All You Need to Know About Heel Pain

Heel pain is more common than you think and impacts the lives of millions of Americans. Walking and participating in regular activities might be challenging when you have heel discomfort. Nonsurgical therapies are effective for the majority of painful heel issues, but your body requires time to heal.

Heel Pain: Causes

• Bursitis: Your joints have fluid-filled sacs called bursae. They encircle the regions where muscles, tendons, and skin touch bones. Heel pain occurs when the bursa becomes irritated.
• Plantar Fasciitis: When your feet are subjected to excessive pressure, discomfort and stiffness can arise in the tendon connecting your heel to the front of your foot.
• Tendonitis: Also known as Achilles tendonitis, the condition occurs when injuries cause the tendon that connects the calf with the heel to get damaged or become inflamed.
• Arthritis: Your spine is largely impacted by ankylosing spondylitis, a kind of arthritis. It produces significant vertebral inflammation, which might potentially result in disability and persistent discomfort. Other types of arthritis can also be a cause of heel pain and foot problems. Reach out to a podiatrist today to get a professional diagnosis.
• Osteochondrosis: This impacts a child’s or adolescent’s bone development.

Heel Pain: Treatment

There are several procedures that might lessen heel pain and hasten your recovery, which include:

• Physical Therapy: Massage, physical therapy, and various other therapies can all be used to dissolve soft tissue adhesions. Pain and inflammation may be lessened by these treatments.
• Stretching: Stretching your calf muscles, your feet and your entire body is always beneficial, especially when warming up and cooling down after an exercise/activity.
• Pain Management: Applying ice to the damaged heel and taking medications helps speed up the healing process.
• Footwear: Wearing well-fitted footwear that cushions and supports your feet is beneficial in addressing and preventing heel pain. Your podiatrist may recommend custom orthotics for your heel pain.

Heel Pain: Prevention

• Obesity is damaging to your feet and can put extra strain and pressure on your feet, especially on the heels. Your feet may benefit if you lose weight and keep it off by engaging in regular exercise and eating a healthy, balanced diet.
• It’s also crucial to wear proper footwear. Your ideal footwear should support and cushion your arches and heels.
• Flats, high heels and local drugstore orthotics are not recommended.

Depending on the cause of your heel pain, a podiatrist might advise resting and at-home remedies like calf muscle stretching. Applying ice, using medicines that reduce inflammation and custom-made orthotics are some other recommendations. Call the friendly My Chicago Foot Expert staff at (773) 561-8100 or click here to schedule an appointment with Cook County podiatrist  Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM in our modern, comfortable Ravenswood office today.