Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is caused by inflammation in the tissue supporting the arch of your foot. If you have heel pain and tenderness typical of plantar fasciitis, visit the Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands for an expert assessment. At their offices in The Woodlands, Memorial City, and Huntsville, Texas, the practice’s highly skilled foot doctors provide effective nonsurgical treatments and advanced surgery to relieve heel pain. Call the Foot and Ankle Specialists today or book an appointment online for expert plantar fasciitis treatment.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation affecting a band of strong tissue on the sole of your foot (the plantar fascia). Plantar fasciitis pain and tenderness in the bottom of the heel tend to be worse when you first start moving after a period of rest. Right after you get up in the morning is often the worst time.

After walking for a while, the pain eases. But many people find it gets worse again if they stay on their feet too long. The tenderness can be so intense that it’s hard to walk or makes you put your weight on your toes.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is more likely to be a problem if you have exceptionally high or low arches. The plantar fascia supports the foot’s arch, running from heel to toe. If the tissue is strained by an abnormal arch, it pulls on the heel bone, triggering irritation and inflammation.

Other things that increase your risk of plantar fasciitis include spending a long time on your feet, wearing unsupportive footwear, and carrying excess body weight.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

Most patients at the Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands find their pain improves with nonsurgical treatments like:

• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Resting the heel
• Stretching exercises
• Well-fitting, supportive shoes
• Arch supports
• Orthotics (medical shoe inserts)
• Steroid injections

Steroids like cortisone are some of the most potent anti-inflammatory medicines. Injecting them into the inflamed plantar fascia can be effective when other treatments aren’t improving your symptoms.

If you still suffer from heel pain after trying all these treatments, the Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands team could suggest surgery.

What does surgery for plantar fasciitis involve?

The Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands specializes in advanced forms of plantar fascia release surgery, including:

Incisionless plantar fasciitis surgery

Marcin Vaclaw, DPM, has been instrumental in developing “no-incision” plantar fasciitis surgery. The technique uses alternative medicine substances that promote increased blood flow and faster healing.

The minimally invasive procedure takes just 10-15 minutes, and you can walk on the foot almost immediately. Unlike traditional plantar fascia release, you don’t need to wear a protective device afterward. Symptom improvement should begin within a few weeks and provide long-term benefit.

Endoscopic plantar fasciotomy

Endoscopic plantar fasciotomy involves accessing the plantar fascia with an endoscope. This instrument has a camera on its end that provides images of the inflamed tissue so your surgeon can cut it accurately. As with “no-incision” surgery, you can bear weight straight away, and patients experience minimal pain afterward.

Call the Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands today or book an appointment online to benefit from cutting-edge plantar fasciitis treatment.