pain, which the doctor cannot help but notice. And dense strands along the fascia will leave no doubt about the diagnosis.

Searching for heel spur-like compactions in the heel area is a thankless task. They are usually not palpable. They can only be detected through instrumental diagnostics. To detect pathological bone formations, the familiar X-ray is used, which, by the way, can simultaneously detect fractures or other damage to such growths, explaining the excruciating pain with any load on the heel. After all, our foot is equipped with many nerve endings that are pinched by the moving fragments of heel spurs, causing unbearable pain.

X-ray therapy of plantar fasciitis is considered the only effective way to detect osteophytes on the heel bone, because in the vast majority of cases they do not manifest themselves in any way, especially at the very beginning of the formation of a heel spur. X-ray of the foot will also help differentiate fasciitis from traumatic injuries or damage to joints and nerves.

Despite the specificity of plantar fasciitis symptoms, we cannot discount other diseases that are accompanied by pain in the foot and ankle. As we have already said, pain in these areas can be caused by trauma to bones, joints and soft tissues. But some systemic diseases of an inflammatory-degenerative nature can also begin with the same symptom. An example is rheumatoid arthritis, which mainly affects the small joints of the ankle and ankles, or Reiter's syndrome, in which pathological changes occur simultaneously in different parts of the body (joints, genitourinary system, conjunctiva of the eye).

Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are pathologies that are similar to each other in many ways. This is not surprising, because the appearance of osteophytes is considered a complication of inflammation of the fascia of the sole of the foot. But it is important to understand that plantar fasciitis is not always accompanied by the formation of bone growths on the heel, which is treated surgically. Therefore, it is very important to clarify when developing a treatment plan whether there is only an inflammatory process, or whether the fascia dysfunction has been compensated by the appearance of spurs.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics will help differentiate plantar fasciitis from a condition called tarsal tunnel syndrome, in which pain is associated with compression of the tibial nerve in the area of the metatarsal head. However, in this case, a person may feel pain in the foot even at night, when the leg seems to be resting from stress.

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Treatment plantar fasciitis

We will not repeat ourselves, describing the need to treat plantar fasciitis due to the high risk of various complications. But we will focus on the fact that you cannot count on resolving the problem on your own. Yes, the disease may retreat for a while if you reduce the load on the foot or take some therapeutic measures from the category of traditional medicine, but in the future it will remind you of itself more than once with severe pain and complications. So in vain many of those who suffer from plantar fasciitis are in no hurry to seek help from specialists.

It is clear that without the active participation of the patient, treatment of the musculoskeletal system is impossible. But the patient must also understand that without reducing the load on the foot, treatment of the disease is impossible. Most likely, for a period determined by the doctor, you will have to give up sports, resolve the issue of transferring to another position where the load on the legs is significantly lower, forget about tight shoes and high-heeled shoes.

This is only one stage of the disease treatment. The treatment plan for plantar fasciitis is always individual. But without complex treatment, it is impossible to defeat the disease, so you will have to get serious about the treatment and follow all the doctor's instructions.

It is important to understand that a heel spur is already an extreme stage of plantar fasciitis, when the only relevant treatment method is an operation to grind down the growths. But surgical treatment does not always give the expected result, plus it implies a long rehabilitation not without the use of medications and physiotherapy. But removing a bone growth does not remove the relevance of the inflammatory process in the foot. Therefore, surgery is considered an extreme measure in the treatment of plantar fasciitis complicated by a heel spur.

The main focus for plantar fasciitis is on physiotherapy, exercise therapy and drug treatment with anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. Let's take a closer look at physiotherapy treatment, because many of its methods are applicable for inflammation of the fascia of the legs:

