Are your feet screaming out in pain? Find out why.

There are so many reasons you may be dealing with foot pain, from Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis to bunions. Whether you stand on your feet all day for work or you just had to wear those towering high heels out on that date last night, there are countless reasons why your feet may be telling you they hurt. However, it’s important to also recognize when heel pain requires seeing our Indianapolis, and Carmel, IN, foot doctor, Dr. Jeffrey Agricola, for care.

Causes of Heel Pain

Heel pain is a symptom of an underlying condition or injury. Some of the main causes of heel pain include:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Bursitis
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Stress fractures
• Chronic causes of heel pain include rheumatoid arthritis and peripheral neuropathy

When to See a Podiatrist

While minor heel pain may not have you rushing to your foot doctor, it is important to recognize when you should turn to a podiatrist for your heel pain. You should see our podiatrist, Dr. Agricola, in Indianapolis, and Carmel, IN, if:

• This is the first time you’re dealing with heel pain
• Your heel pain and/or swelling is severe
• You aren’t able to put weight on the foot or you have trouble walking
• Heel pain isn’t responding to home care or improving after five days of rest
• You have nerve damage, diabetes, or other chronic conditions that may impact the health of your feet
• You develop numbness, tingling, or weakness in the foot

Treating Heel Pain

Most of the time, heel pain can be treated with simple at-home treatment options including:

• Calf muscle stretches and other daily stretches to improve flexibility and mobility in the arches of the feet while easing tension and pain
• Limiting exercises, particularly high-impact activities such as running
• Wearing shoes that provide ample arch support. You may want to talk with your podiatrist about getting custom shoe inserts to place inside your shoes for additional support and cushioning
• Icing the heel several times a day to reduce pain and swelling
• Splinting the foot at night to reduce stiffness and pain in the morning
• Taking anti-inflammatory medications to ease pain and swelling

If at-home care isn’t enough, Dr. Agricola and his team can treat more stubborn forms of heel pain with:

• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy
• Casting or booting the foot
• Ultrasound or shockwave therapy
• Surgery in more serious cases

If you find yourself rubbing your feet in pain it may be time to turn to our Indianapolis, and Carmel, IN, foot doctor Dr. Agricola to find out what’s going on. Call Prestige Podiatry today at (317) 846-4111 or (317) 881-0070 to schedule your evaluation.