Plantar Fasciitis Specialist
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Center for Foot and Ankle Excellence
Kenneth J. D'Ortone, DPM, FACFAS
Podiatrist located in Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
If you’ve noticed stabbing pain in your heel shortly after waking, it may be caused by a condition known as plantar fasciitis. At the Center for Foot and Ankle Excellence in Philadelphia, Kenneth J. D’Ortone, DPM, knows that dealing with foot pain every day can seriously impact your life. He works with you to determine the cause of your pain and the treatment that’s best for you and your lifestyle. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today if you’re living with heel pain.
Plantar Fasciitis Q & A
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the tissue connecting your toes and heel. It’s one of the most common causes of heel pain.
The pain is most noticeable in the morning when you’re first starting to use the muscle again. If you ignore plantar fasciitis, it can lead to limited activity from the pain when walking or running. Dr. D’Ortone evaluates your pain and discusses the probable causes with you.
What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?
The most noticeable symptom of plantar fasciitis is a pain in your heel while walking. The pain is often stabbing and happens after long periods of sitting or not moving, such as when you first get out of bed in the morning. Other symptoms can include pain that causes you to walk differently or your knee or hip to have an aching pain.
What causes plantar fasciitis?
The causes of plantar fasciitis are small tears or repetitive stretching of the fascia tendon in your foot. The stretching and tearing cause inflammation. Runners are at high risk for plantar fasciitis because of the excess shock and jarring motion on the foot.
Genetics also plays a role, as having flat feet or high arches can also cause pain in the tissue around your heel. A consultation with Dr. D’Ortone helps him diagnose the cause of your plantar fasciitis and develop an effective treatment plan.
How is plantar fasciitis treated?
The treatment for plantar fasciitis starts with conservative measures and progresses to surgery only if needed. Dr. D’Ortone suggests resting and icing the area when the pain persists. He may also suggest physical therapy for stretching and strengthening exercises, while over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease the pain.
If stretching and rest do not seem to be helping enough, Dr. D’Ortone may suggest wearing a splint at night to stretch your calf and arch of your foot while sleeping, or custom-made orthotic shoe inserts. The insert will evenly distribute the pressure on the bottom of your foot as you walk.
In serious cases, surgery may be necessary, but Dr. D’Ortone generally only recommends it as a last resort.
If walking has become painful or you’re concerned you could have developed plantar fasciitis, call Dr. D’Ortone at his Philadelphia office to schedule your appointment or use the online booking feature.
