Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the plantar fascia, a ligament on the bottom of the foot. It can cause heel pain and difficulty walking, especially first thing in the morning. Conservative, at-home treatment often can resolve the problem, but surgery is required in some cases.
Typical costs:
For patients with health insurance, the typical out-of-pocket cost for plantar fasciitis treatment consists of a copay or coinsurance of 10%-50%. Plantar fasciitis treatment typically is covered by health insurance.
For patients without health insurance, plantar fasciitis treatment typically costs less than $500 for stretching exercises, over-the counter anti-inflammatory medication, comfortable shoes and a night splint. Custom orthotics typically cost less than $1,000, and it can cost up to several thousand dollars for physical therapy. In rare cases in which surgery is required, costs can reach $10,000 or more.
For example, a plantar fasciitis night splint[1] costs $20-$50 at Walgreens.com, and a night splint[2] costs $20-$70 at FootSmart.com.
Cortisone shots typically cost $100-$300 per shot, for a total of $300-$900 for a series of three shots. Off-the-shelf orthotics usually cost less than $100 and custom orthotics cost $200-$800. Physical therapy costs from $50-$350 a session, and can total $3,000 or more, depending on the number of sessions needed.
And at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, in Nebraska, surgery to remove a heel spur[3] , with or without plantar fascial release costs about $7,000, not including doctor fee.
For mild cases of plantar fasciitis, a doctor often will recommend rest, anti-inflammatory medication, comfortable shoes, gentle stretching and a night splint to keep the foot in a certain position during sleep.
In other cases, especially when the patient is experiencing severe pain and inflammation, a doctor might recommend a series of corticosteroid injections into the foot to reduce inflammation. Sometimes, physical therapy, in which the therapist will show the patient exercises for stretching and strengthening, also is recommended.
In about five percent of cases, when the condition fails to respond to conservative treatment, surgery is required.
WebMD offers a plantar fasciitis treatment overview[4] .
Additional costs:
One risk of plantar fasciitis surgery is tarsal tunnel syndrome[5] , which causes nerve pain and might require surgery to correct that condition.
Physical therapy, which is recommended in some cases, can cost $10-$75 per session with insurance, or up to $350 or more per session without.
Discounts:
Many hospitals and doctors give discounts of up to 35% or more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. For example, UC Health[6] , in Cincinnati, offers a 40% discount.
Shopping for plantar fasciitis treatment:
A podiatrist should treat plantar fasciitis. The American Podiatric Medical Association offers a podiatrist locator[7] . It is important to make sure the podiatrist is certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine[8] or the American Board of Podiatric Surgery[9] , depending on their area of specialty.
WebMD offers a plantar fasciitis surgery decision guide[10] .
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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