by Shawna Gillcash
(Prince Edward Island, Canada)
I have very sore feet in the morning and after excercise. I have gone to Physiotheraphy clinic and they suggested Orthodics. I am waiting to order them. I had to go to my family doctor to get a referal for the insurance company to cover the orthodics, and the doctor told me not to waste my money and to get a cortizone shot. I am not to sure which one to go to or what to do. Do you have any advises?? I know that Cortizone does not cure the problem it just soothes it and needs to be repeated, but do the orthodics cure the problem and will I have to give up wearing the shoes that I love?? I appreciate any advise you can give me on this. Thank You for your time.
Hi Shawna,
Most cases of plantar fasciitis that I see are due to life style situations. The pain is in response to the abnormal tension of the plantar fascial ligament either as a result of excess weight, standing on your feet for long periods of time or from some athletic endeavor. This is compared to situational plantar fasciitis which may be the result of wearing a lousy pair of shoes or stumbling, or some other one of a kind activity.
Your family doctor's advice about a cortisone injection would make sense if you had situational plantar fasciitis (a cortisone shot and eliminating the situation that caused the plantar fasciitis could remedy the problem).
If your problem is due to a life style situation than orthotics are the only thing that makes any real sense over the long term. You need to control the plantar fascial ligament on a daily basis so that it does not continually over stretch. By not allowing the ligament to over stretch, the pain will eventually subside plus you stand a good chance of it not returning (unlike a cortisone shot).
Since you exercise I am assuming you do it on a regular basis and this would be one example of a life style situation plantar fasciitis.
I hope this information helps.
Marc Mitnick DPM
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