"The Leg Pain Clinic is amazing!! I walked out with less pain than I walked in with! Dr. Anwar is amazing and I love his bedside manner!! I didn't want another knee replacement surgery and now I don't have to get one!!"
Plantar Fasciitis & Achilles Tendinitis
Minimally invasive treatment for chronic heel and Achilles pain that has not responded to conservative care. No surgery.
Treatable without surgery
Understanding your condition
Plantar Fasciitis & Achilles Tendinitis explained
Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis are common causes of chronic heel and lower-leg pain in active adults and those on their feet for long hours. In both, chronically inflamed tissue grows new blood vessels that sustain the pain even after rest. Plantar fasciitis affects the tissue under the heel, while Achilles tendinitis affects the tendon at the back of the ankle. Dr. Anwer, a Stanford Fellowship trained interventional radiologist, uses embolization to reduce this abnormal blood flow and relieve the pain without surgery, as an outpatient with same-day recovery.
Most patients return to normal activity in 24 to 48 hours, with heel pain reducing over weeks.
Dr. Anwer's approach
Dr. Anwer performs embolization using X-ray guidance. A thin catheter is inserted through a pinhole in the wrist or ankle and guided to the small vessels feeding the inflamed heel or Achilles tissue. Tiny particles reduce the abnormal blood flow driving the pain. Approximately 30 minutes, no general anesthesia.
Treatable without surgery
Key facts
Plantar fascia embolization targets vessels sustaining chronic heel inflammation
Performed under X-ray guidance through a pinhole in the wrist or ankle
No general anesthesia and no surgical incisions required
Outpatient procedure completed in approximately 30 minutes
Most patients return to normal activity within 24 to 48 hours
Significant heel pain relief typically within two to four weeks
Covered by most major insurance plans when medically necessary
Treatment overview
Is this the right treatment for you?
Every patient is different. These four areas will help you understand whether Plantar Fasciitis & Achilles Tendinitis treatment at LPVI is the right fit.
Who qualifies
Am I a good candidate?
Embolization is best suited to patients with chronic plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis who have tried conservative treatment without lasting relief. That usually means rest, stretching, orthotics, physical therapy, or injections that helped for a while but stopped working. Good candidates are people whose heel or Achilles pain is limiting walking, exercise, or standing at work, and who want to avoid surgery. Dr. Anwer reviews your imaging personally and will tell you honestly if he does not believe you are a good fit.
Common symptoms
Symptoms we treat
The symptoms we treat fall into two related patterns. Plantar fasciitis causes sharp heel pain that is often worst with the first steps in the morning or after rest, and flares with long periods of standing or walking. Achilles tendinitis causes pain and stiffness at the back of the ankle, worst in the morning or at the start of activity, sometimes with swelling or thickening of the tendon. Many patients have had the pain for months. You do not need every symptom on this list. If heel or Achilles pain has not responded to conservative care, it is worth a conversation.
What to expect
The procedure
Embolization is performed as an outpatient procedure under X-ray guidance. Dr. Anwer inserts a thin catheter through a pinhole in the wrist or ankle and navigates it to the small arteries feeding the inflamed heel or Achilles tissue. Microscopic particles are then injected to reduce blood flow to those vessels. There is no surgical incision, no general anesthesia, and no hospital admission. The procedure typically takes about 30 minutes, and you go home the same day.
After treatment
Recovery and results
Most patients return to normal activity within 24 to 48 hours of the procedure. Mild soreness at the entry site is normal for a day or two. Pain relief is gradual rather than immediate: most patients begin noticing improvement within two to four weeks as inflammation decreases, with results continuing over the following weeks. Recovery varies with how long the inflammation has been present. Dr. Anwer follows up personally after the procedure.
Your treatment starts here
What's holding
What's holding
you back?
You may have more options than you've been told. Answer four quick questions and our engine matches you to the right minimally invasive treatment and connects you directly with Dr. Anwer.
