Question
I am a sixteen year old athlete who has been diagnosed with an extreme case of plantar fasciitis. I have been on forced rest for the last seven or eight months including a fiberglass cast for the last seven weeks with little to no results. I feel as if I have tried everything and with no success, including regularly taking anti-inflammatories, forced rest, physical therapy, icing, stretching, custom made orthodics, and wearing supportive shoes constantly, the only exception would be to bathe and to sleep. We have tried as many less invasive options as possible but with no results, I am currently seeing an orthopedic surgeon who is suggesting surgery on my foot and calf. Is this really the best option or can you suggest other effective options? If surgery really is the best option which would be the most beneficial and why? I am an athlete and dying to get back out on the court so recovery time is a major factor. I don't care about scars I just want to get this problem taken care of and healed with as little chance of reinjury as soon as possible. Thanks for your time.

Answer
I would hesitate to do surgery at your age.  My suggestion is to look into Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT).  Look for podiatrists in your area who do the procedure.  It's non-invasive and provides excellent success rates.

All the best,
Andrew Schneider, DPM

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