Stabbing Foot Pain: Is it Plantar Fasciitis?

You have foot pain. It may have developed gradually or it may have occurred suddenly after you finished a competitive tennis match. Your pain may be intermittent and can be more severe at times, depending on what you’re doing.  

You want to get treatment sooner rather than later because the pain isn’t getting any better. Could it be plantar fasciitis? 

At Peninsula Orthopedic Associates, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons treat many types of foot pain, including plantar fasciitis. 

The plantar fascia is a strong band of fibrous tissue on the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. It’s part of the arch in your foot, and when the tissue becomes inflamed, you have plantar fasciitis. 

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis

Here are some of the common symptoms of plantar fasciitis:

Heel pain 

A classic symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain in your heel. Your Achilles tendon feels tight, and you might feel a dull ache or stabbing pain. 

The pain varies depending on what you’re doing. You’ll likely feel stabbing pain when you put pressure on your heel. When you stand up, you may feel pain, which might dissipate after a while. 

Pain on the bottom of your foot 

The pain may involve most of your foot and extend along the bottom of your foot from your heel. 

Pain in the morning 

You notice pain when you take your first steps after getting out of bed in the morning. It can really wake you up. 

Pain after vigorous activity

If you engage in strenuous physical activity like playing basketball, playing football, or swing dancing, your foot starts hurting. You may feel a stabbing pain from the intense activity.

Stiffness in your foot

The plantar fascia makes the muscles in your Achilles tendon tight. Your foot can become stiff, especially in the heel. 

Swelling in the foot

Your foot may swell when you have plantar fasciitis because the plantar fascia is inflamed. Inflammation causes swelling. 

Why you need an orthopedic specialist for plantar fasciitis

When you have foot pain, make an appointment with a medical specialist, like those on our team at Peninsula Orthopedic Associates, the premier orthopedic practice in the San Francisco Bay area. 

Other foot conditions have symptoms similar to plantar fasciitis, including Achilles tendinitis, heel spurs, stress fractures, and bursitis. An orthopedic surgeon is trained to diagnose and treat your specific foot condition. 

Treatment of plantar fasciitis

Make an appointment with our office any time you have unexplained foot pain. Conservative treatment for plantar fasciitis includes rest, ice, pain relievers, and physical therapy. If you’re in severe pain when you come to the office, we can administer a cortisone injection. 

We may recommend a night splint to stretch your plantar fascia when you sleep. A walking cast can help support your foot and ease pain. 

You may need professional custom-made orthotics. We take impressions of your foot and create an orthotic that provides the exact type of support you need. If conservative methods don’t work, we may recommend surgery. 

Call us at Peninsula Orthopedic Associates or book an appointment online at one of our convenient office locations in Daly City or Menlo Park, California. We’ll get you back on your feet again.