Frequently
Asked Questions
Q: Plan-ter-fash-ee-WHAT??
A: Plantar fasciitis, pronounced “PLAN-ter fash-ee-I-tis," is a repetitive stress injury affecting the sturdy band of connective tissue which runs from your heel to the base of your toes. It is characterized by numerous micro-tears along this band, which result in pain ranging from a dull ache to a sharp stabbing feeling. Plantar fasciitis can last for months or even years. However, the condition is highly treatable and may heal much, much faster if its hobbled victim engages in active recovery. This book will guide you through a complete range of active recovery steps.
Q: Is plantar fasciitis the same thing as "heel spurs?"
A: No. Heel spurs are calcium deposits which result from the inflamed plantar fascia being pulled and strained where it attaches to the heel. The heel spurs form at the front of the heel and can be felt through palpitation. Heel spurs themselves do not hurt, and do not cause plantar fasciitis. They are instead a symptom of it.
Q: I experience intense heel pain in the morning. As the day progresses and I move about, the pain subsides to a degree. But it returns in the evening - with a vengeance. What's going on?
A: Welcome to the frustrating world of plantar fasciitis. A peculiar and hazardous aspect of the condition is its tendency to subside as you move around during the day, then return with full force in the evening. This short window of relief can actually be a detriment as it gives the victim the illusion that the malady is receding. As a result, the factors which caused plantar fasciitis in the first place may not be addressed, and a person may unwittingly continue to aggravate the condition. Which can result in a more severe case of plantar fasciitis and delayed healing.
The guidelines you'll find within Injury Afoot: 30 Things You Can Do to Relieve Heel Pain and Speed Healing of Plantar Fasciitis will help steer you toward fixing plantar fasciitis and preventing its recurrence - regardless of the present level of soreness you endure. Many sufferers of plantar fasciitis realize a cessation of pain for awhile, only to have the condition sink its talons back into their feet soon after. This book will help you protect yourself from such a recurrence.
Q: Can't I just tough it out and wait for plantar fasciitis to go away?
A: You can try it, but it may not work. Plantar fasciitis afflicts a person because of the presence of certain factors, generally several of them, conspiring to form the "perfect storm" against your feet. The trick to conquering the condition is to learn what those factors are and eliminate them. At the same time, you will want to bolster your foot's defense mechanisms. This book will explain those factors and guide you step by step through the recovery process. It will help you eliminate the pain caused by plantar fasciitis and get your feet back in action in the shortest time possible.
Q: Isn't there some kind of pill I can take?
A: No medication exists that will actually make plantar fasciitis disappear. In some cases a doctor or other health care professional will recommend over-the-counter pain relievers, but these provide only temporary relief at best. To effectively vanquish plantar fasciitis, you'll want to do more than just delay the pain; you need to address the causes of the condition and take action. And that's just what this book will help you do.
Q: Shouldn't I consult a doctor for such a serious condition?
A: Seeing a doctor or other health care professional is never a bad idea when you're stricken with a painful injury like plantar fasciitis. But the healing process generally takes place under a home care setting, whether you see a doctor or not. Many of the steps on the way to recovery involve actions you make part of your daily life. No miracle medicine is available to cure plantar fasciitis, so you won't be given a prescription for one. A good doctor or other health care professional will probably give constructive suggestions, steer you in the right direction, and start you on the path to recovery with two, three, maybe four actions you can take. But why stop there? This book provides you with 30. My suggestion? See a health care professional, AND buy and use this book. These are your feet we're talking about, after all. Leave no stone unturned. Do both.