Heel pain is one of the most commonly seen pathologies our foot and ankle surgeons treat and can be caused by a multitude of factors.
Causes:
The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis which is usually caused by a tight heel cord (tight achilles tendon); heel spur syndrome is a condition when a bony spur is also present in the heel. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition of the band of tissue on the bottom of our feet called the plantar fascia this structure extends from the heels to the toes.
Left untreated, the inflammation may lead to a rupture or tear of the plantar fascial tissue. People with excessive flatfoot or high-arched foot are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis, but can occur in all individuals regardless of their foot type.
Other common causes of heel pain that need to be ruled out by your foot and ankle surgeon are: Fat pad atrophy, stress fractures of the heel bone (calcaneus), nerve impingement, and other biomechanical factors. Most patients can benefit from a custom orthosis .
Symptoms:
Pain on the bottom of the foot particularly in the heel and may extend to the arch, the pain is usually worse in the morning and can become more severe throughout the day or standing after long periods of sitting or resting.
Diagnosis:
The foot and ankle surgeon will obtain a history and physical as well as radiographs to determine the cause of your heel pain
Treatment:
The foot and ankle surgeon will determine a treatment plan tailored to your symptoms and lifestyle. Also, we offer advanced laser therapy , used by many professional athletes, that is non-invasive and proven to get you back on your feet faster and pain free.