
13/08/2024
Signs You Should Get Help for Plantar Fasciitis
Talk to your doctor or a foot and ankle specialist if you have any of the following symptoms:
Your heels hurt first thing in the morning.
You feel sharp, "stepping on glass" pain on the bottom of your foot and on the inside of your heel.
The pain subsides after a few minutes, only to resurface when you rest and get up again.
You experience frequent pain, tenderness, stiffness or tightness in the bottom of your foot.
If a physical exam or X-ray reveals that you have plantar fasciitis, you may be referred to a foot and ankle specialist at Rush. With treatment, most patients feel better within months, although treatment can last up to a few years.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment at Rush
Nonsurgical Treatments
In most cases, nonsurgical treatments and rest will improve the pain, including the following:
Physical therapy with stretching instruction
Cortisone injections, which can help reduce inflammation and pain
Platelet-rich plasma injections, which can decrease pain and recovery time, and improve function
Gel shoe inserts, orthotic arch supports or supportive, low-heeled shoes (as opposed to flip-flops and high heels)
Immobilizing boot during the day or a night splint at night
Ice, applied three or four times a day to reduce inflammation
Anti-inflammatory medications
Shock-wave therapy to stimulate healing using a non-invasive probe to deliver pressure waves to the inflamed tissue and trigger the body's natural healing process.
It's also important for you to get lots of rest, and have plenty of patience. It may take anywhere from three to 12 months for plantar fasciitis to heal completely, though treatment often improves symptoms dramatically within about six weeks.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery is rarely needed for plantar fasciitis. But your doctor may recommend surgery if you've tried all of the conservative therapies and are still experiencing symptoms.
Plantar fascia release surgery involves cutting part of the plantar fascia ligament. Rush foot and ankle surgeons perform this procedure minimally invasively, through an endoscope. This approach reduces your hospital stay time.