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Is Surgery Necessary To Treat Plantar Fasciitis?
Question: I have a swelling of my ankle and pain in my heel area. An Xray ordered by my family doctor indicates a bone spur on my heel. An orthopedic doctor I consulted says I may need surgery involving detaching the Achilles tendon from my heel, shaving off the bone spur, and then re-attaching the Achilles with screws. This idea has me more then a little worried. Any advice?
Brief Answer:
surgery is last resort,consider if prolonged conservative treatment fails
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
It is understandable to be concerned since the swelling is significant and surgery has been discussed.
Surgery is usually the last resort for plantar fasciitis (spur), in most cases conservative treatment is tried first.
This consists of the following: (1)avoiding activity that impacts on the ankle- resting as much as possible, using walking aid to reduce pressure on the ankle
(2)if there is increased/excess weight, reduction can help . This also helps to reduce the impact on the ankle
(3)a podiatrist should assess the orthopedic boot to see if anything else like insoles, can be added
(4)Oral anti inflammatory should be added to the topical medication, if you can use these meds eg naproxen or ibuprofen
(5)There are a variety of exercises that have to be done 2 to 3 times a day to stretch and strengthen the area.
They are very important. These exercises are available online with a search :f exercises for plantar fasciitis/spur
There are exercises specific for this condition
(6)resting splint at night
If pain persists for more than 2 months despite treatment or it is severe then further treatment including the use of injections, laser therapy or surgery.
Surgery is last resort not because it is not successful but because most persons respond to the above conservative treatment.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
surgery is last resort,consider if prolonged conservative treatment fails
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
It is understandable to be concerned since the swelling is significant and surgery has been discussed.
Surgery is usually the last resort for plantar fasciitis (spur), in most cases conservative treatment is tried first.
This consists of the following: (1)avoiding activity that impacts on the ankle- resting as much as possible, using walking aid to reduce pressure on the ankle
(2)if there is increased/excess weight, reduction can help . This also helps to reduce the impact on the ankle
(3)a podiatrist should assess the orthopedic boot to see if anything else like insoles, can be added
(4)Oral anti inflammatory should be added to the topical medication, if you can use these meds eg naproxen or ibuprofen
(5)There are a variety of exercises that have to be done 2 to 3 times a day to stretch and strengthen the area.
They are very important. These exercises are available online with a search :f exercises for plantar fasciitis/spur
There are exercises specific for this condition
(6)resting splint at night
If pain persists for more than 2 months despite treatment or it is severe then further treatment including the use of injections, laser therapy or surgery.
Surgery is last resort not because it is not successful but because most persons respond to the above conservative treatment.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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