Plantar Fasciitis Specialist

Cortese Foot & Ankle Clinic

Podiatrists & Foot and Ankle Surgeons located in Normal, IL & Pontiac, IL

About two million Americans seek care for heel pain related to plantar fasciitis every year. If your heel pain is sharp, stabbing, and sporadic, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis. At Cortese Foot & Ankle Clinic, skilled podiatrists Craig Cortese, DPM, FACFAS, Steve Yeschek, DPM, and Carl Cortese, BS, DPM, FACFAS, use high-tech innovations such as Multiwave Locked System (MLS) laser therapy to ease your plantar fasciitis pain quickly. Call either of the two convenient locations in Normal and Pontiac, Illinois, or book an appointment online.

Plantar Fasciitis Q & A

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes severe heel pain. It occurs when the plantar fascia, the thick tissue band that begins at your heel and ends at the toes, becomes inflamed and painful.

Repeated irregular movements or significant amounts of strain can stretch the plantar fascia to its limit, and it often reacts by swelling and fraying. These tiny tears in the tissue can trigger serious pain in your heel. Usually, plantar fasciitis happens in one heel at a time.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

In most cases, plantar fasciitis is related to improper foot mechanics. For example, if you have flat feet, your plantar fascia can stretch too much triggering plantar fasciitis. In the opposite situation, a very high foot arch, your plantar fascia may grow inflamed from continually being pulled as you move.

Other factors can contribute to plantar fasciitis, such as obesity, prolonged periods of standing, and exercise that stresses your feet.

What are the signs of plantar fasciitis?

Severe foot pain, which usually occurs at the end of your arch and beginning of heel, is the hallmark sign of plantar fasciitis.

The pain, which many people describe as stabbing, usually happens when you take the first steps of your day. After you move around, the pain usually eases but then returns after you've been off your feet for a while.

How can I relieve plantar fasciitis pain?

It's important to seek treatment rather than expecting the plantar fascia to recover without intervention. If you go back to your normal activity level too soon after plantar fasciitis, you could risk a stress fracture due to reduced muscle conditioning after your rest period.

Your podiatrist may recommend conservative care such as physical therapy, a night splint, or Multiwave Locked System (MLS) therapy that stimulates natural plantar fascia healing using focused laser light.

If you have severe plantar fasciitis pain that doesn’t diminish significantly after trying conservative care, your podiatrist may recommend a surgical procedure in which they cut the plantar fascia.

This releases the tension causing your pain. Over time, you grow new tissue to elongate the plantar fascia and end your pain.

Call Cortese Foot & Ankle Clinic or click on the online appointment maker for plantar fasciitis pain relief today.