• Ultrasound. Promotes warming of foot tissues, thereby relieving inflammation and pain.
• Laser therapy. Low-frequency waves do not damage the skin either inside or outside, but improve blood circulation in the foot tissues, reduce their swelling, promote healing and restoration of fascia. It is not used to treat heel spurs, since it is not effective enough. Removal of bone growth is carried out by other methods. But this therapy is quite suitable for improving the patient's condition and well-being.
• Exposure to X-rays. Provides an analgesic effect, reducing tissue sensitivity in the heel area without the use of drugs.
• Shock wave therapy. This is a fairly new method of treating an existing heel spur. Acoustic waves destroy calcium deposits (osteophytes) in the area where the fascia attaches to the calcaneal tuberosity. The heel spur decreases in size or is completely destroyed, which is confirmed by subsequent X-rays.
• Thermotherapy. The effect of heat reduces the manifestations of inflammation and pain in fasciitis. In resort conditions, warm mineral baths are used for this purpose. The procedure is very effective for various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The practice of mud therapy is also indicative, when therapeutic mud is applied to the foot and ankle for about 20 minutes, which helps to warm up the sore spot and has a therapeutic effect due to the minerals included in the mud. We will not repeat ourselves, describing the need to treat plantar fasciitis due to the high risk of various complications. But we will focus on the fact that you can’t count on resolving the problem on your own. Yes, the disease can retreat for a while if you reduce the load on the foot or take some therapeutic measures from the category of traditional medicine, but in the future it will remind you of itself more than once with severe pain and complications. So in vain many of those who suffer from plantar fasciitis are in no hurry to seek help from specialists.
• It is clear that without the active participation of the patient, treatment of the musculoskeletal system is impossible. But the patient must also understand that without reducing the load on the foot, treatment of the disease is impossible. Most likely, for a period determined by the doctor, you will have to give up sports, resolve the issue of transferring to another position where the load on the legs is significantly lower, forget about tight shoes and high-heeled shoes.
• This is only one stage of the disease treatment. The treatment plan for plantar fasciitis is always individual. But without complex treatment, it is impossible to defeat the disease, so you will have to get serious about the treatment and follow all the doctor's instructions.
• It is important to understand that a heel spur is already an extreme stage of plantar fasciitis, when the only relevant treatment method is an operation to grind down the growths. But surgical treatment does not always give the expected result, plus it implies a long rehabilitation not without the use of medications and physiotherapy. But removing a bone growth does not remove the relevance of the inflammatory process in the foot. Therefore, surgery is considered an extreme measure in the treatment of plantar fasciitis complicated by a heel spur.
• The main focus for plantar fasciitis is on physiotherapy, exercise therapy and drug treatment with anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. Let's focus on physiotherapy in more detail, because many of its methods are applicable for inflammation of the fascia of the legs:
• Ultrasound. Promotes warming of foot tissues, thereby relieving inflammation and pain.
• Laser therapy. Low-frequency waves do not damage the skin either inside or outside, but improve blood circulation in the foot tissues, reduce their swelling, promote healing and restoration of fascia. It is not used to treat heel spurs, since it is not effective enough. Removal of bone growth is carried out by other methods. But this therapy is quite suitable for improving the patient's condition and well-being.
• Exposure to X-rays. Provides an analgesic effect, reducing tissue sensitivity in the heel area without the use of drugs.
• Shock wave therapy. This is a fairly new method of treating an existing heel spur. Acoustic waves destroy calcium deposits (osteophytes) in the area where the fascia attaches to the calcaneal tuberosity. The heel spur decreases in size or is completely destroyed, which is confirmed by subsequent X-rays.
• Electrophoresis of the sole area with analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Thermotherapy. The effect of heat reduces inflammation and pain in fasciitis. In resort conditions, warm mineral baths are used for this purpose. The procedure is very effective for various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The practice of mud therapy is also indicative, when therapeutic mud is applied to the foot and ankle area for about 20 minutes, which helps to warm up the sore spot and has a therapeutic effect due to the minerals included in the mud.
• Regular exercise therapy and massage are considered mandatory conditions for treating plantar fasciitis. As for massage, it is better to have it performed by a manual therapist. In this case, you can achieve rapid pain relief and restore foot mobility.

Thermal procedures are only indicated under the supervision of medical personnel, since inflammation does not like high temperatures.

Regular exercise therapy and massage are considered mandatory conditions for treating plantar fasciitis. As for massage, it is better to have it performed by a manual therapist. In this case, you can achieve rapid pain relief and restore foot mobility.

Treatment for plantar fasciitis at home includes:

• classes according to the exercise therapy scheme (gymnastics for feet),
• during the daytime, use orthopedic insoles for shoes that help redistribute the load on different parts of the foot, reducing trauma to the fascia (at the initial stage of the disease, recovery is possible without additional means),
• At night, wearing boot-shaped orthoses that limit the mobility of the foot and allow it to rest.

Regarding exercise therapy, it can be said that this method of treatment is useful for plantar fasciitis against the background of flat feet, clubfoot and other foot pathologies. They are also used in cases where dense strands have formed at the site of inflammation, as if tightening the plantar fascia.

