Plantar fasciitis is a very painful injury which can affect men or women of any age or ethnic background. It is caused by overuse of the sole or flexor surface (plantar area) of the foot. Untreated cases of plantar fasciitis can produce chronic pain.

What are the Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis?

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis are mild pain at the heel bone, also called stone bruises. You are more likely to feel the lasting pain from a stone bruise at rest then you would while walking or exercising. The pain is often most prominent after mid-day rest periods like a lunch break.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Excessive stress or strain to the sole of the foot is the predominant cause of this painful condition.

Who Is More Likely To Get Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis afflicts women more commonly then men. Overweight people are at higher risk of developing this painful condition simply from the fact that their feet are under a greater amount of stress from the excess weight. Employees who do a lot of walking or standing on hard surfaces are also at risk of developing this condition.

Anatomy can also come into play. Statistics show that individuals with tight calf muscles that limit full movement of the ankle joints can have a higher risk of plantar fasciitis. Other factors include very high arches or very flat feet.

What Does Treatment For Plantar Fasciitis Involve?

Treatments for plantar fasciitis vary. The simplest form of treatment is obvious- try to keep weight off of your feet until the pain goes away.

Simple lifestyle changes can also make a dramatic difference in helping to conquer this very uncomfortable condition. If you are overweight, any weight loss is helpful to reducing the stress your heels are under. Shoes with shock absorbing soles are also recommended. Regular applications of ice packs around your heel and arch for 30 minutes, 4 times a day are often effective in relieving pain.

Medication such as ibuprofen or other NSAIDs like naproxen may be prescribed by your physician. Ibuprofen can also be prescribed as a cream to be applied directly to the painful areas.

Exercises - There are routine exercises one can perform in order to quell and even help prevent further inflammations.

Lean forward against a wall with one knee pointing forward. Place your hands, one over the other at the level of your forehead. Your heel on the ground. Bend your other knee. This stance stretches your foots arch and heel chord as you lean forward with your torso. Repeat this stretching 20 times for each heel.

Place your hands on a countertop and lean forward. Place one foot in from of the other. Using your knees, squat down while standing firmly. Hold this pose for 10 seconds and repeat 20 times.

Corticosteroid Injections: For extreme cases of plantar fasciitis where conservative treatments do not alleviate your pain, your doctor may use corticosteroids, as they have strong anti-inflammatory activity. These will be injected into your heel. If your symptoms persist, you may be required to wear a walking cast for up to 3 weeks and a positional splint during sleep or times of rest.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a treatment - perhaps better known for treating kidney stones than feet - in which sound waves are sent through the damaged tissue in order to stimulate the damaged tissue and encourage healing.

In very rare cases where the above treatments have little or no effect, surgery may be necessary.

Plantar Fascia Release Surgery

Plantar fascia release surgery involves cutting part of the plantar fascia ligament to release tension and relieve inflammation of the ligament. Local anesthetic is used for the procedure. Plantar fascia release can be done by cutting the area (open surgery) or by inserting instruments through small incisions (endoscopic surgery).

• The surgeon will make an incision on the foot above the heel pad, where the thicker skin of the sole meets the thinner skin of the back of the heel, or he may make an incision on the bottom of the foot. If the surgery is done endoscopically, the surgeon will make a small incision on either side of the heel below the ankle bone.
• The surgeon may detach the plantar fascia from the heel bone or make incisions on either side to release tension.
• The surgeon may remove and smooth the bone surface to allow the plantar fascia to heal under less tension. Sometimes the surgeon removes a small wedge of damaged tissue.
• The surgeon may also free the thickest part of a foot muscle (abductor hallucis) to prevent nerves from becoming trapped as a result of the surgery. If a heel spur is present, it may be removed.

What are the Advantages of Surgery?

Surgery provides a more permanent correction of the problem when more conservative measures have failed.

How Long Does the Procedure Take?

The surgery generally takes about 20 minutes to an hour.

When Will I See Results?

This is dependent on the severity of the individual case.

What Are My Alternatives to Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

See the options discussed above.

Will I Have Pain?

The condition is painful, and if you have surgery, there is a period of postoperative pain. Administration of an NSAID (naproxen or ibuprofen) or perhaps an opiate such as hydrocodone is helpful in managing pain.

When Can I Go Back To Work Or School?

With plantar fasciitis release surgery, you will wear a cast for a while (which you can certainly wear to work) but you will be able to return to normal activities in 3-6 weeks.

Who Will Perform My Treatment?

One of our board-certified podiatrists will prescribe the appropriate treatment.

How Much Does It Cost?

Please call TopSurgeons at 800-506-8084 for more information.

Will My Insurance Cover Plantar Fasciitis Treatment?

Insurance should cover this condition and any approved treatments.