Plantar fasciitis · heel pain

Those first steps in the morning shouldn't hurt.

That stabbing heel pain when you get out of bed is usually plantar fasciitis: an irritated band of tissue along the bottom of your foot. It's one of the most common problems we see, one of the most stubborn when ignored, and very treatable when it's not.

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Plate II · Fasciitis plantaris

Sound familiar?

Signs it's more than a long day.

i.Sharp heel pain with your first steps in the morning

ii.Pain that returns after sitting, then eases as you move

iii.An aching heel or arch after long days standing or walking

iv.Tightness through your calf and the bottom of your foot

v.Pain that keeps coming back despite rest and new shoes

How we treat it

Calm it down. Then keep it gone.

Your visit starts with an exam and an in-office digital X-ray to rule out other causes of heel pain. Then we build a plan in layers, starting conservative and escalating only if your heel insists.

Step one

Settle the inflammation

Most heel pain responds well to conservative care that takes pressure off the fascia and calms the irritation.

3D-printed custom orthotics to support your arch
Targeted anti-inflammatory injections
Stretching and footwear guidance that fits your routine

When it lingers

Shockwave therapy

For chronic, stubborn heel pain, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) uses acoustic pulses to stimulate the body's own healing response in the fascia.

Short in-office sessions, no incisions
No anesthesia required for most patients
A well-established option for long-standing cases

The stubborn-case specialist

When heel pain won't take the hint.

Plantar fasciitis that's hung around for months rarely improves by waiting longer. Shockwave therapy targets the irritated tissue directly, encouraging it to finally heal rather than just masking the pain.

Patients describe the sensation as intense but brief. As one put it: it hurts so good. Dr. Farooqi will tell you honestly whether you're a good candidate and what results to expect.

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Rule everything outExam plus digital X-ray on the spot, so we're treating the right thing

ii.

Short, focused sessionsShockwave treatments take minutes, right in the office

iii.

Reassess as you healYour plan adjusts based on how your heel actually responds

Response to shockwave therapy varies by patient and severity. Candidacy and expectations are discussed honestly at your consultation.

Heel pain questions

Asked all the time.

Is my heel pain caused by a heel spur?

Often a spur shows up on X-ray, but in most cases the pain comes from the irritated fascia, not the spur itself. Since we have digital X-ray in the office, you'll know exactly what's going on before you leave.

How long does plantar fasciitis take to go away?

It varies widely, and the honest answer is that it depends on how long you've had it and how it responds to treatment. What's consistent: the earlier it's treated properly, the faster it tends to settle.

Does shockwave therapy hurt?

There's real sensation during the pulses, which most patients find intense but very tolerable, and it's over in minutes. No anesthesia is needed for most people.

Will I need surgery for my heel pain?

Very unlikely. The large majority of plantar fasciitis cases resolve with conservative care and, when needed, shockwave therapy. Surgery is a last resort reserved for rare cases, and we'd discuss it candidly if it ever came to that.

One visit. A clear answer.

Mornings shouldn't start with a wince.

Exam, digital X-ray, and a layered treatment plan, all in one Midtown appointment. Most visits are covered by insurance.

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