Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain, and it often hurts most with your first steps in the morning. Our podiatrists treat it with stretching, supportive shoes and custom orthotics, and offer PRP therapy and minimally invasive fasciotomy for pain that doesn't improve.
Schedule a ConsultationThe plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue along the bottom of your foot, running from the heel bone to the base of the toes. It supports your arch every time you stand or walk. Plantar fasciitis develops when this tissue is strained and irritated where it attaches to the heel. It's one of the most common causes of heel pain.
It's often confused with heel spurs. Many people with plantar fasciitis have a heel spur on an X-ray, but the spur usually isn't what causes the pain.
The classic sign of plantar fasciitis is sharp pain in the heel with your first steps in the morning. Other common symptoms include:
If heel pain like this lasts more than a few weeks, it's a good time to have your foot examined.
Schedule a ConsultationPlantar fasciitis usually builds up from repeated strain on the heel, not a single injury. Common risk factors include standing or walking for long hours on hard floors, running or a sudden increase in activity, shoes with poor arch support, walking barefoot on hard surfaces, tight calf muscles, flat feet or high arches, and extra body weight. It's most common between the ages of 40 and 60.
Most people with plantar fasciitis get better without surgery. About 80% improve within a year with nonsurgical care, so treatment starts there.
Your podiatrist may recommend a combination of:
Improvement is often gradual, so most people see results over several weeks to a few months.
When heel pain lasts for months despite nonsurgical care, we offer two further options. PRP therapy uses a concentrated sample of your own blood platelets, injected into the plantar fascia to support healing. Research on PRP for plantar fasciitis is still developing, and your podiatrist can explain whether it suits you.
Dr. Beau Willis also performs ultrasound-guided percutaneous fasciotomy, a minimally invasive procedure that removes damaged tissue through a small incision using the Tenex or TenJet system. It's done under local anesthetic, and patients can walk the same day. See how the TenJet procedure works.
Traditional open surgery on the plantar fascia is rarely needed and is usually considered only after many months of other treatment.
Schedule a ConsultationPlantar fasciitis is usually diagnosed with a physical exam, so your first visit focuses on finding the source of your heel pain and choosing a treatment plan that fits your routine. Meet our podiatrists to learn about each doctor's training and focus areas.
You can be seen at our offices in Metairie, Covington and Prairieville.
In most cases, yes. About 80% of people improve within a year with nonsurgical care such as stretching, supportive shoes and orthotics. Without treatment, the pain can linger and become harder to manage.
Plantar fasciitis itself causes pain on the bottom of the heel, not the ankle. Ankle pain along with heel pain can point to a related problem, such as Achilles tendon issues or tarsal tunnel syndrome, so it's worth having both checked.
Calf stretches and plantar fascia stretches, where you gently pull your toes back toward your shin, are among the most effective. Doing them before you get out of bed can ease first-step pain. Your podiatrist can show you how to do them correctly.
Rarely. Most people improve with nonsurgical care. For pain that lasts many months despite treatment, options include PRP therapy and minimally invasive fasciotomy, with traditional surgery as a last resort.
See a specialist if heel pain lasts more than a few weeks despite rest, supportive shoes and stretching, or if it keeps you from walking or working. Numbness, tingling, swelling, or pain that started after an injury can point to a different problem and should be checked.
Heel pain that lingers for weeks is worth checking. A visit with one of our podiatrists can confirm whether it's plantar fasciitis and which treatment fits your daily life.
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