This information is not a medical diagnosis. A consultation with Dr. Anwer will confirm your treatment options. Individual results may vary.
Do any of these sound familiar?
Common symptoms
You do not need all of these. Even two or three are worth discussing with Dr. Anwer at your first consultation.
Sharp heel pain with the first steps in the morning or after rest
Pain and stiffness at the back of the ankle, worst at the start of activity
Heel pain that flares with long periods of standing or walking
Swelling or thickening along the Achilles tendon
Pain that returns each time you increase activity or exercise
Heel or Achilles pain that has not responded to rest, stretching, or injections
Our approach
How Dr. Anwer treats plantar fasciitis & achilles tendinitis
Dr. Anwer performs embolization using X-ray guidance. A thin catheter is inserted through a pinhole in the wrist or ankle and guided to the small vessels feeding the inflamed heel or Achilles tissue. Tiny particles reduce the abnormal blood flow driving the pain. Approximately 30 minutes, no general anesthesia.
Consultation with Dr. Anwer, heel imaging review
Personalized embolization plan, procedure date confirmed
Outpatient plantar fascia embolization, 30 minutes
Same-day discharge, follow-up review in four to six weeks
Why choose this approach
Minimally invasive vs conventional treatment
Conventional approach
Conventional treatment for plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis usually begins with rest, stretching, orthotics, and physical therapy, then progresses to cortisone injections and, in stubborn cases, surgery. These treatments can help, but injections often provide only temporary relief and carry risks for the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon, and surgery involves a significant recovery period.
- Major surgery or invasive procedure
- General anesthesia required
- Hospital stay of 1 to 5 days
- Recovery of 4 to 12 weeks
Dr. Anwer's approach at LPVI
Conventional treatment for plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis usually begins with rest, stretching, orthotics, and physical therapy, then progresses to cortisone injections and, in stubborn cases, surgery. These treatments can help, but injections often provide only temporary relief and carry risks for the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon, and surgery involves a significant recovery period.
- Outpatient, no hospital admission
- Light sedation or local anesthesia
- Pinhole incision, no stitches
- Same-day or next-day recovery
Dr. Anwer takes a different approach. Rather than repeatedly managing symptoms or operating, embolization targets the abnormal blood vessels that sustain the inflammation driving your pain, whether it comes from the plantar fascia or the Achilles tendon. It is performed through a pinhole under X-ray guidance, with no general anesthesia and same-day recovery. For patients tired of pain that keeps returning, it offers a genuine alternative.
Patient stories
What our patients are saying
5.0
Based on Google reviews
"Dr. Bilal very professional and awesome physician. My left knee pain went down from 9 to 3. Front staff, nurses, OR staff all were amazing and very professional."
"Brought my mother in law to get help with her knees. She literally could not walk. After procedure she walked to car with minimal discomfort. Each day is getting better and better. I rate the entire place 10 of 10."
"Fantastic doctor, very thorough, explained everything. Staff is outstanding!!! I first heard of them via Facebook and after looking more into it I saw they can treat shoulder pain too. I feel great after my procedure."
"Doctor Anwer and his staff is totally awesome, they are very kind and respectful. Dr. Anwer does amazing work. I love them all."
"Excellent staff and doctor! Excellent care and caring!!! I would recommend this clinic to anyone who is looking for a caring, professional medical team."
"My husband thinks very highly of the doctor. The entire experience from start to finish was professional and compassionate."
"Sabrena Cummings: Fantastic doctor very thorough explained everything. Staff is outstanding!!!"
"The Leg Pain Clinic is amazing!! I walked out with less pain than I walked in with! Dr. Anwar is amazing and I love his bedside manner!! I didn't want another knee replacement surgery and now I don't have to get one!!"
"Dr. Bilal very professional and awesome physician. My left knee pain went down from 9 to 3. Front staff, nurses, OR staff all were amazing and very professional."
"Brought my mother in law to get help with her knees. She literally could not walk. After procedure she walked to car with minimal discomfort. Each day is getting better and better. I rate the entire place 10 of 10."
