Plantar Fasciitis Specialist
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DFW Foot and Ankle
Davey Suh, DPM
Board Certified Podiatrist & Board Certified Foot and Ankle Surgeon located in Flower Mound, TX
Plantar fasciitis is a kind of heel pain that affects around 10% of people. At DFW Foot and Ankle, board-certified podiatrist Davey Suh, DPM, understands how painful plantar fasciitis can be — and that’s why he uses the most advanced treatment innovations, like radial shockwave therapy, to eliminate your pain. Radial shockwave therapy is up to 90% effective for plantar fasciitis, and additional treatments like custom orthotics can help you achieve total relief. Call the Flower Mound, Texas, office or use online scheduling to book your appointment now.
Plantar Fasciitis Q & A
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the plantar fascia — the thick ligament that runs along the sole of your foot — develops tiny tears. Those small injuries lead to tissue inflammation, which in turn causes heel pain.
Plantar fasciitis is common, affecting about 1 in 10 people. Anyone can develop plantar fasciitis, but it's particularly common among athletes who play sports that put frequent stress on the heel, like runners.
People who stand all day or who struggle with their weight are also prone to plantar fasciitis. You might also increase your risk of plantar fasciitis if you constantly wear shoes that lack support.
What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis causes intense heel pain. Many people describe the pain as sharp, stabbing, or needle-like. The pain is usually:
- On the bottom of your foot, but may shoot toward the arch
- Worse in the morning, or immediately after you wake up
- In just one foot
- Worse after exercise
Plantar fasciitis symptoms may come and go. But without treatment, any respite is likely to be short.
How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?
Because other conditions, like Achilles tendinitis, can also cause heel pain, Dr. Suh performs a thorough exam and reviews your symptoms to make a diagnosis. You may need X-ray imaging to rule out or confirm issues like fractures.
In imaging tests of people with plantar fasciitis, heel spurs — small bony growths on the bottom of your heel — often appear. But, heel spurs don't cause pain in 95% of cases; if they occur alongside plantar fasciitis, they're likely not the cause of your pain.
How is plantar fasciitis treated?
Plantar fasciitis treatment at DFW Foot and Ankle focuses on immediate pain relief and long-term healing. Dr. Suh may prescribe custom orthotics and footwear changes to improve foot support and special foot exercises to lengthen your plantar fascia ligament.
Dr. Suh also might prescribe a cutting-edge treatment called radial shockwave therapy for pain relief. This noninvasive treatment uses energy waves to jump-start your body's healing powers, including new blood vessel growth and improved blood supply to your damaged plantar fascia.
With radial shockwave therapy, inflammation and pain decrease as you heal. It’s an effective alternative to steroid injections and surgery — and it requires no downtime. Radial shockwave therapy is up to 98% effective for long-term relief of plantar fasciitis.
For cutting-edge plantar fasciitis treatment, call DFW Foot and Ankle or book an appointment using the online scheduler now.
