What Can I Expect During a Plantar Fasciitis Embolization?

If you’re dealing with heel pain, plantar fasciitis is a likely culprit. Roughly one in 10 people develops the frustrating condition at some point, including more than 2 million per year in the United States who seek treatment.

Plantar fasciitis embolization provides a minimally invasive solution when conservative measures fall short.

With his expert team at our Midtown Manhattan, New York, practice, double board-certified vascular and interventional radiologist Dr. Yosef Golowa provides this nonsurgical treatment. 

Plantar fasciitis basics

Your plantar fascia is a ligament-like band that runs from your heel to your forefoot and toes. Plantar fasciitis develops when this band is overstretched or overused. This fuels inflammation that makes using your foot, including for simple walking, painful.

In addition to heel pain, plantar fasciitis causes Achilles tendon tightness, arch pain, stiffness, and heel swelling.

Your symptoms may flare up when you first stand up in the morning and after walking. You might also experience a dull, fairly constant ache or stabbing heel pain. During exercise, your heel pain may stop – only to start again once you’re done.

While anyone can experience plantar fasciitis, playing sports, working for hours on your feet, exercising on hard surfaces, and wearing unsupportive shoes increase your risk. The same goes for having flat feet or carrying excess body weight.

Plantar fasciitis treatment

In many cases, conservative measures, like resting, icing the foot periodically, and using custom orthotics (shoe inserts), alleviate plantar fasciitis symptoms. Over-the-counter pain medication, massaging and stretching the foot, and wearing a walking boot can help, too.

Plantar fasciitis embolization works well for ongoing or severe plantar fasciitis symptoms, especially those that fail to diminish with other treatments.

How plantar fasciitis embolization works

Plantar fasciitis embolization places an embolic agent into the affected blood vessel in your plantar fascia. This substance blocks blood flow, leading to reduced pain and inflammation. 

Minimally invasive, this procedure only requires a tiny puncture. There, Dr. Golowa places a catheter and then uses digital imagery to guide the thin tube to the targeted spot.

Benefits of embolization for plantar fasciitis include:

• Highly effective at reducing pain and inflammation
• No anesthesia required
• Safer and less painful than surgery
• Quick recovery
• Improved quality of life

Most people experience less pain within a week of the procedure. Those benefits often last for several years or longer. With appropriate lifestyle changes, such as wearing better shoes, you may not need more treatment.

To learn more or find out if you’re a good candidate for plantar fasciitis embolization, call our office today at 212-991-9991. You can also book an appointment with Dr. Golowa through our website.