Our Services / Plantar Fasciitis

What is plantar fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is the connective tissue stretching along the sole of your foot from the heel to the ball. If it develops irritation and inflammation from stress or overtightening, pain and tearing can happen. Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the plantar regions of your foot — the heel, arch, and midfoot.

If you experience heel pain after sitting, standing, or walking for an extended period, you could be showing signs of plantar fasciitis. The pain is often worse in the morning right after you get up, then eases off. However, if you keep walking, you could find that it returns, causing intense heel pain that makes it hard to walk.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Likely causes of plantar fasciitis include:

• Abnormal foot structure
• Flat feet
• High arches
• Wearing unsupportive footwear
• Walking on hard surfaces
• Spending hours on your feet
• Being overweight or obese

It’s often a combination of things that triggers plantar fasciitis, like having high arches and working in a job where you need to stand a lot of the time.

The symptoms you’re experiencing indicate that you’ve got plantar fasciitis. Dr. Hansen will probably order X-rays to confirm this and rule out any other cause. Sometimes, diagnostic imaging shows problems like heel spurs (bony growths) that also need treatment.

What should I do if I have plantar fasciitis?

If you have plantar fasciitis, you can take several actions to ease heel pain and promote your recovery. These include:

• Stretching exercises
• Not going barefoot
• Applying ice packs
• Reducing physical activities
• Wearing supportive footwear
• Taking anti-inflammatory painkillers

Shoes with slightly raised heels take some of the pressure off your plantar fascia. But high heels and narrow toes can cause other problems, like bunions.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

Visit Dr. Hansen for more advanced treatments if your plantar fasciitis symptoms don’t improve using self-help measures. Advanced treatments include:

• Padding and strapping
• Removable walking casts
• Night splints
• Physical therapy
• Custom-fitted orthotics (shoe inserts)

Ultrasound-guided steroid and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections also greatly relieve persistent plantar fasciitis.

Most patients find these nonsurgical treatments effective in relieving heel pain. However, if you’ve been getting treatment for several months without any sign of improvement, Dr. Hansen might suggest plantar fascia release surgery.

During plantar fascia release surgery, Dr. Hansen cuts the plantar fascia to relieve pressure. He can also remove damaged tissue and heel spurs if you have them.

If you’re finding it hard to walk because of heel pain, get expert plantar fasciitis treatment at Hansen Foot & Ankle. Call their office today or book an appointment online.