Staff 
January 11, 2013There are many causes of pain in the low back and one of the least common is a condition called ankylosing spondylitis. This is a type of arthritis the primarily affects the spine, but does eventually affect most of the joints in the body. It can take many years to get a diagnosis as it often just starts as a mild ache in the low back. Most people to get some back pain from tome to time so diagnosing this condition is difficult. For podiatrists, the condition can affect the joints in the foot and they can become painful. Also occurring in ankylosing sponditis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia at the heel the causes pain on the bottom of the foot. This type of plantar fasciitis is resistant to treatment with the usual methods that are used to treat it. The only really effective treatment for this heel pain is the more powerful drugs that are used to treat the arthritis. The insertion of the Achilles tendon into the heel can also be affected as well.