What It Is
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation and degeneration of the plantar fascia - the thick fibrous band that supports the arch. Tiny tears develop where the fascia attaches to the heel bone, and the resulting inflammatory cycle causes pain.
The Classic Presentation
Sharp, stabbing heel pain with the first steps of the morning. The pain eases after 10–15 minutes of walking, then returns after long periods on your feet. Pain is usually at the inside of the heel, sometimes radiating along the arch.
What Drives It
Tight calves, sudden increases in activity, prolonged standing on hard surfaces, unsupportive footwear, weight gain, and the natural loss of tissue elasticity that comes after age 40.
Treatment That Works
About 90% of patients improve with consistent conservative care over 6–12 months: a daily stretching routine, supportive footwear at all times (no barefoot at home), prescription orthotics, and short-term anti-inflammatory measures. Night splints help patients with severe morning pain. Cortisone injection and shockwave therapy are useful adjuncts in selected cases.
When Surgery Is Right
For the 10% who do not improve, plantar fascia release - performed by Dr. O’Carroll using a minimally invasive technique - reliably eliminates the chronic tension and gets patients back to activity.