Gymnastics for plantar fasciitis consists of exercises for compression and stretching of the fascia, which are used to restore the elasticity of the connective tissue. Let's look at several useful exercises:

• Sitting on the floor with bent knees, we try to grab small objects scattered on the floor with our toes (small change, beads about 1 cm in diameter, small stones). Having fixed the object with our fingers, we transfer it to a vessel standing nearby and put it there. We do this for no more than 20 minutes.
• In the same position, pull your knees up to your chin, fix the spots on the floor. With your fingers, try to pull your toes forward as much as possible (stretch the fascia). Pull your leg for no more than 3 minutes. Repeat the exercise 5 times.
• Sitting on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you, actively move your feet in different directions.
• Take a massage ball, put it on the floor and place your foot on top. Roll the ball on the floor with the sole, allowing the muscles and fascia to relax.
• We stand with our feet on a stable chair and rise up on our toes a little so that the foot is tense for half a minute. When going down to the floor, do not bend the knees, but try to stand on the heel. At the same time, the toes remain slightly raised. We stand for another half a minute. Repeat the exercise 3 times.

It is recommended to do such exercises three times a day, but stretching exercises are especially useful in the morning. Additional benefits will come from walking on tiptoes and with feet turned outward or inward, transitions from heel to toe and back, lifting the big toe, etc.

Drug therapy is aimed at relieving pain and stopping inflammation symptoms. For this purpose, both systemic and local anti-inflammatory drugs are used. These can be both NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen, etc.) and corticosteroids (Diprospan, Flosteron), which are administered locally. Various ointments with an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, which are applied to the foot area from plantar fasciitis (Diclofenac, Viprosal, Prednisolone ointment, Hydrocortisone ointment, also used in electrophoresis, etc.), also have a good effect.

Drug therapy

Let's take a closer look at the possibilities of using various medications for plantar fasciitis.

"Diprospan" is a glucocorticosteroid for topical use in foot pathologies, used for the drug blockade procedure. It is used for local injections for heel spurs. The dosage for this disease is 0.5 ml of the drug. The recommended interval between applications is 1 week. But in each specific case, the doctor himself decides on the dosage and frequency of steroid use, trying to make the course of treatment as short as possible.

The drug does not have many contraindications: hypersensitivity to it and systemic fungal pathologies. But as for side effects, there are a great many of them if you take the medicine for a long time. These are sleep disorders, depression, digestive disorders, deterioration of bone condition, weight gain, severe infectious pathologies, etc.

As an anti-inflammatory agent for oral administration and local application, you can use a drug from the NSAID group "Naproxen". The drug is available in the form of tablets, oral suspension, injections, rectal suppositories and gel.

The tablets are taken whole, without crushing, regardless of food intake. Wash down with water. The frequency of administration is usually 2 times a day, and the dosage ranges from 500 to 750 mg.

If internal administration of the medication is not possible, rectal suppositories are prescribed in the amount of 1 piece per night.

The preparation in the form of a gel is prescribed mainly for joint pain, but it can also bring noticeable relief for fasciitis. Squeeze out a strip of gel about 3-4 cm long and rub it thoroughly into cleansed and dried skin up to 5 times a day.

Contraindications to the drug in tablet form are: acute ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, "aspirin" triad, suppression of the process of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow, liver and kidney failure, periods of pregnancy and lactation. It is prescribed with caution to children and patients with chronic heart failure.

The gel is not applied to skin damaged by fungal infection, with wounds and spontaneous inflammation. Do not use in the last months of pregnancy.

The use of the oral drug is most often accompanied by damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa, dyspeptic phenomena, digestive disorders, headaches. Dizziness, hearing loss and tinnitus, allergic reactions, kidney problems, etc. may also be observed.

External use of the drug may be associated with the risk of skin irritation, and with prolonged use even systemic reactions are possible.

"Viprosal V" is a painkiller based on viper venom. Additionally, it has an antiseptic and keratolytic effect.

Apply a small amount of ointment to the skin of the sole and rub it in. This should be done 1 or 2 times a day depending on the strength and duration of the pain.

The ointment has many contraindications. In addition to individual sensitivity to the components, its use is not allowed in bronchial asthma and a tendency to bronchial spasm, whooping cough, the possibility of epileptic seizures, acute pulmonary tuberculosis, circulatory disorders, severe liver and kidney damage. The ointment is not used at elevated temperatures, fever, weakness of the body, as well as in case of wounds and damage to the skin at the site of application.

Side effects include: the appearance of allergic rashes, itching and slight swelling of the skin.

Prednisolone ointment is a drug from the category of local glucocorticosteroids. It should be applied to the sole from 1 to 3 times a day in a thin layer and gently rubbed into the skin. The course of treatment should not exceed 2 weeks.

