Do You Have Heel Pain?

Do You Have Heel Pain?

Find out what’s going on and what you can do to alleviate your discomfort.

Heel PainWhile heel pain is rarely serious our Indianapolis, IN, foot doctor Dr. Jeffrey Agricola understands just how much of a nuisance it can be to have pain when walking or standing. Heel pain often develops either underneath or on the back of the heel, and the location of the pain can alert us to what might be causing your heel pain. In most cases, a condition known as plantar fasciitis is to blame.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Dealing with heel pain that is stabbing and painful, especially when first waking up in the morning? If so, chances are good that you might be dealing with an inflammatory condition known as plantar fasciitis. This is the most common cause of heel pain and it can lead to pain not just in the heel but also the arches of the feet.

Along with pain you may also notice that the heel feels stiff or is at its worse first thing in the morning or after long periods of sitting. Often the pain begins to lessen over the day as you begin to move around; however, any kind of physical activity can often make the pain worse.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

It’s important to know what’s causing your heel pain as soon as possible, particularly if this is your first time dealing with heel pain. After all, there are many heel pain causes and it’s important that our Indianapolis, IN, foot doctor is able to evaluate your feet to determine the cause before you prescribe to a specific treatment plan.

If you are dealing with plantar fasciitis this is usually an easy fix. In most cases, you can ease symptoms until the plantar fascia heals by following these simple care instructions,

  • Ice the heel 2-3 times a day for 10-15 minutes at a time to keep swelling and pain at bay
  • Take an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen to combat bouts of pain and inflammation
  • Wear shoes that provide proper support and cushioning for the feet, particularly the arches
  • Consider having custom orthotics (shoe inserts) made, which can provide your feet with ample shock absorption and support while walking or standing
  • Perform stretching and strengthening exercises to improve the function and mobility of the soft tissue within the feet

If your heel pain isn’t responding to a week of at-home care, or if symptoms are getting worse then we will need to discuss other treatment options that can help speed up the healing process.

 

Do you have questions about plantar fasciitis? Dealing with heel pain for the first time? If so, don’t hesitate to call your foot doctor at Prestige Podiatry in Carmel and Indianapolis, IN, to answer your questions or to receive proper podiatric care.