Heel Pain

Watch This Short Video Of Dr. DeLuca
As She Talks About Heel Pain

Your foot pain is not normal. Does your first step in the morning feel like you are walking on glass? Do you get that sharp, stabbing sensation when you put your heel down?

Then, does the pain gradually ease up a bit, after you hobble around awhile.  Does it return after periods of rest, such as after dinner, or going to a movie?  Then, you probably have something called Plantar Fasciitis. 

One of the most common foot problems is called Plantar Fasciitis.  It is as common for Podiatrist's as the common cold is to General Practitioners. 

It is also referred to as heel spur syndrome.  The Plantar Fascia is a thick band of supporting tissue, that attaches to the bottom of the heel bone, and runs along the arch and into the base of the toes.  Its main function is to act as a shock absorber and arch support.  

When this structure becomes inflamed, the pain can be excruciating.  This condition usually occurs later in life, after age 40.  Plantar fascititis is an overuse injury that affects the sole of your foot. 

The reason why heel pain starts is that our foot has to interact with the ground.  And the ground is hard and flat, most of the time.  The Plantar Fascia has to adapt to the hard surface by moving and rotating down and around with each step. 

Consequently, if there is a problem with the way the foot functions, the Plantar Fascia becomes irritated and inflamed.  Usually, this is a chronic injury, not acute.  It creeps up on you slowly. 

It can resolve naturally, but it can take time.  So, it is better to initiate treatment as soon as possible, since the pain can be very debilitating.

Some of the common causes for this condition are; flat feet, feet that roll in on the arches, sudden increase in activities, improper shoe wear, such as flip flops, tight calf muscles, standing on hard surfaces for prolonged periods of time, weight gain, and doing too much too fast. 

Improper shoe gear really starts this condition to develop.  Flip flops or cute little flat shoes that women like to wear causes overuse and over stretching of the Plantar Fascia and offer no arch support. 

Over time, the plantar fascia will become fatigued, tired and inflamed. Thus, causing tremendous heel pain.

The good news is that treatments are affective.  The bad news is that sometimes this condition can linger and take time. The heel pain can last for up to 4-6 months.

So, patience and persistence are the key.  By far, the faster treatment begins, the quicker the recovery and the less likelihood for recurrence.

You should see results after treatment, in about 2-4 weeks.  The goal of any Podiatrist should be to treat it, cure it, and prevent it.

Treatment modalities you can do yourself are; aggressive stretching techniques first thing in the morning and throughout the day, warm your foot before walking or exercise, ice, resistant exercises to strengthen the foot and the ankle,  proper foot gear with good arch support, oral anti-inflammatory medication, wearing a night splint. 

If the condition still persists, then see your Podiatrist for further treatments, which may include:  foot strapping, custom made arch supports, proper exercise techniques, injections, physical therapy, gait analysis, x-ray evaluation, shoe recommendations,  and in rare instances, surgery. 

There are other causes for heel pain, as well.  This could include; arthritis, tendon ruptures or tears, gout, connective tissue disorders, fractures, tumors, or vascular disease, to name a few.  So, see your Podiatrist if your heel pain persists.

If you live in South Florida, and you would like a consultation with me, please call my office at:

In or near Boynton Beach, call 561-734-4867

In or near Wellington, call 561-433-5577.