Plantar Fasciitis Specialist

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain that can result from inflammation in the tissue bands that run across the bottom of your feet. If plantar fasciitis pain doesn’t subside or is severe, Monroe Foot & Ankle Care can offer solutions for relief.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

If you have plantar fasciitis, you might experience the following signs or symptoms:

• Numbness
• Stabbing pain
• Burning pain
• Pain when you stand up
• Discomfort that worsens after exercise
• Pain when you first wake up

Plantar fasciitis might result from overexertion, trauma, poor foot alignment, or ill-fitting shoes.

What are the risk factors for plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis can happen to anyone, but the following factors increase your risk:

• Being overweight or obese
• Running, ballet, or aerobic dance
• Wearing shoes with inadequate support
• Older age
• Genetics
• Hyperpronation
• Abnormal walking patterns
• Flat feet or high arches
• Standing or walking most of the day
• Standing on hard surfaces
  
  

If left untreated, complications associated with plantar fasciitis include discomfort that prevents you from staying active, chronic pain, and knee, hip, foot, or back problems.

How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?

The team at Monroe Foot & Ankle Care can diagnose plantar fasciitis by reviewing your symptoms and completing a comprehensive examination. They might use MRIs or X-rays to detect or rule out more serious complications, such as a fracture.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

To treat discomfort caused by plantar fasciitis, the Monroe Foot & Ankle Care team might recommend the following treatments: 

• Physical therapy 
• MLS laser therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medicines
• Custom orthotics 
• Cortisone injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Stem cell injections
• Functional orthoses
• Anti-inflammatory medicines
• Night splints
• Surgery

Having proper foot support is a major factor in relieving plantar fasciitis pain. Your provider uses computerized scanning to create custom orthotics that control hyperpronation, which is the main cause of plantar fasciitis.

Which treatment is right for me?

The Monroe Foot & Ankle Care specialists try conservative treatments first, but understand the importance of surgery in severe cases. Things you can do at home to reduce your risk of plantar fasciitis pain include maintaining a healthy weight, wearing comfortable shoes, stretching your foot arches, and icing the affected area. 

Don’t live with heel pain if it’s debilitating and prevents you from staying active. Schedule an appointment with Monroe Foot & Ankle Care by phone or online today for relief.