Plantar fasciitis is painful beyond belief; the pain is excruciating! I’ve had it, went to a podiatrist, a doctor specializing in foot problems (podiatry), and had to wear a brace up to my mid-calf. I did exercises and that is what cured the problem.
This condition is an ailment of one or both feet. Mine was my left foot only. The plantar fascia tendon attaches to each toe then to the heel of the foot. It is the most painful when you get out of bed in the morning after relaxing the foot all night.
It’s not clearly understood as to why it occurs. Some of the risk factors are obesity, standing for long periods, increasing exercise, not enough exercise, shoes too tight/too short, rolling the foot inward, high heels, and a tight Achilles tendon.
Plantar fasciitis is not caused by heel spurs. It’s mainly caused by flat feet or arch problems, running on uneven surfaces, downhill running, or shoes that don’t fit right.
It can be caused by small tears that become inflamed, collagen break down, scarring, including osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, heel pad syndrome, and reactive arthritis.
Cold compresses and stretching will help with the problem. Soaking your feet or foot in Epsom salt water will help as well. In a tub of warm water add 2- to 3-tablespoons of Epsom salt and soak for 10- to 15-minutes. Massage your feet when you remove them from the water and do this a few times each week.
Consider an arch support inside your shoes. Do consult with a podiatrist if your condition is severe.
Exercise for Plantar Fasciitis
The exercise that I found best was the standing calf stretch, hands on the wall. I still do it today to keep my feet active and loose.
ICD-10 Billing Code
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) is the billing code for insurance companies to pay the doctor or to reimburse you if you paid out-of-pocket. The old plantar fasciitis ICD-9 code was 728.71 and now is M72.2. The podiatry billing ICD-10 diagnosis code for plantar fasciitis is M72.2, a subheading for ICD-10.
In closing, keep your feet in good shape between the ages of 40 and 60, and wear shoes for plantar fasciitis with good arch support. Don’t wear shoes that are old with heels worn over, or toes too tight. Thongs are terrible for your feet! So, don’t start your kids out wearing thongs for having bad feet later in life.