The ointment is not used for various skin lesions and damage to its integrity at the site of application, and is not used during vaccination or allergic reactions to the drug.

Side effects of the drug are considered to be a feeling of dry skin, itching and redness of the skin, the appearance of specific rashes in the form of papules, etc.

Creams such as “Fascitis Stop” and “Golden Mustache” are also very popular in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Folk remedies

In principle, it is quite possible to relieve inflammation and pain in plantar fasciitis with the help of folk methods of treatment. These include all kinds of medicinal baths, compresses with medicinal herbs, vegetable gruel or self-made ointments, rubbing with ointments and compresses.

Foot baths are usually used at the very beginning of treatment with folk remedies as a preparatory stage. To fill the baths, use warm water (3-3.5 liters), salt (2-3 tablespoons) and iodine (10 drops). The duration of the procedure is no more than 10 minutes.

A sea salt bath is also useful (take 2 tablespoons of salt per 3 liters of water).

For compresses, you can use herbs, such as meadowsweet. Two tablespoons of the plant root are poured with 50 ml of water and infused for about 2 hours in a warm place, after which they are kneaded into a gruel and applied as a compress for 10 hours or more.

For compresses, you can also use raw potatoes or black radish, which are pre-crushed using a grater. The vegetable gruel is applied to the sole, covered with film and wrapped in cloth or a sock is put on.

You can try making compresses from a cabbage leaf smeared with honey, applying it to the heel and ankle area.

"Bishofite" is very popular in the treatment of heel spurs - an inexpensive mineral solution that can be bought at any pharmacy. It is used for compresses and rubbing, after which the foot needs to be wrapped.

Herbal treatment for plantar fasciitis involves using homemade rubs based on medicinal plants and alcohol (vodka), taken in equal volumes. The following herbs are used as raw materials for tinctures: plantain, nettle, celandine, elecampane, burdock (mainly roots).

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Homeopathy

Those who, for various reasons, are not suitable for specific traditional treatment with drugs, can be advised to turn to homeopathy. There is probably no pathology where homeopathic treatment would not have appropriate means.

For plantar fasciitis, the following medications can be recommended:

• Ambra grisea is a medicine made from the intestinal secretions of the sperm whale, used when it is impossible to stand on the heel.
• Manganum is a manganese preparation used for foot pain.
• Argentum metallicum is a metallic silver that helps relieve the condition of patients with plantar fasciitis.
• Alumina (for pain and numbness in the heel) – aluminum oxide or alumina.
• Phytolaccа is a preparation based on the lanokos plant, which helps with acute inflammation and pain.
• Secale cornutum (for burning feet) is a drug whose active ingredient is the mycelium of a fungus from the cattosaceae family, which develops on cereals (rye).

Good reviews for the treatment of fasciitis and preparations based on shark fat, which effectively combat inflammation and pain. For inflammatory processes in the fascia, the form of preparations in the form of ointments is used.

When osteophytes grow on the heel, homeopathic doctors recommend using a preparation based on lava and ash from the Hekla volcano. The preparation is called Hekla lava.

The dosage and frequency of taking homeopathic medicines should be discussed with a doctor who is a specialist in this field of science. The same applies to the prescription of specific medications.

Prevention

Preventing a disease such as plantar fasciitis is not as easy as it seems. There are many professions in which a heavy load on the feet can cause degenerative processes in the fascia of the foot. And if you also take into account the requirements imposed by companies, when an employee does not have the right to sit down and rest outside the allotted time, which, by the way, is not enough, then the situation can be considered critical. However, very often people do not have to choose where to work, which means there is a risk of developing inflammation in the foot.

In this case, it is advisable to do leg exercises right at your workplace. This will reduce the load and the likelihood of developing the disease. Wearing orthopedic insoles and shoes is also useful.

In everyday life, it is not enough to give your feet a rest after long walks. You also need to choose the right shoes for them. It is recommended to get rid of tight and old worn-out shoes that provoke foot diseases.

When walking, if possible, it is better to choose a dirt road, which is less hard than stone and concrete surfaces. The same applies to indoor flooring. Walking on paths and carpets is less traumatic for the foot.

Be that as it may, if you have excess weight, it is better to fight it. This will help to avoid the development of not only plantar fasciitis, but also other unpleasant pathologies.

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Forecast

What to do if heel pain does appear? Don't wait until it gets worse and develops into a heel spur, but seek help from medical specialists. After all, the prognosis for its treatment largely depends on how soon plantar fasciitis is detected.