Procedures for Plantar Fasciitis

If you are suffering from chronic plantar fasciitis, you may want to consider more aggressive treatments as a prevention or solution. There are many risks involved with surgery and, because of this, you should only consider it after participating in conservative treatments. If plantar fasciitis symptoms continue after at least nine months of conservative treatments, then it might be time for you to explore the risks and benefits of the different procedures available for plantar fasciitis.

Procedures

• Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the band of tissue called the plantar fascia that results in heel and arch pain. Plantar fasciitis surgical intervention should be considered very carefully and only for extreme pain that has not responded to at least nine months of conservative treatments.

  When choosing a procedure, consider all its risks and benefits, recovery time, length of procedure, pain and side effects. You need to be aware of any complications or infections that you are at risk of. However, you should also research the doctor's credibility and recommendations as well as his specialization in podiatry and experience in treating plantar fasciitis. It is important to feel completely comfortable and confident in your choice of health care provider.

  There are a number of procedures available for plantar fasciitis, such as the plantar fascia release, coblation surgery, shock wave therapy and cryosurgery. Typically, patients choose a procedure that is the least invasive. Ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding plantar fasciitis treatment methods and whether the procedure is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

  Plantar fascia release is the most common procedure in treating plantar fasciitis. This surgery entails the detachment of the plantar fascia from your heel bone. Side effects of this treatment include the weakening of your foot arch.

  Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is another common option. Sound waves are used which are targeted at the area of heel pain to stimulate healing. Patients may experience complications such as numbness or tingling, bruising, swelling and pain. The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research states that this procedure has not been shown to be consistently effective.

  Your insurance may not cover all the procedures that are available because some are experimental. Procedures such as laser therapy, microwave diathermy and radiotherapy are still in the investigational phase and should be tried with extreme caution.