Home / Foot and Ankle Care / Is The Heel of Your Foot Driving You Crazy? Learn About Plantar Fasciitis

Is The Heel of Your Foot Driving You Crazy? Learn About Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis: A Common Foot Problem

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition that affects millions of people each year. It’s often described as a sharp pain in the heel, especially when you first get up in the morning or after sitting for a long time.

If you’re experiencing heel pain, it might be plantar fasciitis. Our experienced orthopedic surgeons at Beacon Orthopaedics in Cincinnati can diagnose and treat this condition, helping you get back on your feet and pain-free.

Content List:

Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis

Non-Surgical Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

At Beacon Orthopaedics, we always recommend the least invasive treatment necessary to alleviate a patient’s symptoms. In the case of plantar fasciitis, non-surgical treatment includes:

  • Stretching the plantar fascia and Achilles Tendon
  • Low-impact exercise
  • NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications)
  • Cortisone injections
  • Night splints
  • Physical therapy
  • Orthotic shoe inserts
  • Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT)

 

Surgery for Plantar Fasciitis

It is rare that we recommend surgery for plantar fasciitis, and surgery only becomes an option once a patient achieved no relief from plantar fasciitis after failed non-surgical treatment.
There are two surgical procedures that may be used to treat plantar fasciitis:

  • Gastrocnemius recession: Surgical lengthening of the calf muscles. This procedure reduces stress on the plantar fascia.
  • Plantar fascia release: By surgically releasing (partially cutting) the plantar fascia ligament, tension is released.2
  • Release of “Baxter’s Nerve” entrapment: Usually performed in conjunction with open plantar fascia release.

Frequently Asked Questions About Plantar Fasciitis

Do heel spurs cause plantar fasciitis?

Heel spurs are associated with plantar fasciitis, but do not necessarily cause the condition. Treatment of plantar fasciitis and painful heel spurs are often the same. Surgical removal of most heel spurs is not necessary, although some very large spurs may be removed in conjunction with surgery for chronic plantar fasciitis.

What is the fastest way to cure plantar fasciitis?

Early diagnosis and treatment allows for a shorter duration of symptoms and decreased recurrence. The first line of treatment for plantar fasciitis is rest, followed by stretching.

Contact Beacon Orthopaedics

If you suffer from the painful symptoms of plantar fasciitis, our orthopedic and sports medicine specialists can help you get relief. To learn more about plantar fasciitis treatment, contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our experts in Cincinnati.


1 Cleveland Clinic. Plantar Fasciitis. Available: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14709-plantar-fasciitis. Accessed March 15, 2022.
2 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Plantar Fasciitis. Available: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/plantar-fasciitis-and-bone-spurs/. Accessed March 15, 2022.
3 Hopkins Medicine. Plantar Fasciitis. Available: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/plantar-fasciitis. Accessed March 15, 2022.