Award-Winning Plantar Fasciitis Specialist in Boynton Beach, FL
Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center offers patients options like plantar fasciitis treatment and heel pain treatment to help correct any pain or discomfort.
Top-Rated Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
Why choose the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center with Dr. Jason Gold as your Plantar Fasciitis doctor
Dr. Gold has been practicing since 2004 and has performed thousands of procedures. The Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center offers services tailored to each individual’s needs:
- More than 2,000 foot and ankle procedures performed.
- Dr. Gold has lectured at the Annual Florida Podiatry Conference on “How to avoid complications in bunion surgery.”
- Dr. Gold has lectured on Lapiplasty.
- We’re highly rated on Google.
- You’ll get quick recovery time.
- You’ll be walking immediately.
- Our procedures are minimal to no pain.
Award-Winning Plantar Fasciitis Specialist
Boynton Beach Plantar Fasciitis Treatment by Board Certified Podiatrists.
You’ve probably heard about the heel injury called plantar fasciitis. This common cause of heel pain can affect anyone. At The Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center, our board-certified podiatrists, Dr. Jason Gold and Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus, DPM, help you regain your feet and prevent plantar fasciitis from returning. Don’t ignore heel pain. We are conveniently located at 10151 Enterprise Center Blvd #203, Boynton Beach, FL 33437.
Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain, resulting from inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue connecting the heel to the toes.
Long-distance runners are particularly prone to developing this condition, especially if they do not engage in other low-impact exercises. However, it can affect anyone, including those who are not physically active. Risk factors include being overweight, obese, or having a job that requires standing for long periods.
If you are experiencing foot pain, it could be due to acute injuries like a car accident or a twisted ankle, or it could result from overuse injuries such as arch pain or plantar fasciitis. Therefore, when searching for a foot specialist in Boynton Beach, it is essential to visit a clinic specializing in the care of the foot, ankle, and lower leg.
Our podiatrists in Boynton Beach, FL, and nearby Palm Beach County areas offer advanced plantar fasciitis treatments.
For effective treatment, please call our Boynton Beach office or schedule an appointment.
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Plantar Fasciitis Doctor
Award Winning Heel Pain Specialist in
Boynton Beach, FL.
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia in your foot. It’s the leading cause of heel pain.
The plantar fascia is a strong fibrous attachment (akin to a ligament) that connects the heel to the ball of the foot and toes. It’s as elastic as a thick rubber band. The plantar fascia joins the foot bones, producing the arch at the bottom.
A heel pain develops when the plantar fascia is overworked or stretched too much. Anything that affects your plantar fascia can cause it to bulge. This inflammation makes walking and using your foot difficult. Most people have plantar fasciitis in one foot at a time, but it can affect both.
When excessive stress is placed on the plantar fascia, the connective tissue stretching from the heel to the ball of the foot, it can lead to inflammation, tightness, and tearing.
See a doctor if you’ve had heel or foot discomfort for over a week.
Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms
Plantar fasciitis is a prevalent cause of heel discomfort. The symptoms of plantar fasciitis are:
- Sharp Heel Pain: The primary symptom is a severe, stabbing pain on the bottom of the heel. This pain is usually most obvious during the first few steps in the morning or after periods of inactivity.
- Pain After Exercise: Plantar fasciitis, unlike other conditions, usually causes pain after exercise rather than during it.
- Morning Stiffness: Many patients with plantar fasciitis suffer stiffness and soreness in their heels first thing in the morning, which may ease with movement but return after prolonged standing or sitting.
- Tenderness: The bottom of the foot, particularly around the heel, may feel painful.
- Swelling: There may be slight swelling around the heel.
- Tight Achilles Tendon: Some people report a tight Achilles tendon, which can add to the strain on the plantar fascia.
- Pain When Climbing Stairs: Pain may become more intense when climbing stairs or standing for long periods.
These symptoms might vary in strength and length, and the pain can range from mild to severe. If you have plantar fasciitis, you should see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Plantar Fasciitis Causes
Plantar fasciitis is frequently caused by repeated strain or stress on the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. This strain can cause microscopic rips in the fascia, leading to inflammation and pain, particularly near the heel. This condition is caused by several factors, including:
- Overuse due to prolonged standing or walking.
- Running is a high-impact activity.
- Shoes that do not provide appropriate arch support.
- Obesity causes increased pressure on the plantar fascia.
- Walking barefoot around the house, especially tile floors in Florida
Plantar Fasciitis Diagnosis
Plantar fasciitis is diagnosed using a combination of medical history and physical examination. The healthcare professional will palpate your foot during the examination to find sore spots. The exact location of your pain is critical for determining the reason and distinguishing heel pain from other illnesses with similar symptoms.
In addition, the doctor may examine your foot shape and gait while asking about your daily activities, footwear, and any recent injuries. This thorough evaluation provides an accurate diagnosis and directs the development of an effective treatment plan suited to your requirements.
