Heel Pain

Heel Pain Q&A

What causes heel pain?

Heel pain can come from direct trauma to your heel or an underlying medical condition.

One common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis, the inflammation of the thick band of tissue (the plantar fascia) that connects your heel bone to your toes. This condition causes a stabbing pain that makes it difficult to put pressure on your heel when standing or walking.

Other common causes of heel pain include:

• Bursitis
• Heel spurs
• Stress fractures
• Achilles tendonitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Baxter’s neuritis (nerve entrapment)
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)

The team also offers diagnostic and treatment services for Sever’s disease, a bone injury in children that affects the growth plate in the back of the heel that attaches to your Achilles tendon.

It’s important that you schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Toetal Podiatry for heel pain that’s severe, or for persistent swelling in and around your heel.

How is heel pain diagnosed?

To understand the cause of your heel pain, the providers at Toetal Podiatry review your personal and family medical histories. They also physically examine your heel and foot, checking for areas of tenderness and swelling.

You may need diagnostic imaging tests, like X-rays or an ultrasound, to evaluate the structures in your heel. Testing can reveal plantar fasciitis, arthritis, and other conditions.

Once your Toetal Podiatry provider pinpoints the cause of your pain, they create a treatment plan that focuses on pain relief, so you can stay physically active.

How is heel pain treated?

The team at Toetal Podiatry offers comprehensive treatment options for the underlying causes of heel pain. Your treatment plan may include:

• Medications
• Steroid injections
• Ice therapy
• Custom orthotics
• Physical therapy

If you have a stress fracture or your child has Sever’s disease, the providers may recommend immobilization of your foot with a brace or a temporary cast.

When your heel pain is the result of arthritis or minor tissue tears in your tendon or muscles, the Toetal Podiatry team may use regenerative medicine therapy. This treatment involves injections of stem cells or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to stimulate the production of new, healthy cells to replace those damaged by injury or disease.

In some cases, you may need minimally invasive surgery to address severe fractures or complex soft tissue tears. The team at Toetal Podiatry use both minimally invasive and open surgical techniques to achieve the best outcome.

You don’t have to suffer from heel pain anymore. Call Toetal Podiatry to schedule a diagnostic evaluation, or request an appointment through the online booking system today.