Have Heel Pain? Why Visit a Foot and Ankle Institute
Do you have consistent irritating pain in your lower foot? Heel pain is uncomfortable, and it may signify a serious underlying condition. Visit a foot and ankle institute to get a diagnosis if you are experiencing this condition.
At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we have qualified podiatrists ready to resolve your heel pain. Depending on the cause of your heel pain, we take you through physiotherapy, non-surgical treatment, or surgical treatment. Here are the causes and symptoms of heel pain and the reasons you should visit a foot and ankle institute:
Causes of Heel Pain
Heel pain is caused by consistently applying pressure to your lower foot region. When you stretch your heel or apply excess pressure on your feet, you may damage an internal feet tissue like the plantar fascia, resulting in heel pain. Some of the causes of heel pain include:
Plantar Fasciitis
This refers to inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a thick ligament attached to the bottom of the heel and extending to the base of your toes. This ligament absorbs the weight of your body when your foot touches the ground.
The plantar fascia flattens out, lengthening the foot when you step on the ground. Once you take your heel off the ground, the ligament releases tension. Any action that causes excessive stretching and releasing of the plantar fascia damages it. Damage to the plantar fascia may lead to small tears that cause pain in your feet.
Haglund’s Deformity
This abnormality is caused by a bump-like enlargement in the bony section of the heel. Haglund’s deformity occurs when you wear rigid shoes that rub against the back of your heel. This irritates your heel and surrounding tissue, causing pain and enlargement of the bony part.
Heel Bursitis
This occurs when the bursa at the back of the heel is inflamed. Inflammation of the bursa can result from landing awkwardly on the heels or pressure from uncomfortable footwear. Heel bursitis is experienced as a pain in the heel or at the back of the heel.
Sever’s Disease
Sever’s disease is the most common cause of heel pain in children and young adults. It occurs when the growth plates of the heel bone are overused or repeatedly injured.
Achilles Tendinitis
This condition occurs when the Achilles tendon is overused. The Achilles tendon is a firm fibrous ligament that connects the muscles in the back of your calf to your heel bone.
Overstretching this tendon may cause it to rupture, and you may hear a pop. A ruptured Achilles tendon causes a sharp pain at the back of your ankle or lower leg, making walking unbearable. Our podiatrists treat Achilles tendinitis through minimally invasive surgery.
Symptoms of Heel Pain
Heel pain symptoms vary with the cause. In addition to pain in or around your heel, you may develop:
- stiffness
- swelling
- tenderness
- bony growth on your heel
- discoloration
- pain due to standing
These symptoms may impact your ability to walk, work, or complete daily tasks. If pain persists long enough, the problem can worsen and require surgery to resolve. Visit Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute to have your pain diagnosed by our podiatrists.
Treatment for Heel Pain at a Foot and Ankle Institute
Depending on the cause of your heel pain, various solutions range from surgical treatment to non-surgical treatment and exercises.
Non-surgical Treatment
You can resolve your heel pain within a few months through conservative non-surgical methods. Various treatments are available depending on the cause of your pain and the associated symptoms. Visit our qualified podiatrists at Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute to get treated for your heel pain.
Our doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling and pain. If the anti-inflammatory drugs prove ineffective, corticosteroid injections serve the same purpose.
Surgical Treatment
Consider surgery if non-surgical treatment doesn’t resolve the problem within six weeks. Certain conditions like a ruptured Achilles tendon or a plantar fascia may require surgery. Consult with our Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute podiatrists to determine whether your heel pain needs surgery.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
Our team of professionals may resolve heel pain through guided physical therapy and exercises targeting your lower leg muscles. Regular and targeted training restores your muscles, relieving heel pain. Exercises that stretch your calf muscles or strengthen your feet help relieve and prevent heel pain.
Why Visit Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute To Relieve Heel Pain?
Are you tired of heel pain? If you’ve tried home remedies to relieve your heel pain without success, we can help. Visit our offices today to begin treatment.
Our podiatrists relieve heel pain through non-surgical and surgical treatment and targeted physiotherapy. We may perform an X-ray to check for arthritis, bone alignment, joint damage, or bone fractures.
Visit Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute to meet our team of qualified professionals and relieve your heel pain!