Plantar fasciitis can severely limit your mobility and cause frustration. However, it doesn’t have to define your life. Picture a future where you’ve overcome your plantar fasciitis issues and can fully enjoy your favorite activities. Our expert surgeons apply the mandated technologies and operative instruments to formulate the correct surgical strategy conducive to your unique circumstances.
You can reach out to us through our contact information and book an appointment to get started with us; at (732)-320-9173. Do not allow plantar fasciitis to hinder you — seek medical care from our clinic and our specialists will help to restore the strength of your body.
Understanding Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis refers to a painful condition where the plantar fascia, which is a thick fibrous band that connects the sole to the heel, is aggravated. This condition is often described as a piercing pain in the heels particularly when taking the first steps when one wakes from bed or after everyone has left the workplace. It is usually aggravated by inactivity and is relieved by physical activity but after a while of staying idle, for instance, when standing from a sitting position or standing for a long time, it returns.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis
Several factors contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis, including:
- Overuse or Repetitive Strain: It is prevalent among athletes, especially those who run, jog, or engage in any other activity that demands the use of their legs or feet and the general population with a sedentary line of work involving standing or walking for a long time. Heel-intensive exercises also contribute to plantar fasciitis and so is a condition whereby great pressure is applied to the heel and the soft tissue connected to it.
- Foot Mechanics Issues: High arch, flat feet, or an individual with pronation or supination way of walking will create uneven pressure on the foot and lead to further stress on the plantar fascia.
- Obesity or Sudden Weight Gain: Simple knee pain can be an unloaded cause, but extra pounds put more pressure on the plantar fascia, leading to stretching and inflammation.
- Wearing Unsupportive Footwear: The following types of shoes are famous for not providing adequate support to the arch or proper cushion to help prevent this condition, which can arise due to shoes that don’t fit correctly. Sneakers, sandals, feathers, and high heels are some of the most typical causes of foot problems.
- Age: Plantar fasciitis is known to affect mostly patients in the middle-aged and elderly group, particularly within the age bracket of 40 to 60 years.
- Occupation: Tasks that require one to stand for several hours can cause plantar fasciitis since the foot will be under pressure throughout.
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
Recognizing the symptoms of plantar fasciitis is crucial for early intervention. Common signs include:
- Heel Pain: Sometimes referred to as a stabbing or burning feeling, mostly during the morning when a person gets up or when getting out of bed, or else when a person has been sitting down for a while. It may be worse at rest but ease with exercise and activity but becomes sore again if movement is prolonged or if the person has been on his/her feet for a while.
- Pain with Activity: This pain is usual during an activity and eases off during rest.
- Tenderness or Stiffness: It can develop along the undersurface of the foot, particularly in the arch region close to the heel. Pain or stiffness in the bottom of the foot, pulling or tightness in the foot and arch area, and it would be hard to point the foot downward.
- Difficulty Walking or Standing: Pain can be severe and limits movement, making walking or standing a struggle for long periods.
- Swelling: Sometimes, mild inflammation may occur at the base or heel of the foot, this is a relatively rare occurrence.
Non-surgical Treatment Options
- Custom Orthotics: This relief can be achieved by using orthotic inserts which are custom and designed to support the arches of the foot and to take pressure off the plantar fascia. These orthotics are designed to custom fit the foot shape of an individual to support the natural functions of feet and avoid overuse. These shoes can be worn during daytime activities and help the feet maintain proper support throughout the entire day.
- Physical Therapy: It is recommended that the person undergo a personalized physical therapy regimen to beef up the muscles that support the foot and ankle to reduce pain due to arthritis and increase the range of motion. Plantar fasciitis care includes exercising and stretching for recovery from the plantar fasciitis exercises and symptoms. Some physical activities may involve calf stretches, towel stretches, or exercises that help build muscles at the back of the lower legs.
- Night Splints: Wearing a night splint is effective as far as the fascia plantar is concerned since it is stretched during sleep, diminishing pain and stiffness in the morning. We can make suggestions and arrange measures concerning the choice of night splints.
- Corticosteroid Injections: For cases of moderate and severe pain, one could receive a corticosteroid injection for a short-term cure. We administer these injections in a very professional way, ensuring that the injection is placed at the point that is causing the pain and discomfort and hence enabling the patients to move around again. These injections are known to span several months, though not employed as standalone therapies since they are a part of a treatment regimen.
- Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT): EPAT is a modern approach of healing techniques available at our practice aimed at serving as a regenerative method for the damaged tissues and increasing the blood flow in the problem area. This advanced technology, the plantar fascia ultrasound therapy, expedites the healing process and provides long-term relief of the pain associated with plantar fasciitis. These treatments are not invasive, and often take several sessions over some weeks; patients can heal quickly without much downtime.
Surgical Options Provided by New Jersey Foot Surgeons:
- Plantar Fascia Release: Among several surgical interventions such as plantar fascia release, which is the most frequently used method. This one is a minimally invasive approach in which small incisions are made into the plantar fascia and the tissue is then cut only partially to reduce tension. We will diagnose your condition using the necessary diagnostic tools and provide you with the most modern techniques and instruments in surgery so that you do not have to worry about scary or healing time.
- Gastrocnemius Recession: Another structure that may lead to the development of plantar fasciitis is the calf muscles, especially the gastrocnemius which results in tightness in various ways placing a lot of pressure on the plantar fascia. One treatment method from our clinic is gastrocnemius recession – a method that aims at stretching the calf muscles to reduce pressure on the plantar fascia. It can be curative in the cases of very inflexible calf muscles and thereby help to lessen pain and enhance the functional ability of the foot.
- Tenex Procedure: The next plantar fasciitis treatment is called the Tenex procedure or percutaneous tenotomy which is performed for excision of the scar tissue and the damaged tendon fibers’ removal. Tenex has been used by our foot surgeons with precision as it is only directed at removing the affected tissue while being very careful not to compromise on other structures. This unique applied approach enables patients to avoid further complications and achieve immediate and sustainable painless walk with violated plantar fasciitis.
- Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy (EPF): This surgical procedure simply cuts any tightening of the plantar fascia without the need to perform an open surgery; the procedure is commonly known as endoscopic plantar fasciotomy. EPF techniques in New Jersey Foot Surgeons enable patients to avoid open surgery as the company is among the most progressive in the surgery procedures. Compared to traditional methods, EPF leads to better cosmesis and lesser postoperative pain hence, patients are faster into their routine.
- Laser Plantar Fascia Release: Laser plantar fascia release is one of the advanced surgical techniques available at New Jersey Foot Surgeons for patients with heel pain-causing plantar fasciitis. This microsurgical procedure aims to isolate and sever overly tightened strands of tissue within the plantar fascia – using laser energy. Laser plantar fascia release therefore has advantages and gives patients a shorter time to heal and better results than conventional surgeries.
Conclusion:
New Jersey Foot Surgeons is the answer for victims who have had plantar fasciitis for numerous months, receiving adequate treatment and yet, they continue to suffer from the disorder that hampers their mobility. In our practice, we consider surgical treatments for plantar fasciitis as effective, plantar fascia release that includes gastrocnemius recession, Tenex procedure, endoscopic plantar fasciotomy, and laser plantar fascia release all enhance the primary causation.
