When should you have surgery for plantar fasciitis?

by Nicol
(Atlanta, GA)

I severed my achilles and was off of my feet for 1 year.

As a result was diagnosed with plantar fascitis in both heels.

I have tried corticosteroid injections, icing, night splints, walking boots, inserts and everything else my doctor could think of for over a 1 and 1/2 years.

My pain is increasing and she suggested surgery.

Does it work?



----



Joshua Answers:


Hi Nicol.

Does Plantar Fasciitis Surgery work?

Depends on the situation. For the most part, my answer is 'no'.

Many people get relief after surgery. For a while. The numbers on 100% recovery is small.

And, none of the other things the doctor prescribed worked....why would surgery?

Is the -specific- cause of pain identified?

Is the -reason- for that cause developing in the first place developed?

What exactly would the surgeon do? Where exactly would they cut? How much? Why exactly does the doctor think that surgery is a good option?

Or is surgery on the plantar fascia just the next thing to try and hope for the best?

All good questions to ask.


So....I'm guessing that you had some sort of event where your Achilles Tendon ruptured completely(?)

What was that event? I bet you had some pre-existing Achilles Tendonosis in place that set you up for the structural weakness that allowed the severing to happen.

(Unless by 'severed' you mean 'cut' in some kind of accident."

And then you had surgery to repair the Achilles tendon, yes?

And then you work a 'boot' such that your foot was immobilized in a certain position for a long period of time, yes?


Questions:

1. How long were you in the boot?

2. Plantar Fasciitis in both heels...but Achilles injury on one side, yes?

3. How bad is the pain. Please describe the who how when where etc.

4. How old are you?

5. General activity level.

6. General level of health.

7. How exactly was the Achilles tendon injured?

8. Any pain or problem before the Achilles injury?

9. How long between the 'off my feet for a year' and the start of the heel pain?


Answer those questions, and we'll go from there.

I wish it was an easy 'yes' or 'no' answer, but it's not. It depends on what exactly is going on in your feet, and legs.

It's likely a scenario where the tissue in your feet and lower leg is too tight, shrunk wrapped, and every time you take a step there is too much pull and something gets irritated or even injured.

Every day. It adds up.

My favorite question for doctors is "How will surgery -reverse- that ongoing process of increasing pain and tightness?"





Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com