Have Plantar Fasciitis and are unsure when to see a doctor? Plantar Fasciitis is the medical term for feeling pain in your heel. It’s a condition that can be caused by many different factors. These factors can include, being overweight, wearing the wrong sized shoes, having high arches or flat feet, and walking or standing for long periods of time.

There are many causes and varying degrees of Plantar Fasciitis. Though there are lesser signs you should pick up that phone and make an appointment to see a doctor, a there are a few symptoms in which you should contact your doctor immediately. If your heel pain is paired with a fever, numbness, redness, or warmth in your heel you should seek medical care as soon as possible.

Here are three signs that it’s time to pick up the phone and make that appointment-

1 – Heel Pain When Weight is Placed on Heel

Another telltale sign that it’s time to see a doctor about your Plantar Fasciitis is if you find yourself in pain when you place weight on the heel. Any injury that causes pain in this matter could be a deeper injury and should be attended to by your doctor.

2 – Constant Heel Pain

Finding yourself with constant heel pain? It may be time to call the doctor. If you find yourself resting your heel for long periods of time and still experience this pain, then it is time to see a doctor. Not only for the health of your heel, but for pain relief as well. Living with pain can be a burden of its own, help yourself by getting help to alleviate that pain.

3 – How Much Time Has Passed?

Have neither constant heel pain or heel pain when weight is placed upon it, but still have some form of pain in the heel? If you have tried over the counter pain medications, but after a week you are still in pain? If this the case with you, then it’s time to make an appointment.

So you’ve made an appointment, what should you expect?

Many cases of Plantar Fasciitis can be treated at home. Using ice and rest paired with simple the counter pain medications can usually do the trick. But perhaps it hasn’t and you’re ready for that appointment, what can you expect?

Most doctors will start your Plantar Fasciitis treatment by seeking to relieve the pain as quickly as possible. This can start with a shot of a corticosteroid, this may fix the issue. If not the doctor may give another shot weeks after the first.

If neither of those methods work to relieve your pain, you may be looking at surgery to fix the issue. Though you may be off of that foot while your heel heals itself, the long term goal is to leave you without pain, which is really all you can ask for when dealing with plantar fasciitis.