PRP for Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain

Yes — PRP has good clinical evidence for chronic plantar fasciitis that hasn't responded to several months of conservative care (stretching, orthotics, anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy). Studies show PRP gives longer-lasting heel pain relief than cortisone, and PRP helps the fascia actually heal rather than just temporarily masking inflammation.

For most patients with chronic plantar fasciitis, yes — PRP gives more durable relief. Cortisone gives quick anti-inflammatory pain relief but the effect frequently fades, and repeated cortisone in the heel carries risks of fat-pad atrophy (which causes its own kind of heel pain) and even rupture of the plantar fascia. Many patients turn to PRP after one or two cortisone shots have stopped helping.

Most patients notice improvement within 4 to 8 weeks as the fascia heals, with continued benefit building over 3 to 6 months. Tendon and fascial healing is slow — patience matters with PRP. In the first 1–2 weeks soreness at the injection site is normal and is part of the healing response.

Most patients respond to a single injection. Some patients with severe or long-standing fasciitis benefit from a second injection at the 6-week mark. Your physician will assess your progress and recommend whether a follow-up is needed.

The injection feels like a typical heel injection — there's a brief sharp pain that local anesthetic minimizes, but the heel can be tender for 24 to 72 hours. We recommend limiting weight-bearing for the first 48 hours: short distances, supportive shoes, no running or long walks. After about 2 weeks you can typically return to most activities. With our highest-concentration PRP, expect more significant soreness for the first 48 hours and possibly a walking boot — boots are available for purchase at the clinic.

Yes — please do. PRP works best alongside continued conservative care. Keep wearing your orthotics, doing your calf and plantar fascia stretches, and following your physiotherapist's program. The PRP supports the tissue's ability to heal; the supportive measures protect that healing.

Heel spurs are bone outgrowths that often appear alongside plantar fasciitis but are usually not the actual source of pain — the inflamed and damaged plantar fascia is. Treating the fascia with PRP typically resolves the pain even though the bone spur itself doesn't change. We don't recommend specifically targeting bone spurs with PRP.

For many patients, yes. Plantar fascia release surgery is a last resort with mixed long-term outcomes — many surgeons now recommend PRP and other regenerative options before surgical release. PRP can be a meaningful step that lets you avoid surgery entirely.

PRP is a private-pay procedure not covered by OHIP. Cost varies based on the concentration selected. Many extended-health benefit plans cover a portion under regenerative medicine or specialist injection benefits. We provide detailed receipts for insurance.