Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is often the cause of sharp, stabbing heel and arch pain that strikes with your first step in the morning. Dr. Michael Williams is a skilled podiatrist who leads the team at Lincoln Park Podiatry with offices in the Chicago communities of Lincoln Park and Lakeview. They accurately diagnose the underlying causes of your discomfort, design a treatment plan to relieve symptoms, and get you moving again, pain-free. Call today for an appointment or try the patient-friendly, 24/7 online scheduling service.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue (the plantar fascia) that extends from the heel to the toes. In this condition, the fascia first becomes irritated and then inflamed, resulting in heel pain.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

• Pain on the bottom of the heel where the fascia meets the heel bone
• Pain in the arch of the foot
• Pain that is usually worse upon arising but may get better throughout the day
• Pain that increases over a period of months
• Swelling on the bottom of the heel

Causes of plantar fasciitis?

The most common cause of plantar fasciitis relates to faulty structure of the foot. For example, people who have problems with their arches, either overly flat feet or high-arched feet, are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis.

Wearing nonsuppurative footwear on hard, flat surfaces puts abnormal strain on the plantar fascia and can also lead to plantar fasciitis. This is particularly evident when one’s job requires long hours on the feet. Obesity and overuse may also contribute to plantar fasciitis.

What are the treatments for plantar fasciitis?

As part of a comprehensive treatment plan, Dr. Williams seeks to decrease your symptoms as well as understand the actual cause of the stress so he can develop long-term solutions to your plantar fasciitis.

Treatments vary according to the severity, frequency, and cause of your symptoms. Dr. Williams may recommend:

• Stretching exercises/ Physical therapy to stretch out the calf muscles help ease pain and assist with recovery.
• Shoe modifications- Wearing supportive shoes that have good arch support and a slightly raised heel reduces stress on the plantar fascia.
• Medications- to relieve inflammation and discomfort
• Orthotic devices- Custom orthotic devices that fit into your shoe help correct the underlying structural abnormalities causing the plantar fasciitis.

For persistent or severe symptoms, your doctor may suggest an injection or possibly a removable walking cast may be used to keep your foot immobile for a few weeks to allow it to rest and heal. In some cases, corticosteroid injections are used to help reduce the inflammation and relieve pain.

If, after several months of nonsurgical treatment, you continue to have heel pain, surgery can be considered. Your foot and ankle surgeon will discuss the surgical options with you and determine which approach would be most beneficial for you. You may be a candidate for the minimally invasive Tenex procedure. Tenex takes 10-15 minutes to perform and requires only two stitches to close a tiny incision. Tenex was FDA approved in 2011 for treatment of all soft tissue injuries. The Tenex machine projects ultrasonic waves into the tissue which breaks up damaged and diseased tissues while sparing healthy tissue. Thus, relieving patients of their plantar fascia/ tendon pain.