Heel pain is a discomfort that occurs behind or beneath your heel or within the heel bone itself. It is a common foot and ankle issue. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Other causes include Achilles tendonitis, bone spurs, bursitis, stress fractures, and tendonitis. You are more likely to have heel pain if you are overweight, spend a lot of time standing, wear improperly fitted shoes or run or jump a lot during sports. Symptoms of Glen Burnie heel pain vary depending on the cause. In addition to pain, you may experience bony growth on your heel, redness, stiffness, swelling, or tenderness. There are many treatments for heel pain, which include:
Rest
Resting can help reduce heel pain, especially from overuse like plantar fasciitis. If you continue with routine sports activities like running when you have plantar fasciitis, your pain and swelling will worsen. Resting allows your body to focus on healing rather than using the tendon. You can resume your activities when you are free of pain.
Stretching your feet
Stretching your muscles and tendons promotes blood flow to the heel, reducing pain. Exercises strengthen your muscles and improve foot flexibility.
Ice therapy
Ice therapy can help reduce swelling on an inflamed joint, tendon, or muscle. It also frees up the blood vessels, allowing them to receive more oxygen and nutrients necessary for healing. You can use a plastic bottle with ice and roll your foot on it to help relieve pain. Ice therapy can be useful after strenuous activity or a long period of standing or sitting.
Medications
Over-the-counter medications like naproxen and ibuprofen can help ease pain and swelling.
Injections
Your doctor can recommend steroid injections to ease pain and swelling if over-the-counter pain relievers are ineffective. Doctors often use steroid injections for tendon issues like plantar fasciitis and bursitis.
Orthotic devices
Over-the-counter or custom-made shoe orthotics can take off pressure from your heel. If you get morning heel pain, your doctor can recommend you wear a splint at night. A walking boot can be beneficial if you have severe symptoms. If improper footwear is causing your heel pain, you may need to put on more supportive shoes.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy and ultrasound therapy can help break soft tissue adhesions. These procedures can reduce heel pain and inflammation.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy involves your doctor directing external shock waves to the inflamed regions of the plantar fascia. The treatment works best for plantar fasciitis patients who are also runners.
Surgery
Surgery may be the best option for your heel pain if other treatments do not relieve your symptoms or you are experiencing severe persistent pain. Surgery can correct heel pain resulting from Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, or heel spurs. For example, your surgeon may perform a plantar fascial release, which involves cutting the fascia to reduce tissue tension.
Heel pain is a discomfort that occurs behind or beneath your heel or within the heel bone itself. Your doctor can treat heel pain through rest, physical therapy, medications, injections, ice therapy, or surgery. Schedule an appointment at Annapolis Foot and Ankle Center for heel pain treatment to resume your sports activities.
