If sharp pain shoots through your heel in the morning as soon as you get out of bed and then your lower back begins to ache more than usual, it’s reasonable to wonder if these pains are connected. And the answer is likely yes. Plantar fasciitis can cause back pain because your body tries to compensate for a sore foot. When you change how you walk to avoid heel pain, it puts stress on other parts of your body, with your back taking the brunt of this extra strain. The specialists at Greater Maryland Pain Management can explain how foot pain relates to back pain, helping you find the ideal treatment approach. Before setting up an appointment at one of our Maryland clinics, let’s explore how plantar fasciitis affects your entire body and what you can do about it to prevent associated problems.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It occurs when the plantar fascia becomes inflamed. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes. The tissue acts like a shock absorber. It supports the foot’s arch while walking, running, and standing. However, when it’s overused or stretched too far, tiny tears can form, causing inflammation and pain.
The pain from plantar fasciitis is usually at its worst in the morning. Your first steps out of bed will hurt the most, but the pain may subside a bit after you’ve moved around. However, it often returns after prolonged standing or after getting up from a seated position. Several elements can lead to plantar fasciitis:
- Being overweight puts extra pressure on your feet
- Having flat feet or high arches changes how weight is distributed
- Wearing shoes with poor support
- Running or walking on hard surfaces
- Getting older makes the tissue less flexible
- Standing for prolonged periods at work
How Plantar Fasciitis Impacts Back Pain
When your heel hurts, your body naturally tries to protect it. You might not realize you’re doing it, but you start walking differently. Your body shifts weight away from the painful heel to reduce discomfort. Small changes in how you walk can lead to significant problems. When you favor one foot over the other, it creates an uneven gait, which puts extra stress on your legs, hips, and lower back. Here’s what happens step by step:
- First, you avoid putting full weight on your sore heel. You might lean to one side or take shorter steps. Your other foot has to work harder to compensate for the protected one.
- Next, your leg muscles start working differently. Some muscles get overused while others don’t work enough. This imbalance travels up your leg to your hip.
- Your hips must adjust to maintain your balance. When one hip sits higher than the other, it tilts your pelvis, putting your spine out of normal alignment.
- Finally, your back muscles have to work extra hard to keep you upright. The muscles on one side of your back become tight and overworked, while those on the other side may weaken from underuse.
The chain reaction from simple heel pain can cause several types of back pain, including:
- Lower back stiffness from muscle tension
- Sharp pains from pinched nerves
- Aching from overworked muscles
- Hip pain that feels like back pain
We Provide Complementary Plantar Fasciitis and Back Pain Treatments
The pain doctors at Greater Maryland Pain Management understand that foot and back pain often go hand in hand. As a result, we don’t just treat one problem at a time. Instead, we look at how all body parts work together. This approach enables us to develop more effective treatment plans.
Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis
There are several proven treatments for plantar fasciitis:
- Physical Therapy – Physical therapists will teach you exercises to do at home to reduce inflammation and prevent further issues. They’ll aim to stretch and strengthen the foot muscles.
- Custom Orthotics – These special shoe inserts provide support where it’s needed. Good orthotics can reduce pressure on your plantar fascia and help it heal.
- Corticosteroid Injections – Injections can provide quick relief from severe pain. These shots reduce inflammation in the plantar fascia. They work best when combined with other treatments.
- Shockwave Therapy – Soundwaves can stimulate healing. This treatment may help when other methods haven’t worked because it encourages blood flow to the injured tissue.
Treatments for Back Pain
We also have effective treatments for back pain caused by plantar fasciitis:
- Spinal Adjustments – These adjustments can help realign your spine. When your back is in the proper position, it reduces muscle strain and nerve pressure.
- Muscle Relaxation Techniques – Pain doctors can help relieve tight muscles through massage, heat therapy, and specialized stretching programs.
- Strengthening Exercises – When all your muscles work correctly, it takes pressure off the back, making strengthening exercises essential.
- Pain Management Injections – We also offer injections to provide relief while your body heals.
You Can Rely on Greater Maryland Pain Management
Dealing with foot and back pain simultaneously can be frustrating. You might feel like you’re stuck in a cycle where fixing one problem makes the other worse. But with the right approach, you can break this pattern. Greater Maryland Pain Management will create a program based on your health and circumstances that treats your entire body rather than a specific issue. We’ll then focus on prevention. Once your pain improves, we’ll teach you how to avoid future problems.
We use the latest research and proven techniques to reduce our patients’ pain as quickly as possible. Let us help you return to your favorite activities.
Contact Us in Maryland Today
Don’t let plantar fasciitis control your life or create lasting back problems. The sooner you seek treatment, the better your chances of full recovery. Greater Maryland Pain Management has locations throughout the Old Line State. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.