Homeopathy & Heel Pain

Do you suffer from pain in the heel, or do you have pain in your feet when you first get up and out of bed in the morning — one that eases when you begin to walk a bit? Does the pain return later in the day, especially after sitting for a while? If yes, you are probably suffering from plantar fasciitis [heel pain].

Heel pain, or plantar fasciitis, is a common condition that affects about 10 per cent of the population. The exact cause of the condition is not understood yet. It is found to significantly affect middle-aged, overweight individuals, whose work involves prolonged standing. The disorder is evidenced to be more common in women — especially, shop girls — than men.

Most of us take our heels for granted, until they start hurting. It is difficult to believe that our heels can cause such mayhem, but when it turns out that the nagging pain resides under the heel bone—which works in partnership with 33 joints and over one hundred, or more tendons, muscles and ligaments — it could bring the most uncomplaining individual to their knees.

People at risk of heel pain are individuals who are on their feet a lot, overweight, or wear unsupportive shoes or walk barefoot. They may have flat feet or high arches, a tight Achilles tendon or increase their exercise pattern suddenly. High-impact activities, such as running, tennis and basketball, are also likely to injure the plantar fascia.

The plantar fascia is a ligament that connects the heels to the toes. When excess stress is placed on the plantar fascia, one of the major transmitters of weight, when walking or running, there is trouble in the making.

Statistics shows that 1 in 8 people will develop heel pain syndrome in their lifetime. If the heel pain continues for more than seven days, one must visit their doctor.

The most common causes of heel pain are trauma, plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the fibrous sheath that runs most of the length of the sole of the foot), and calcaneal spur (bony protrusion).

Conventional medicine advocates the use of rest, appropriate footwear, anti-inflammatory drugs and steroid injections, which help reduce the pain and inflammation to the extent possible. The downside is they provide only temporary relief; they fail to eliminate the ‘cause’ from the root. This calls for surgery, which involves ‘selective chopping’ of the plantar fascia, away from its association to your heel bone. Not a welcome prospect.

• When one has plantar fasciitis, the plantar fascia becomes inflamed and sore, making normal activity painful
• Symptoms are typically worse, first thing in the morning, when the plantar fascia is taut; simple movements bring on pain.
• As the fascia loosens, the pain may subside, but may return after prolonged walking, or standing.

HOMEOPATHY: THE SAFE, EFFECTIVE OPTION FOR HEEL PAIN

Homeopathic treatment, under the guidance and supervision of a professional homeopathic physician, is evidenced to be effective and safe in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. It helps to ease the pain and stiffness, including the inflammatory process. It also provides long-term relief and helps the affected individual to avoid the use of the scalpel — in most medically treatable hell pain cases.