Fat pad atrophy/Plantar fasciitis

Posted by crimson0087 @crimson0087, Dec 3, 2025

Hello,

Ill try to make this brief. 8 years ago when I was 29 years old I was diagnosed with Fat pad atrophy by an orthopedic foot surgeon. I tried cushions and padding and she eventually put me in a cast. Nothing helped and she said I had to live with it. I saw another doctor who said I did not have fat pad atrophy (FPA) and I had plantar fasciitis. He had me stretch ect and nothing helped. He wanted to do steroid injections but I said no bc that can cause FPA. I gave up and went to a 3rd doctor who did nerve studies and an MRI. He said I neither had FPA or plantar fasciitis (PF) He dismissed me. Finally I went to pittsburgh and had a podiatrist/plastics do fat pad injections. They did an ultrasound and said they didnt think it was FPA but they did it anyway. 5000 later and it did not help. I cannot stand barefoot on hard surfaces or even carpet really. I have vionic flip flops that help (a little) but all tennis shoes and virtually all other shoes hurt. I am only 38 years old. I measured my own fat pad at work and it is 12mm via ultrasound without compression. My question is this. Has anyone been diagnosed with fat pad atrophy at such a young age of 29? I still dont know if thats my problem. If anyone has had theirs measured how thick is your fatpad? Has anyone with fat pad atrophy found any relief with anything at all? I am MISERABLE all the time unless I am sitting with my feet off the ground. Thanks Bryan

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cmmott | @cmmott | Jan 26 9:48pm

Hey Bryan, I am very sorry you're so young and dealing with this. I am much older than you, but have been dealing with similar heel pain and mis-diagnoses (plural) for the past nearly a decade. Started with planter fasc (wrong) diagnosis and treatment from two different docs, then a hairline fracture with a month's worth of no weight-bearing, knee scooters, PT, you name it, zero relief. Finally went to a teaching physician affiliated with a major university (Univ of S. Florida). He did a nerve conduction study, diagnosed me with Baxter's nerve entrapment, and promptly did surgery. On one foot, it worked beautifully, gave me nearly 100% relief. On the other foot, the sharp nerve pain was cured but it then morphed into FPA with a forever bruised feeling in the heel, always made worse with use or weight-bearing. What a frustrating condition it is! I feel so much sympathy for anybody dealing with chronic foot pain, it is debilitating. Sounds like you've tried everything and a string of different docs. I encourage you not to give up, if you keep trying you might yet happen on just the doctor who can perform the CORRECT treatment to relieve your problem. I sure wish you relief and complete foot healing.