Can PRP Help My Plantar Fasciitis?

When you start a new day, you want to put your best foot forward. But if you’re living with plantar fasciitis, that stabbing pain in your heel when you first get out of bed gets in the way. 

Plantar fasciitis pain often gets a little better as you keep moving. That said, if the shooting discomfort is persistent, it can get in the way of your ability to move comfortably throughout your daily activities. If that sounds familiar, it’s time to come see Karl Siebuhr, MD, and our team at our Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida. 

Here, we can use your body’s own regenerative abilities to help your foot heal, alleviating that plantar fasciitis pain. We do this with a regenerative medicine treatment called platelet-rich plasma (PRP). 

If you’re dealing with persistent plantar fasciitis, here’s what you need to know about this innovative treatment option. 

Understanding plantar fasciitis

Your plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. It supports the arch of your foot, helping your body absorb shock with each step you take. That means your plantar fascia is under near-constant stress. 

Unsurprisingly, then, this band of tissue can get irritated. If it stretches too far or gets overworked, it gets inflamed. Doctors call this inflammation plantar fasciitis. This foot problem is so common that experts estimate it affects one in ten people at some point in their lives. 

That means that 10% of the population will deal with uncomfortable symptoms, which include:

• A stabbing or shooting heel pain that’s usually worst after a period of rest
• Foot stiffness
• Pain in the arch of the foot
• Tightness in the Achilles tendon
• Heel swelling

Sometimes, staying off your feet for a few days is enough to allow the plantar fascia to heal. But if you’re still dealing with discomfort, come see Dr. Siebuhr. 

How PRP works for plantar fasciitis

Here at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida, Dr. Siebuhr offers a form of regenerative medicine to stimulate and support your body’s natural healing processes. With platelet-rich plasma, he can signal to your body that it needs to do regenerative work in a certain area. 

PRP treatment starts with Dr. Siebuhr taking a small sample of your blood. With a centrifuge, he separates the platelets to isolate the PRP, which he injects into your trouble areas. Your body directs those platelets to injuries. Not only do they help your blood clot, but they also contain growth factors. These growth factors help to drive your body's healing processes forward. 

When Dr. Siebuhr injects a high concentration of platelets — along with their growth factors — into your plantar fascia, he delivers a way to encourage healing. A recent study demonstrated that this treatment was effective for chronic plantar fasciitis. Another meta-analysis found that PRP was more effective than corticosteroid injections at alleviating plantar fascia pain. 

Don’t let that stabbing heel pain hold you back. To explore PRP treatment with Dr. Siebuhr and our team, call our office or request an appointment online.