What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is heel pain caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, or the soft tissue at the bottom of your heel.

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What is the plantar fascia?

Plantar means sole of the foot, and fascia is the tissue around an organ or muscle. Together, plantar fascia refers to the soft tissue, or ligament, that attaches your heel bone to your toes.

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Why does plantar fasciitis occur?

Inflammation of the plantar fascia begins when daily activity or environmental factors cause micro tears in your plantar fascia. During periods of rest, those tears begin to heal. Because the majority of our resting positions involve pointing the toes down, those tears sometimes heal in a shortened position. This causes them to retear when you stand up, thereby starting the cycle of damage over again.

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What does plantar fasciitis feel like?

Patients often describe the feeling as a deep ache, or a bruise on their heel. The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain after a period of rest or after sitting at work, or in the first steps one takes at the beginning of the day.

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How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?

Dr. Yeargain has been treating cases of plantar fasciitis multiple times a day for more than ten years. He is an expert at diagnosing and treating the condition, and can easily assess the severity of your plantar fasciitis in a single appointment. If you’re experiencing a deep ache in your heel, a feeling of bruising, or heel pain after periods of rest, a quick conversation with Dr. Yeargain and a brief physical examination could be enough to get you on the road to recovery. In some cases, an x-ray might be taken to rule out fractures or other injuries.

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Can plantar fasciitis be prevented?

Plantar fasciitis is often the result of changes in activity, such as new exercise regimens, new shoes, or travel that keeps you on your feet longer than usual. It’s not always easy to see it coming. Dr. Yeargain not only provides effective treatment for plantar fasciitis, he’ll also design a specific management protocol to match your lifestyle. He’ll help resolve the immediate pain, and give you the strategies and equipment (including custom-made orthotics or inserts) needed to prevent recurrences of plantar fasciitis in the future.

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What treatments does Dr. Yeargain offer for relief? Is there a cure for plantar fasciitis?

With Dr. Yeargain's treatment protocol, plantar fasciitis can be fully resolved in most cases. He’s been treating plantar fasciitis for over a decade, and is an expert in designing treatments that match the individual lifestyles of his patients.

Treatments for plantar fasciitis vary, depending on the severity of the condition and the lifestyle of the patient. Some patients will see rapid improvement with the employment of specific stretching techniques or shoe inserts. Other patients might benefit from anti-inflammatory medication. Steroid injections or oral steroids might be used in more severe cases.

While surgery was a common treatment for plantar fasciitis in the past, surgery is only required in around 5% of cases today. If a severe case of plantar fasciitis calls for surgery, Dr. Yeargain offers endoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive technique with only two stitches and very short recovery time. Most patients will be able to walk shortly after the surgery.

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What is unique about Dr. Yeargain’s approach to treatment?

Dr. Yeargain has been treating multiple cases of plantar fasciitis a day for more than a decade. It’s the most common condition he sees in his office, and he is an expert in developing personalized treatment protocols that will help you fully recover from plantar fasciitis and prevent it in the future.

From the the first time you come into the office, depending on the severity of your pain, Dr. Yeargain will work with you to develop a treatment plan suited to your lifestyle and needs. He and his team won’t just treat the current inflammation, they’ll address the underlying causes of your pain, so it doesn’t come back. For patients in need of orthotics, night splints, or a stretching apparatus, this equipment and more is available in Dr. Yeargain’s office, or at his online store.

A variety of options are available for the treatment, management, and future prevention of plantar fasciitis. Part of your first appointment with Dr. Yeargain will be dedicated to getting to know your lifestyle needs and medical history. Together, you’ll determine the best approach for you.

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How long is recovery time from plantar fasciitis? What is the fastest route to recovery?

Recovery time varies depending on the cause and severity of the condition. However, Dr. Yeargain often sees complete resolution of plantar fasciitis within 6 weeks. Some patients see improvement much more quickly, however, 6 weeks is just the average. At your first appointment, you’ll learn the techniques necessary to manage and treat your condition. You can also get recommendation on any equipment you might need, much of which is available in Dr. Yeargain’s office, or at his online store. After that, you’ll follow up with Dr. Yeargain every two weeks so he can monitor your improvement.

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Are there special shoes I can wear to treat plantar fasciitis?

Contrary to popular belief, support is one of the better treatments for plantar fasciitis, not cushioning. Many people with heel pain will seek out comfortable shoes like house shoes or padded inserts, but the best solution is arch support, which will help the tears in your fascia heal properly. In addition to specializing the treatment of plantar fasciitis, Dr. Yeargain provides expert shoe recommendation for recovery and prevention. He can help you figure out which shoes are right for you based on your lifestyle. If you play sports, or have a trip coming up, he’ll take this information into account and come up with the perfect shoe recommendation to manage or prevent the recurrence of plantar fasciitis. He works closely with a number of the leading shoe stores in Dallas and can help you track down the perfect pair of shoes for your needs.

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Will plantar fasciitis go away on its own? Can it get worse if untreated?

Typically, plantar fasciitis does not self-resolve, and it can be a progressive disorder if it’s not treated properly. Most patients experience minor pain in the morning, or after rest, and believe it will go away on its own. More often than not, that pain worsens, and patients only make plans to see the doctor when the pain has become too strong to manage on their own.

The problem with this approach is that, the more severe the condition the longer it takes to resolve. It is always better to come in early, at the first sign of a problem. The sooner your condition is diagnosed, and treatment begins, the quicker you’ll start feeling better.

If allowed to progress, plantar fasciitis can lead to injuries in other areas of the foot, knee, or back, as you begin to compensate for the pain by altering your walk. Plantar fasciitis can also limit your daily activity, and reduce overall quality of life. It impacts your ability to perform some jobs, and limits exercise options. It’s also a general discomfort that can weigh heavily on the individual over time.

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Will insurance cover treatment for PF?

Insurance covers most treatments for plantar fasciitis. Some insurance companies will even cover custom or over-the-counter orthotics. Dr. Yeargain and his team can answer any questions you might have about insurance coverage, and will work with your insurance company to help you get the treatment you need. Typically, all x-rays, injections, and medications used to treat plantar fasciitis are covered by insurance.

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Are heel spurs the same thing as plantar fasciitis?

The old thinking on plantar fasciitis was that heel spurs were the problem. However, it is now known that heel spurs only rarely result in pain. Heel spurs are an indication that your plantar fascia have been tight for some time, but patients don’t typically need to have the spurs removed to resolve the issue. In the majority of cases, Dr. Yeargain can treat plantar fasciitis without surgery, resolving the problem completely without lengthy recovery time.

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