Can Alcohol Aggravate Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the thick ligament that runs from the heel bone to the toes. It is a common cause of heel pain, especially in people that stand for long periods, or those that are overweight. Even with treatment, its symptoms can take a while to resolve completely. One such thing that can aggravate plantar fasciitis and prolong your healing is alcohol.

How Does Alcohol Affect Plantar Fasciitis?

Depending on how much you drink, alcohol can aggravate plantar fasciitis. At the basic level, it can deprive the body of nutrients necessary for muscle health. Over time, this can leave the legs weak and painful. Alcohol can also lead to swelling of the lower limbs. With swelling, nerve compression can occur, worsening the pain symptoms you feel due to plantar fasciitis.

Heavy alcohol intake can also lead to alcoholic neuropathy, worsening plantar fasciitis. Alcohol neuropathy is a neurological condition in which alcohol damages the peripheral nerves that are all over the body, causing them to malfunction. This then results in numbness, weakness, and a burning sensation in the feet.

Besides reducing your alcohol intake, there are solutions such as exercises and herbs for plantar fasciitis, both of which can alleviate pain caused by the condition.

Signs Alcohol Is Making Your Feet Worse

There are many things to avoid with plantar fasciitis. Alcohol is one of them. However, if you cannot stay away completely, there may still be some symptoms that you will notice, and this should help you determine if it is making your feet worse or not. These symptoms mimic those of peripheral neuropathy and they include:

• Burning pain in the lower limbs.
• Decreased sensation.
• Weakness in the legs.
• Loss of balance.

Generally, these symptoms start mildly, so the earlier you notice them, the better the chances of nipping the condition in the bud. Early intervention also means that the recovery period will be short. To curb these symptoms, reduce your alcohol intake, massage your sore heels, and wear plantar fasciitis custom orthotics.