Plantar Fasciitis Management in Kansas City

Based on the results of your interview, examination, and imaging studies, you can expect a custom care plan catered specifically to you.

Many people believe it’s best to wait until pain becomes severe, leading them to “put off” or delay treatments for plantar fasciitis.

If you are in constant discomfort, have shooting or stabbing pains, have limited range of motion, or an inability to perform your daily activities, Plantar fasciitis treatments may be right for you.

New technologies allow patients with severe foot and ankle pain to fully recover and enjoy the benefits of a more functional, pain-free lifestyle.

Prior to surgery, you will typically receive at least 2 phone calls:

• A hospital registration representative will call to gather insurance and other personal information.
• A registered nurse will call to review your health history and medication information.

Dependent on your health history, your physician may require:

• Pre-surgical laboratory tests
• X-rays
• Primary care clearance

Pre-operative instructions will vary depending on your physician and the location of your surgery.

Always check with your physician before surgery for specific instructions.

Most physicians require that patients not eat or drink after midnight prior to surgery.

Additionally, you will need to designate a family member or friend to drive you home on the day you are released from the hospital. Surgical patients cannot drive themselves home.

If you schedule your surgery with a KCOA physician, you can expect the following on surgery day: 

• A receptionist will check you in at the hospital registration desk.
• A nurse will take you back and prepare you for surgery. They will start an IV, prepare the surgical site, and review your medical history and medications.
• Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will visit with you prior to your operation.
• The surgical team will take you to the operation suite for surgery.

Surgery is usually not needed for plantar fasciitis. In fact, the vast majority of patients can treat their pain without surgery.

Surgery ultimately is a last resort and only offered after conservative measures have been exhausted. If surgery is needed, one of our orthopedic experts may choose to release part of the plantar fascia ligament that supports the arch of your foot.

They may also look to remove any scar tissue that is leading to a lack of mobility or stiffness in the tissue. These procedures are typically performed through very small incisions to ensure minimal tissue disruption.

Depending on the recommendations of your surgeon, your plantar fasciitis surgery will be either open or endoscopic. Both options require general anesthesia.

In the case of open surgery, a 1 to 2 inch incision will be made to detach the plantar fascia from the heel bone. Endoscopic surgery, meanwhile, will utilize small incisions under the heel bone that are less than half an inch.

Once the procedure is performed, our surgeons will place the patient in sutures and bandages to protect the treatment area. This is an outpatient procedure and patients are free to return home that same day with specific post-op instructions.

A patient’s recovery plan and timeline will vary based on various factors, including age, activity level, goals, and more.

However, taking care of your body is essential to ensure optimal results from your plantar fasciitis surgery.

In the immediate postoperative period, it’s important to keep your foot elevated to reduce swelling. Your care team will also provide you with pain medication.

Different procedures will require different amounts of time for recovery. Most patients receiving an open surgery can expect to wear some sort of assisted device, such as a walking boot, for several days following surgery.

With endoscopic surgery, patients may be able to resume wearing normal shoes within a few days, with full recovery coming after 3 to 6 weeks. With that being said, recovery timelines are different for each person and depend on the patient closely following post-op instructions.