Plantar Fasciitis Risk Factors
Although plantar fasciitis can occur without a clear cause, several variables can raise your risk of acquiring the ailment. They include:
- Age. Plantar fasciitis is most common among adults aged 40 to 60.
- Certain types of exercise. Activities that put a lot of strain on your heel and surrounding tissue, such as long-distance running, ballet dancing, and aerobic dance, can contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis.
- Foot mechanics. Flat feet, a high arch, or even an abnormal walking pattern can all impact how weight is distributed while standing, putting additional strain on the plantar fascia.
- Obesity. Excess weight puts extra strain on your plantar fascia.
- Occupations that keep you on your feet. Factory workers, teachers, and others who spend most of their working hours walking or standing on hard surfaces are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis.
- Walking barefoot. Walking on hard surfaces for extended periods puts more stress on the plantar fascia and other foot structures.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Options
Surgical vs. Non-Surgical Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
Most persons with plantar fasciitis heal in several months with conservative treatment, which includes cooling the sore area, stretching, and changing or avoiding pain-causing behaviors.
Medicines
Over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) can help with the discomfort and inflammation caused by plantar fasciitis. These drugs are available without a prescription and are excellent at relieving pain, making daily tasks more comfortable, and lowering inflammation in the affected area.
Therapies
Symptoms may be relieved with physical therapy or the use of specific gadgets. Treatment can include:
Non-Surgical Options for Plantar Fasciitis
- Physical therapy. A physical therapist can demonstrate exercises for stretching the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon and strengthening the lower leg muscles. A therapist may also show you how to use athletic tape to help support the bottom of your foot.
- Night splints. Your healthcare provider may advise you to wear a splint that keeps the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon in a lengthened posture overnight to facilitate stretching while sleeping. Your doctor may recommend off-the-shelf or custom-fitted arch supports, often orthotics, to help evenly distribute pressure on your feet.
- Walking boots, canes, or crutches. Most often, they are not needed unless a stress fracture is present of the calcaneus.
- Orthotics. Both prefabricated and custom-fitted orthotics have been shown to reduce pain and improve function in adults with acute plantar fasciitis.
Surgical Options for Plantar Fasciitis
If more conservative approaches do not work after a few months, your healthcare expert may recommend:
- Injections. Injecting steroid medication into the sore area may provide brief pain alleviation. Multiple shots are not recommended since they may weaken your plantar fascia and cause it to burst. Platelet-rich plasma from your blood can be injected into the painful area to help the tissue repair. Ultrasound imaging during injections can help with proper needle placement.
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Sound waves are directed at the heel pain location to promote recovery. This is for patients with chronic plantar fasciitis who have not responded to more conservative therapies. Some studies have yielded encouraging outcomes, but this therapy has yet to be proven to be consistently successful.
- Surgery. A few people require surgery to remove the plantar fascia from the heel bone. It is usually only an option if the pain is severe and other therapies have failed. It can be performed as an open operation or by a minor incision under local anesthesia.
Plantar Fasciitis Recovery
Non-surgical treatment for plantar fasciitis typically takes 6-12 weeks to show significant improvement, but full recovery may take up to a year. Surgical cases may require 6-10 weeks for initial recovery. It is essential to treat and monitor healing signs consistently for optimal recovery.
Your questions answered
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Frequently Asked Questions
How Can You Prevent Plantar Fasciitis?
To maintain healthy feet and prevent plantar fasciitis, it’s important to maintain a healthy body weight and wear supportive footwear at all times, avoiding walking barefoot as much as possible. Daily calf stretching exercises can help, and applying ice packs to the bottom of your foot while slowly stretching and exercising your feet can aid in tissue strengthening. Additionally, taking anti-inflammatory medication and avoiding prolonged periods of standing or walking on hard surfaces can also help prevent plantar fasciitis.
How Long Does Plantar Fasciitis Last?
Symptoms usually improve every two weeks in our office with our treatment regimen and patient compliance. However, this can vary depending on severity and adherence to treatment procedures.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Plantar Fasciitis?
Non-surgical treatment for plantar fasciitis usually takes 6-12 weeks to show significant improvement, but full recovery may take up to a year. In surgical cases, initial recovery may take 6-10 weeks. It is important to consistently treat and monitor healing signs for optimal recovery.
What's the Difference Between Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Spurs?
Plantar fasciitis causes plantar fascia inflammation, whereas heel spurs are bony growths on the heel bone that are frequently associated with chronic plantar fasciitis.
What Are the Potential Complications of Plantar Fasciitis?
Without therapy, plantar fasciitis can cause chronic heel pain, altered gait, and other problems in the feet, knees, hips, or back owing to compensatory movement patterns.
Addressing heel discomfort as soon as possible and following suggested therapies can help people manage plantar fasciitis effectively, allowing them to continue living an active lifestyle. Early intervention can keep the illness from worsening and improve overall outcomes.