Plantar Fasciitis

Heel pain is often the first sign of plantar fasciitis. At Zimmermann Podiatry, a patient-focused podiatry practice in Leesburg, Florida, Erik Zimmermann, DPM, and the team offer plantar fasciitis diagnosis and treatment in a welcoming and uplifting environment. Treatments range from medication to orthotics, injections, and beyond — and plantar fasciitis rarely requires surgery. Call the office or book your appointment using the online feature now. 

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes inflammation in the connective tissue known as the plantar fascia. This fibrous tissue, similar to a ligament, runs along the underside of your foot, from the heel to the toes. 

Plantar fasciitis develops because of repetitive movement or unusual pressure over the plantar fascia. It can affect anyone but is more common in people with extra weight, those who are required to stand for extended periods in their jobs, and athletes such as distance runners.

Additionally, plantar fasciitis is common among golfers — common enough that it’s sometimes called “golfer’s heel.”

What does plantar fasciitis feel like?

Plantar fasciitis causes:

• Heel pain
• Burning sensation in the heel and arch
• Change in your gait (walking style)
• Stiffness around your heel, which may affect the whole foot=

Plantar fasciitis may make most of your regular activities, even walking and standing, very uncomfortable. Many people find it debilitating and have to alter their usual activities until they get treatment. 

What can I expect from plantar fasciitis treatment?

At Zimmermann Podiatry, the caring team of podiatry specialists strives to get you well and back to optimal health without surgery. More than 90% of people recover with gentle nonsurgical care. 

Conservative approaches include:

• Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen
• Ice packs applied directly to the painful heel
• Stretching exercises to lengthen the plantar fascia
• Custom orthotics
• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy 

For persistent cases, a nonsurgical, office-based procedure called radiofrequency lesioning might help. It disables the nerve that’s sending heel pain signals. In radiofrequency lesioning, the team administers a local anesthetic to prevent pain. 

They then use nerve stimulation to pinpoint the source of your heel pain before administering additional anesthesia. Then, they use ultrasound or X-ray guidance to insert a thin needle into the area near your painful nerve. 

The needle delivers radiofrequency energy to create a heat lesion. This is just hot enough to damage the nerve and deactivate its sensory features, but it won’t disrupt your motor nerves, so you won’t have any change in foot motor function. 

There’s usually little-to-no downtime after radiofrequency lesioning, and most people return to work the next day. 

In the rare case that none of these treatments work, the team may recommend plantar fasciitis surgery, which reduces tension on the plantar fascia.

For more information on plantar fasciitis and effective nonsurgical treatments, call Zimmermann Podiatry or book an appointment online now.