"Fantastic doctor, very thorough, explained everything. Staff is outstanding!!! I first heard of them via Facebook and after looking more into it I saw they can treat shoulder pain too. I feel great after my procedure."
"Doctor Anwer and his staff is totally awesome, they are very kind and respectful. Dr. Anwer does amazing work. I love them all."
"Excellent staff and doctor! Excellent care and caring!!! I would recommend this clinic to anyone who is looking for a caring, professional medical team."
"My husband thinks very highly of the doctor. The entire experience from start to finish was professional and compassionate."
"Sabrena Cummings: Fantastic doctor very thorough explained everything. Staff is outstanding!!!"
FAQ
Common questions about Plantar Fasciitis & Achilles Tendinitis
Plantar fascia embolization is covered by most major insurance plans in Houston when chronic plantar fasciitis has been confirmed and conservative treatments have not provided lasting relief. Our team at LPVI will verify your specific coverage and confirm prior authorization requirements before your consultation. Call us at 713-242-1139 and we will check your benefits and answer any questions about heel pain treatment costs in Houston.
Recovery from plantar fascia embolization at LPVI is quick. Most patients go home the same day and return to normal daily activity within 24 to 48 hours. Some mild soreness at the catheter entry site is possible for a day or two. Heel pain improves progressively over two to four weeks as the treated vessels close and inflammation in the plantar fascia resolves. Dr. Anwer will arrange a follow-up review to confirm your response and monitor your progress.
Yes. Although they affect different structures, plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis are both chronic tendon and soft-tissue conditions sustained by abnormal blood vessels that grow into the inflamed area. Embolization reduces that blood supply and calms the inflammation in either the plantar fascia or the Achilles tendon. Dr. Anwer will examine you and review your imaging to confirm which is driving your pain and whether embolization is appropriate for your specific case.
Chronic plantar fasciitis does not always resolve without treatment and can persist for years once the inflammatory cycle is established. Without effective intervention, daily pain and limitation on walking, standing, and exercise can significantly affect quality of life. In some cases, repeated loading of the inflamed tissue increases the risk of a plantar fascia tear. Early minimally invasive treatment at LPVI can break the inflammatory cycle and restore comfortable movement.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with light sedation, so you remain comfortable throughout. There is no surgical incision, only a pinhole at the wrist or ankle where the catheter is inserted. Most patients describe mild pressure rather than pain during the procedure, whether it is being performed for the heel or the Achilles tendon. Afterward, some soreness at the entry site is normal for a day or two and is usually managed with over-the-counter medication.
Most patients notice progressive improvement in heel pain within two to four weeks after plantar fascia embolization. Some patients see earlier relief, while others experience the full benefit at the six to eight week mark as inflammation continues to resolve. Morning pain and post-sitting stiffness are typically the first symptoms to improve. Dr. Anwer will monitor your progress at a follow-up review. The majority of patients at LPVI in Houston report significant heel pain reduction within the first two months.
Coverage
We accept most major insurance plans
Dr. Bilal Anwer treats plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis at two Houston-area locations: 11240 FM 1960 Rd W Suite 406, Houston TX 77065 in Cy-Fair, and 12825 Gulf Freeway, Houston TX 77034 near Webster and Clear Lake. Patients travel from Cypress, Jersey Village, Spring, Katy, The Woodlands, Tomball, Pearland, Friendswood, League City, Clear Lake, and across Greater Houston for minimally invasive heel and Achilles pain treatment. Most major insurance plans accepted including Medicare, BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Humana. No referral required. Same-day appointments available. Call 713-242-1139 to schedule.
Take the next step
Ready to treat your heel pain without surgery?
Speak with Dr. Anwer about your plantar fasciitis & achilles tendinitis. Same-day appointments available. Most insurance accepted.
This information is not a medical diagnosis. A consultation with Dr. Anwer will confirm your treatment options. Individual results may vary.