I’m a competitive ultramarathon runner, and last fall (2024), I was in peak condition and gearing up to crush a series of 50-mile races. Then out of nowhere — bam — my left heel started hurting. I didn’t roll it, twist it, or step wrong. It just showed up and would not go away.Like most runners, I tried to tough it out and run through the pain… big mistake. I ended up sidelining myself even more. I started seeing a physical therapist on the west side who diagnosed it as plantar fasciitis. I spent 8 weeks doing dry needling twice a week with zero improvement. I then went to the VA — same diagnosis, same results. Even tried a third PT. Still no relief.Then — I found Dr. Kris Titko.And that changed everything.Dr. Titko actually listened. She did x-rays, ordered an MRI, and gave me a clear, accurate diagnosis: a stress fracture — not plantar fasciitis like everyone else had told me. Within days, she performed a PRP procedure, got me in a boot for 9 weeks, and coordinated a recovery plan with Zach at Athletico in West Chester.Not only did Dr. Titko correctly diagnose the stress fracture, but she also identified a pinched nerve that was radiating pain down my ankle and into my heel. She knew exactly what to do and got me the treatment I needed. On top of that, she and Zach regularly communicated — sometimes twice a week — to track my progress and fine-tune my recovery.And guess what? I’m back to running pain-free!I’m training again, chasing down big goals, and I owe it all to Dr. Titko.As a fellow runner, Dr. Titko gets it. She understands the mindset, the passion, and the urgency we feel when we can’t run. She wanted me back out there just as much as I did — and she made it happen.If you’re struggling with any kind of foot or heel pain, don’t waste months like I did. Go see Dr. Titko at The Center for Foot Care — in Mt. Healthy or Liberty Township. You will not regret it. She is compassionate, knowledgeable, incredibly thorough — and hands down the best in the game.
