Introduction To Plantar Fasciitis Surgery
Plantar fascia release surgery involves making incisions in the plantar fascia ligament or just simply detaching the ligament from the heel bone to relieve tension, either via endoscopic or open surgery.
Surgery is usually seen as the last-resort option when the pain has been too persistent or stubborn and all the prescribed treatments are no longer able to provide cure or relief at all.
Depending on the situation during the surgery, the foot surgeon may pull out an injured tissue or a piece of the heel bone to further minimize tension and to encourage healing. In other cases, the surgeon may release the thickest part of the abductor halluces muscle, so as to prevent the nerves from getting trapped caused by the surgical procedure.
What is it and how is it done
The surgery is called plantar fasciitis release surgery is an operation which the doctors traditionally use to treat plantar fasciitis pain. This surgery requires the surgeon to cut a section of the Plantar Fascia ligament, and the objective of this procedure is to release tension and reduce inflammation.
To start the operation, the surgeon makes a small incision above the heel pad, specifically where the thick sole skin meets the thinner skin at the back of the heel. However, the doctor may also choose to make the incision at the bottom of the foot. For endoscopic procedures, a plantar fasciitis surgery type, the surgeon will make a small incision on one side of the heel which is directly below the ankle bone. Then, the surgeon will detach the plantar fascia from the heel bone or the surgeon will create an incision on one side of the heel to release tension.
The patient will wear a non-weight-bearing cast for about two to three weeks following surgery. This is to decrease the tension and allow the tissues to heal. After the surgery, the patient can begin limited weight-bearing almost immediately. Most people will return to their normal footwear immediately and return to regular activities within three to six weeks. However, surgeons prescribe every patient a strength and flexibility program in order to rehabilitate the muscles gradually.
Types of Plantar Fasciitis Surgeries
Open Surgery
This surgery involves making a small, open incision at the bottom of the foot so that operation can be started. After surgery, the patient will wear a cast or brace for up to two to three weeks.
Endoscopic Procedure
This procedure involves cutting a tiny incision on either side of the heel, then inserting a scope or any other surgical tool through it. Compared to open surgery, the endoscopic procedure is less invasive. After this treatment, the patient may feel comfortable enough to wear shoes again.
Plantar Fasciitis Surgery Recovery
Depending on the type of surgery or medical procedure, recovery can usually take up to three to six weeks. Or if it is an open surgery, recovery period can take up to six to ten weeks.
But even after the recovery period, the patient still needs to wait and rest for an additional period of about three months before taking part in high-impact activities. During the recovery period, the patient is required to do foot strengthening exercises to facilitate healing and total recovery.
What are some of plantar fasciitis remedies to try before getting surgery?
Of course, no one wants to go through surgery. Aside from being scary, it also costs a lot of money. According to the majority of podiatrists, 95% of plantar fasciitis cases can be dealt with successfully a simple, easy and non-invasive approach.
As implied before, surgery is seen as a last-resort option and is considered absolutely necessary if the other treatments that you have tried, do not work at all. So before you opt for surgery, first make sure that you have considered and done other options such as:
- Rest – Make it an effort to rest your feet for twenty minutes. Do this twice a day. You can do it even in the midst of your busy schedule. If you’re working in an office environment, for instance, you can rest your feet during breaktimes.
- Stretching – Commit to doing daily stretching exercises that promote the healing of your heel and plantar fasciia.
- Orthotic shoe inserts – Make sure to wear these orthotic shoe inserts in all of you shoes, every day. There are very good brands, such as Heel Seats, which have been proven to successfully address heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis
- Pain medications and cortisone injections – These procedures are applied to special cases where they are required. Ask your doctor about these treatments, as well as the benefits and risks that go along with them.
When is surgery necessary?
In most cases, people who have plantar fasciitis can reduce the pain without undergoing surgery. Studies show about 95 of 100 people who live with this injury reduce pain without surgical intervention.
The surgery should only be considered once several non-surgical options are fully explored. It is important to keep in mind that your doctor should not consider surgery unless you’ve tried all the nonsurgical treatments for at least six months. The operation methods increase in success every year. However, the success rate of the operation is still only estimated to be about 70-80%.
These results encourage surgeons to recommend to their patients to try to treat their Plantar Fasciitis through conservative treatment thoroughly.
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