Plantar Fasciitis Specialist in San Antonio, TX

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. Pain associated with plantar fasciitis is derived from the excess repetitive strain and inflammation on the plantar fascia -- which is a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes.

A foot that flattens too rapidly or too much can overstretch the plantar fascia and it is the repetitive overstretching that leads to painful heels. This flattening of the arch actually occurs when the foot is rolling inward too much, also referred to as overpronation. You don’t have to have flat feet to experience this heel pain, this can occur in someone with high, low, or medium arches as well.

Plantar fasciitis is often diagnosed by a history of the disease process. Most patients note heel pain or arch pain upon arising after rest. Often, the harder they have used their feet the day before, the more tender the heel will be upon arising the next day.

There are a few different risk factors for developing plantar fasciitis, such as:

Age - Plantar Fasciitis is common among those between the ages of 40 and 60 years old.
Certain Exercises - Physical activities that place a lot of added stress on your heel, such as running, ballet dancing, occupations that keep you on your feet, and more can contribute to developing plantar fasciitis.
Obesity - The more that you weigh, the more stress is placed on your plantar fascia.
Foot Arches - While anyone can develop plantar fasciitis, flat feet, high arches, or abnormal walking can affect the way your weight is distributed and put added stress on your plantar fascia.

If you exhibit any symptoms or risk factors of plantar fasciitis, the team at South Texas Podiatry can help you get back on your feet.

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San Antonio’s Leading Plantar Fasciitis Doctor

Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments of Plantar Fasciitis

There are three components to treating plantar fasciitis, such as:

Inflammation: Inflammation is a larger factor earlier in the process, and it can be treated by anti-inflammatory drugs, ice massage, and plantar fasciitis physical therapy modalities such as ultrasounds. Occasionally, this is treated via a cortisone shot. First, the skin over the area will be numbed with a freezing spray, like ethyl chloride. Then, the area is injected from the side with lidocaine, a local anesthetic. Once the lidocaine has achieved numbness at the origin of the plantar fascia, the needle is left in place and the syringe is changed to one that includes short-acting cortisone, medium-acting cortisone, and long-acting cortisone. The reason for using all three is to get the most complete effect possible. Cortisone can reduce pain considerably, especially if it is early in the process and inflammation is the biggest concern.
Biomechanics: This is the most important factor for most cases of plantar fasciitis, particularly those that have been around for a while, as this is the treatment of the excess tension on the fascia. Your podiatrist will take a mold or image of the foot in the corrected position. Then, they will watch you walk, take several measurements and then use the corrected cast along with the collected data to order the prescription orthotic. Occasionally, heel pain caused by the excess plantar fascia tension can be helped by a change in shoe gear or even an "off the shelf" orthotic, but store-bought orthotics are often made by non-professionals, so your best bet is to receive a custom orthotic from your nearest foot specialist.
Tissue quality: This involves a degeneration of the fascia caused by long-term, chronic inflammation of the fascia. Usually, when we treat the inflammation and correct the biomechanics, this takes care of itself.

If that does not happen, it can be treated with extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), in which repeated shockwaves are applied to the fascia. This converts chronic inflammation to acute inflammation, which the body handles very well by repairing the fascia, getting rid of scar tissue, and bringing in new blood vessels (neovascularization).

ESWT can be accomplished via one or two high-energy sessions involving anesthesia, or by low energy ESWT in which 3 low energy sessions are used and no anesthesia is needed. When the plantar fascia does not respond to conventional treatments, ESWT has a high success rate of 85 - 90%, and it should be the first treatment attempted before resorting to surgery, as surgeries for the condition are rare.

If you need treatment for heel pain relief, the plantar fasciitis specialists at South Texas Podiatry can help. Your feet are one of the most used parts of your body, so trust the best podiatrists in San Antonio for all of your foot treatment needs! Visit our office at 109 Gallery Circle, Suite 119, San Antonio, Texas 78258, or call us at (210) 490-3668 to schedule your appointment today.

Frequently Asked Questions

People's occupations often cannot be readily modified, but your foot doctor can order light or modified duty. Additionally, a doctor can do something as simple as writing a note to an employer requesting the use of preferred shoe gear. Preferred shoe gear may include shoes with a lot of cushioning and support. Use of the right prescription orthotic in the shoe can also render a shoe to become therapeutic in the standing process.

The pain experienced from plantar fasciitis has little to do with the heel striking the ground. In fact, placing something too soft under the heel will often aggravate the plantar fasciitis by letting the arch sink down lower, thereby adding strain to the plantar fascia.

Each time the foot strikes the ground, the heel hits first, followed by the ball, followed by the arch coming down. The plantar fascia is in the shape of a bowstring across the arch, acting as a shock absorption mechanism for the body. A foot that flattens too rapidly or too much can overstretch the plantar fascia and it is this repetitive overstretching that leads to painful heels.

Taking good care of your feet is the best thing you can do to try to prevent plantar fasciitis. Make sure you are always wearing proper, supportive footwear, with arch support and heel cushioning. Take precautions like standing on a rubber mat instead of a hard surface if you’re going to be standing for a long time. It is also important to stay at a healthy weight, as the more you weigh, the more pressure you place on your feet.

If you are in need of foot treatment in San Antonio, Texas, we can help. Plantar fasciitis can interrupt your daily activities, and make things like walking feel painful. South Texas Podiatry offers expert services in treating plantar fasciitis, and a wide array of other foot treatments to get you back on your feet. If you need a foot doctor or foot surgeon, visit our office at 109 Gallery Circle, Suite 119, San Antonio, Texas 78258, or call us at (210) 490-3668 to get more information.

Plantar Fasciitis