Toe-Tal Foot & Ankle Care
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Plantar Fasciitis

Podiatry, Foot & Ankle Surgeon and Wound Care Specialist located in Watauga, TX

Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis services offered in Watauga, TX

If you have bothersome heel pain, it could be due to a condition called plantar fasciitis. At Toe-Tal Foot & Ankle Care in Watauga, Texas, skilled podiatrist Daniel Cairns, DPM, offers effective plantar fasciitis treatments to ease debilitating symptoms. To find a solution to your heel pain, call the office or schedule an appointment online today. 

Plantar Fasciitis Q & A

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain that develops when a thick tissue band in your foot becomes inflamed, causing stabbing discomfort that may inhibit your ability to stay mobile, exercise, and live your best life. Dr. Cairns creates conservative yet highly effective heel pain treatment plans for his patients.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

The hallmark symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:

  • Stabbing heel pain
  • Pain with the first few steps in the morning
  • Pain that subsides as you get up and move
  • Heel pain that returns after long periods of standing
  • Discomfort that develops when you get up from sitting

The pain may be mild and not bother you as much or severe and prevent you from completing everyday tasks. If you alter the way you walk to avoid heel pain, plantar fasciitis may lead to back, hip, knee, or foot problems. Getting the proper treatment can ease your discomfort.

What are the risk factors for plantar fasciitis? 

While the cause of plantar fasciitis isn’t always known, it can occur due to tension, stress, and small tears on a tissue band in your foot. The common risk factors include:

  • Being overweight
  • Doing high-impact exercises
  • Being 40-60 years old
  • Flat feet
  • High arches
  • Long-distance running
  • Atypical walking patterns
  • Physical demanding job
  • Jobs that require you to be on your feet

The best way to reduce the risk of plantar fasciitis is to warm up and stretch properly, eat nutritious foods, exercise regularly, and maintain an ideal weight. Avoid overtraining and wear proper, comfortable footwear.

How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?

Dr. Cairns diagnoses plantar fasciitis after asking about your medical history, lifestyle, and symptoms. He examines your feet and ankles and checks for areas of tenderness. You might need X-rays or an MRI to rule out additional foot or ankle problems, such as stress fractures and bone spurs.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

Many people recover from plantar fasciitis pain with conservative treatments. Examples include icing the painful area, modifying physical activity, and stretching properly. Stretch your arches, wear supportive shoes, and avoid wearing worn-out footwear during sports training. 

Switch to lower-impact exercises while plantar fasciitis heals, such as cycling, swimming, walking, or using an elliptical machine. You might need to take medicine to relieve inflammation and discomfort, enroll in physical therapy, or wear night splints, a walking boot, or orthotics (shoe inserts).

Additional treatments for plantar fasciitis include corticosteroid injections, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), ultrasound tissue repair, and surgery. However, surgery is always a last resort. 

Call the Toe-Tal Foot & Ankle Care office or schedule an appointment online to get relief from plantar fasciitis today.