Plantar fasciitis can be a major source of debilitating heel pain, detracting from mobility and quality of life. If you are on your feet a lot during the day, putting repeated stress on your feet, you may have ongoing heel pain that isn’t relieved by rest, stretches or even supportive footwear.
For chronic pain that doesn’t resolve with traditional care, you may want to explore regenerative medicine treatments in Michigan for relief.
What is Chronic Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is when the thick band of tissue along the bottom of the foot gets damaged or irritated. Sometimes conservative treatment, such as icing the area, stretching, and modifying activities, can provide pain relief. But when the issue becomes chronic and goes beyond simple inflammation or degeneration of the tissue itself, a focus on symptom relief just won’t cut it anymore.
Regenerative medicine supports the body’s natural healing response, making this a viable option for those dealing with persistent symptoms.
Duration of Symptoms
To determine if you’re a good candidate for regenerative treatments for plantar fasciitis, it’s important to keep track of how long you have had symptoms for. If your heel pain has been going on for several months or longer, especially if you have periods of improvement followed by a relapse over and over, you could be a good candidate for regenerative care.
When chronic plantar fasciitis does not respond to conservative treatment, there could be underlying tissue damage rather than temporary inflammation. This is where regenerative medicine could help.
Activity Level and Lifestyle
Next, how active you are will determine your candidacy. Runners, athletes, and those with physically demanding jobs (healthcare workers, teachers, retail employees, etc.) put repetitive stress on the plantar fascia every day. These patients may require treatment options that support tissue healing over short-term masking of symptoms.
History of Conservative Treatments
You may turn to regenerative medicine if you have explored all traditional treatments to relieve pain, such as:
- Rest and activity modification
- Physical therapy
- Stretching and strengthening exercises
- Orthotics or supportive footwear
- Anti-inflammatory medications or injections
If these treatments have only provided temporary relief, or symptoms keep returning after a period of improvement, may need a more focused approach that addresses underlying tissue health.
Overall Foot Health
Your doctor will need to perform a thorough evaluation of your foot health before recommending regenerative therapies. They will assess factors such as:
- Foot structure
- Gait mechanics
- Presence of other conditions (nerve issues, tendon involvement, etc.)
You may need imaging tests to rule out other causes of your heel pain before considering regenerative treatments.
General Health
Overall health will also determine candidacy, particularly as it pertains to healing. Your pain specialist in Michigan will review your medical history, medications, and lifestyle during an initial consultation to ensure regenerative medicine would be safe and appropriate for your unique situation.
Contact the Regenerative Medicine Institute of Michigan
If plantar fasciitis has limited your mobility or affected your quality of life for a while now, you may consider regenerative treatment. Schedule a consultation today with our Michigan pain specialists to see if regenerative treatment options for plantar fasciitis are right for you. Please contact us today at (248) 771-1300 for a personalized assessment.
By Regenerative Medicine Institute of Michigan
Board-certified Doctors – Aaron Greenberg, DO and Eduardo José Otero Loperena, MD