Our feet take us everywhere we go in life — literally! They’re complex, however, and each foot contains 26 bones, 107 ligaments, 33 joints, and 19 muscles alone. With this complexity comes the potential for problems, unfortunately.
An important part of your foot is your plantar fascia, the sturdy tissue band that runs along the bottom of your foot and acts as a shock absorber of sorts when you’re active. It also supports the arch of your foot.
When your plantar fascia becomes inflamed, debilitating heel pain and other symptoms can develop. This condition is known as plantar fasciitis, and it’s common, with over two million Americans each year seeking treatment for it.
Our experienced podiatry provider team at Premier Foot & Ankle has extensive experience diagnosing and treating plantar fasciitis successfully, allowing patients to enjoy full mobility again — minus the pain.
We approach your treatment carefully and seek to customize a plan to get you exactly what you need. We’re here to address all your questions and concerns.
When you experience plantar fascia inflammation, it’s because of tears that occur due to overstretching.
Risk factors for plantar fasciitis include excess weight, engaging in sports without the proper footwear (especially jogging), jumping, and standing or walking for long periods. Some jobs require you to stand for hours or walk a lot, which can be a recipe for developing plantar fasciitis.
You’re at risk for plantar fasciitis if you have flat feet or gait-related problems. Foot, ankle, and leg injuries can lead to this condition as well.
The tell-tale signs of plantar fasciitis include:
If you don’t tend to plantar fasciitis with medical treatment, it can result in complications and additional movement limitations. Painful heel spurs can develop due to an accumulation of calcium where your plantar fascia and heel bone are attached, which may require surgery.
We provide a robust group of treatment options for plantar fasciitis, including anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, medical devices like splints and orthotics, exercises and stretches, and more.
We also offer several minimally invasive and noninvasive advanced treatments to successfully relieve pain and movement problems associated with plantar fasciitis. One we’re particularly excited about is PodiaTherm, a treatment that harnesses the power of radiofrequency (RF) energy to impede nerve pain.
This treatment renders your foot’s peripheral nerves unable to transmit pain, freeing you from the shackles of plantar fasciitis discomfort and limitations.
PodiaTherm treatment involves a simple in-office visit where we administer local anesthesia to your targeted treatment area. Your Premier Foot & Ankle provider then carefully inserts a fine needle into the area where you’re experiencing pain.
They double-check that they’ve located the nerve that needs treatment by using ultrasound imaging and/or stimulating the nerve before your treatment. Your provider numbs your treatment area a bit more and treats several spots to ensure your pain is addressed successfully.
Another reason our patients enthusiastically embrace PodiaTherm, in addition to the fact that treatment is minimally invasive and comfortable, is that there’s no post-treatment downtime. Though you might experience tenderness for a few days after treatment, this abates quickly, and many patients find they can be fully active right after treatment.
You’ll notice the full effects of PodiaTherm 4-6 weeks after your treatment. Nerve regeneration generally happens after about two years, but you’re free to receive treatment again if your plantar fasciitis symptoms recur.
There’s no reason you shouldn’t be enjoying a full and active life without the discomfort and limitations of plantar fasciitis. We can help. Contact one of our five convenient Texas locations today to schedule an appointment to get tested. Call us or book online.
