Do the first few steps out of bed cause extreme pain in the bottom of your foot? You may have plantar fasciitis. Affecting nearly 2 million patients each year, plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of pain in the bottom of the foot. OPTIMAL offers PRP injections for plantar fasciitis to patients living in the Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth communities. Our team of double-board certified pain management and anesthesiologist physicians are on the forefront of regenerative medicine, offering PRP injections to patients in the Dallas, Arlington and Ft. Worth areas.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis happens when the strong band of tissue that supports the arch of the foot, known as the plantar fascia, becomes irritated and inflamed. The plantar fascia is a long, thin ligament that lies directly beneath the skin at the bottom of the foot. This ligament connects the heel to the front of the foot.

The plantar fascia is designed to absorb high stresses and strains that the feet endure throughout the day. When there is too much pressure, it can cause strains and tears to the tissue. When this happens, the area becomes inflamed resulting in heel pain and stiffness on the bottom of the foot.

What are Platelet Rich Plasma Injections?

PRP blood injections are an innovative treatment that merges modern technology with the body’s natural abilities for accelerated healing of a variety of conditions. Professional athletes have been using PRP as a non-surgical treatment alternative for years and now collegiate athletes and weekend warriors have begun to follow suit.

One of the four main components of a human’s blood are platelets. Platelets initiate tissue repair by releasing growth factors. These growth factors are a naturally occurring substance capable of stimulating cellular growth, proliferation, healing and cellular differentiation of chronic tendon injuries, acute ligament and muscle injuries.

Are you suffering from plantar fasciitis?

You may be a candidate for PRP therapy

Contact us today to learn if you are a candidate

How Do PRP Injections Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

Platelet rich plasma injections have been used in operating rooms for trauma wound healing and to stimulate bone formation in spinal fusion surgery for decades. Today, physicians are using PRP injections to treat acute ligament injuries like plantar fasciitis.

To begin treatment one of our trained physicians will remove a vial of blood, typically 30 milliliters. The patient’s blood is then spun in a centrifuge, which is a machine that uses high speeds to separate the four main components of the blood. Once the components are separated, the platelet rich plasma is removed. The plasma is then injected into the bottom of the foot where the plantar fascia is to allow the growth factors to recruit and increase the proliferation of reparative cells. In some cases, an “activating agent”, which is either thrombin or calcium chloride will also be added into the injection.

The entire process takes less than 15 minutes. Response to treatment will vary with each patient. Most patients will require 1-3 sets of PRP injections. Each set of treatments is spaced 4-6 weeks apart. As PRP is obtained from your own blood, the risk of reaction is low. As with any injection, there is a small risk of injury to any structures in the area as well as a very small risk of infection.

If you are interested in PRP injections for plantar fasciitis the Dallas, Arlington or Fort Worth area, please contact OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine®.