1 Heel Pain
Heel pain is often caused by plantar fasciitis, which is a condition that is sometimes referred to as a heel spur syndrome when a plantar heel spur is present. Heel pain may also be due to other causes, such as stress fractures, nerve entrapment, tendinitis, arthritic conditions and sometimes metabolic conditions. Since there are many causes of heel pain it is important that your heel pain gets properly diagnosed by an experienced foot and ankle specialist. By choosing the right specialist you can avoid complications and chronicity of the problem.
So one may ask what is plantar fasciitis? To simply define it, it is inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is located on the bottom of your heel. The plantar fascia starts at your heel and ends at your toes. The inflammation usually starts at the heel and can become irritated and painful resulting in severe heel pain.
Causes of Heel pain?
Heel pain can also arise from overuse and may be the result of starting a new activity or new job that requires long hours of standing and walking. These symptoms can occur in patients with flat feet or high arched feet. Heel pain can also been worsening by having a tight heel cord and lack of stretching thus causing excess pressure and strain on the heel.
Symptoms of Heel Pain?
The most common symptoms are pain and discomfort on the bottom of the heel especially when you take your first step in the morning, commonly called “post static dyskinesia.” This may also occur when standing up after sitting for prolonged periods of time. Usually after a few minutes of walking and warming up the pain can becomes less severe and will start to decrease. In some cases the pain is constant and heel pain can become a chronic problem.
Treatment Options:
Non-surgical Conservative:
These can range from stretching, rest, ice, massaging the site, avoiding any barefoot activity, in the case of flat feet proper arch support and in the case of high arches proper heel cushioning. Limiting activities, shoe modifications and some medications such as anti inflammatories. Injection therapy with substances such as cortisone, platelet rich plasma and stem cells are some other options as well as physical therapy.
In this practice we have an FDA non-invasive innovative treatment for plantar fasciitis. Very rarely do patient’s need to undergo surgery when all modalities and treatment options are available. If you are experiencing severe heel pain and are not responding to conservative management, please come see us and we will be sure that you will be happy when you leave our office. Please ask about our unique “Non-Invasive Treatment” for heel pain.
Surgical Treatment:
Although many patients with heel pain do well with conservative management, there are some who fail to respond to conservative therapy and surgical management is warranted. Surgery can include several procedures depending on the etiology of the heel pain. Either way it is important to consult with your foot and ankle specialist about deciding which treatment option is best for you.
We look forward to treating you and making you walk out of our office pain free!