Sometimes heel pain is normal, but are you facing it every day, recently? If you do then you need to immediately figure out why it’s happening!
Plantar fasciitis and Tendonitis are two common conditions that can cause pain in your heel. Since they are both a lot similar it’s hard to differentiate between them. Both conditions can make it hard for you to walk and ruin the quality of your life.
At early stages, both conditions show some similar symptoms which make many people think they are the same. That’s why in this article we will compare both conditions so that you can differentiate between them and get the right treatment done quickly.
What are Plantar Facilities
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most prevalent orthopedic conditions that could happen to your heels. Inside your sole, there is the plantar fascia ligament that connects your toe to your heel. However, they are subjected to a great deal of wear and tear due to regular activities. They may get damaged or torn if you put too much pressure on them and this can lead to inflammation and produce stiffness and discomfort.
This condition is common in people aged 40-50 as the fascia gets weaker over time which can cause pain in your foot.
In addition, it has been found that plantar facilities aren’t a life-threatening condition but it’s painful to live with it, that’s why many people treat it.
Causes
The only possible cause of plantar fasciitis is tearing of your fascia. The arch and muscles of your foot are supported by this fascia. But If it accidentally stretched too much it’s possible to get microscopic tears and cuts which can result in irritation and discomfort.
However, different reasons could lead to tearing of fascia, such as:
Aging:
Just like we mentioned before, aging could increase the risks of plantar fasciitis. So, if you are 40-50 years old then make to not put too much on your feet.
Exercises that may damage your fascia:
Exercises such as running and the long jump can put too much stress on your fascia that can make it tear.
Obesity:
If you’re overweight, you’re more likely to get plantar fasciitis. This is caused by increased strain on your plantar fascia ligaments, which is particularly frequent when you gain weight quickly. Also, Pregnant women are at more risk since the weight of the fetus can put pressure on your foot as well.
Symptoms
Plantar fasciitis doesn’t show any signs and symptoms except pain at the bottom of the heel or sometimes at the mid-foot area. Many people complain that they feel the most pain when they take the first step of their day in the morning.
It’s because the fascia ligament stays relaxed for a long period while you are asleep, but when you wake up and get out of the bed, the sudden stretch creates a huge amount of pain.
This pain reduces over time but may come back if you have been sitting or standing in the same position for a long time.
Treatment
Since it’s not a serious condition, there is no medication is needed in most cases. To treat plantar fascia people often try home remedies like:
- Icing the area
- Resting
- Avoiding activities like running and long jump can increase the pain
- Using shoes with thick soles and extra cushioning
Remember, home remedies are not the ultimate solution, so make sure that you get a check up from a good Podiatrist. And if you are from Pittsburgh, PA, USA, make sure to check out ESWT in Pittsburgh.
What is Tendonitis
Tendonitis is caused by a strain in the Achilles tendon, unlike plantar fasciitis. It’s a band that connects your calf muscle to your foot’s heel bone.
Furthermore, many people describe tendonitis as more painful than plantar fascia as Achilles’ tendons are essential for movements like running, jumping, standing, and walking. That’s why the more you move, the more pain increases.
Causes
We have mentioned before that there are many similarities between these two conditions, which makes it hard to find differences between them. Still, some causes will help you figure out your problem, these causes include:
- Excessive exercise
- Workout without a sufficient warm-up
- Wearing shoes with poor fitting
- A sudden increase in workout
- They can also be brought by sudden injuries as well
Symptoms
If you are suffering from tendonitis, you will experience more discomfort and pain than plantar fascia. But there are more symptoms than just pain, that’s why you should lol to them as well. Some of these symptoms include:
- Swelling in the back of your heel
- Increase in pain after every activity
- Redness
- Tight calf muscles
- Difficulty to moving the foot
Treatment
Although both of these conditions are different, they still require the same treatment. Just like plantar fascia icing, resting and choosing more comfortable shoes can resolve the problem.
Also, OTC pain relievers can be taken if the pain if the pain overwhelming.
Plantar Fasciitis vs Tendonitis
After this much research, you may have realized the main difference between these two conditions is the location of the pain. If you feel irritated in the bottom side of your heel then it’s plantar fascia and if the pain is in the Achilles tendon, then it’s tendonitis.
Also, the duration of pain creates a big difference between them, plantar fascia causes pain if only your foot if it’s at rest position for a long period. While tendonitis gets worse as you perform more activities and it’s more painful. So, the more the activities, the more pain increases.
Conclusion
It doesn’t matter what you are suffering from. You should always figure out the cause of your disease in the early stages so that it becomes easier for the treatment to heal you.
If you notice any of the above conditions, make sure to use ice to relieve pain and give rest to your foot as home remedies work best in the early stages. However, if the pain still doesn’t go away try pain killers or contact your doctor immediately.
They will diagnose your condition and make the right treatment plan for you so that you walk again without any pain.
