Most patients who experience heel pain ignore them and think the pains will go away with rest and less activity. Nevertheless, in some cases the heel pain is a warning signal from the body that it is injured. Malformed foot conditions such as excess pronation or fallen arches can lead to more acute conditions such as plantar fascitis. This often debilitating pain in the heel area of the foot can be treated in a operating room as an outpatient.

Over-pronation and Flat Feet Can Lead to Serious Anatomical Issues

As found by the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association), plantar fasciitis can be caused by faulty biomechanics and walking motion. These issues can include excess pronation and flat feet, for instance. In cases when the lower leg biomechanics are out of sync with the other parts of the body, undue impact and jarring are put on bones and ligaments of the feet that are not meant to take those stresses. One manifestation of this, running on a hard surface or even being over your ideal weight can all be contributing causes for heel pain.

Therapy For Plantar Fasciitis Sometimes Requires Surgery

A procedure known as Instep Plantar Fasciotomy is one plantar fasciitis treatment that is done under ankle block anesthesia (patient is awake but the foot is numbed). The plantar fascia is a ligament of tissue responsible for the extreme pain caused by this condition. The surgeon opens the heel through a small incision made above the affected area of the heel. The fluid-filled area and injured tissue is released from the inflamed heel tissues. Once the opening is closed, a walking shoe is recommended to be used for approximately four to six weeks, depending upon how fast the person heals.

Therapy For Plantar Fasciitis Doesn’t Have to Mean Surgery

Low level sound frequencies are also being used today to treat certain foot problems. Denominated ESWT (extracorporeal shock wave therapy), this solution aims to use small amounts of sound waves to eliminate the affected tissuesin the heel. It sounds counterintuitive, but it isn’t. The damaging of these tissues in small amounts actually instigates the body’s healing response and helps the plantar fasciitis to resolve itself. In a study done in 2004, it took nearly 1000 study participants about 8 weeks to heal completely with about 85% success.

Therapy For Plantar Fasciitis with Less Down Time

The final medical procedure that is becoming more popular simply because it requires less recovery time is an endoscopic plantar fasciotomy. In this medical treatment, the foot is given a nerve block in the ankle while the patient is awake. Given that some doctors may prefer to use a general anesthesia, that is also a valid way to perform the operation with reduced stress to the person. Quarter-inch incisions are made in the sides of the heel to access the affected tissues. A camera is used to assist the physician to locate the plantar fascia ligament. The surgeon sews the incision closed once the problem tissues have been identified and fixed.

Over-pronation and Flat Feet Don’t Have to Hurt as Much

Though surgery is only required in about 5% of the cases of heel pain from plantar fasciitis, it’s advisable to be up to date on the procedures that surgeons are using today. Continuing with PT (physical therapy) is one of the best things patients can do after undergoing any of these procedures. Massages, exercises, and whirlpool therapy are just some of the many methods that can assist. For patients with walking gait abnormalities and biomechanical problems such as over-pronation or flat feet, orthotic inserts are one of the best ways to stop recurrence of plantar fasciitis.