Hi, thanks for joining me for the final video in my series on plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common issues that I see in my Houston podiatry office. And it's the most common cause of heel and arch pain. Most people get better from plantar fasciitis through conservative means. In today's video, I will discuss surgical treatment for plantar fasciitis. And like I said, less than 5% of people with plantar fasciitis will need surgery to heal it. Less than 5%. Welcome, I'm Houston podiatrist, Dr. Andrew Schneider.
I find that people are often reluctant to come into the office with plantar fasciitis. This is because of the fear of needing surgery to correct it. But as I've discussed, 95% of patients with plantar fasciitis don't need surgery to correct it. They're well-served with conservative care to end the pain from the plantar fasciitis. For those 5%, surgery is necessary to treat the pain from plantar fasciitis. In my office, there are two common procedures that I do for plantar fasciitis.
The first is called Tenex. Tenex is a minimally invasive procedure that's done in a surgery center. You'll be under anesthesia for a very short time. The procedure is a very quick procedure. What I do is make a tiny incision on the side of the heel, and I introduce a probe to the plantar fascia. And what it does is it uses ultrasonic energy to break down the inflamed tissue and remove it. I do this under ultrasound, so I'm able to visualize where that inflamed tissue is and to get it out of there. You don't even need a stitch after a procedure like this. You're also able to bear weight immediately afterwards. Most people feel the full results of this procedure after about six to eight weeks.
The next procedure is true plantar fascia surgery. This involves a larger incision on the side of the heel. I can visualize that plantar fascia ligament, where it attaches to the heel bone. I detache the plantar fascia from the heel bone. And then any heel spur that's there on the heel bone, I will shave that down and remove the heel spur. After a surgery like this, you can bear weight immediately in a special surgical shoe. You'll have stitches in your foot for about two weeks afterwards.
After you recover, if you don't wear them already, you're going to need a custom orthotic. The purpose of the plantar fascia is stability for the bottom of your foot. If we detach that plantar fascia from your heel bone, you lose that stability. You need something to pick up the slack. And that's where our custom orthotic comes in handy. If you've already wear a custom orthotic, you do not need a different one after this surgery. If you don't yet wear a custom orthotic, you will need one once you recover from the surgery. A very low percentage of people with plantar fasciitis will need surgery. So don't let the fear of these surgeries affect your decision to come in for treatment. 95% of the time, you will not need surgery.
I'd like to thank you for watching this video series about plantar fasciitis. If this video provided value to you, please like comment, subscribe and share on social media to help others find this information they need to make them feel better. If you identified with anything we discussed in this discussion, please contact us at the office and we'll schedule an immediate appointment. Thanks so much for watching and have a great day.
