What is heel pain?
Your heel is at the back of your foot. It’s the flat area you walk on, but it also extends up into the back of your ankle. Heel pain can affect any part of your heel, but often affects the bottom of the foot. It can have a serious impact on your ability to walk or stand.
Heel pain could be due to a trauma involving broken bones or torn connective tissues. You might also have:
- Achilles tendinitis
- Bone spurs
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Stress fractures
- Heel pad bruise
- Fat pad atrophy
- Haglund's syndrome
- Heel bursitis
- Sinus tarsi syndrome
However, the most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis.
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation affecting the connective tissue that supports your foot’s arch. This tissue, the plantar fascia, starts in your heel and ends near your toes. Inflammation from overuse or excessive strain causes heel pain that can make walking very painful.
The heel pain is usually worse when you get up from a long time seated or lying down. The morning after you’ve been asleep all night can be the worst time of day. The pain eases after a while, only to get worse if you walk or stand for too long.
What treatments are there for heel pain?
Before treating your heel pain, Dr. Battula has to find the cause of the problem. She carries out a physical exam and discusses your symptoms with you. Then you might need to have diagnostic tests like an X-ray to see what’s going on inside your foot.
When Dr. Battula finds the cause of your heel pain, she can devise an appropriate treatment plan. Possible treatments include:
- Rest
- Ice packs
- Taping the foot
- Exercises
- Physical therapies
- Splints
- Heel wedges
- Custom orthotics
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
- Cortisone injections
Most patients experience relief from their heel pain using these noninvasive measures. If your heel pain isn’t improving, Dr. Battula can discuss other approaches, including surgical options.
One option for plantar fasciitis is endoscopic surgery, where Dr. Battula inserts a tiny camera into small incisions in your heel. She removes the damaged part of your plantar fascia, along with any heel spurs.
To find out what’s causing your heel pain and get the most effective, comprehensive treatment, call Bay Area Foot and Ankle Center today or book an appointment online.
