Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common reasons that patients come to see a Podiatrist. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain in the United States boasting over 2 million patients seeking treatment for this condition in the last year alone according to statistics published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, the strong band of tissue that supports the arch of your foot, becomes irritated and inflamed, usually after increased activity that causes injury to the fascia. As a result of the inflammation, the heel can become painful, feel hot, swell, or turn red.
Plantar fasciitis most commonly causes a stabbing pain that is felt with the first few steps in the morning. As the foot “warms up”, the pain of plantar fasciitis normally decreases, but it may return after long periods of standing or after getting up from a seated position. Many people with plantar fasciitis have a very tight calf muscle and they can also experience knee pain.
When plantar fasciitis is not treated, it can progress and become a chronic condition. When this happens patients may develop additional symptoms affecting the foot, knee, hip, and back because chronic plantar fasciitis can change the way a patient walks. Treatment options for plantar fasciitis are broken down into 2 categories: non-surgical and surgical. Most of the time plantar fasciitis responds very well to non-surgical treatment. When non-surgical treatments are exhausted, surgery may be necessary to give a patient relief from his or her symptoms. When surgery is indicated, Dr. Schottenstein uses a minimally invasive procedure to deal with the painful plantar fascia while still allowing the patient to walk, right after the procedure.