Our feet carry the weight of what we do all day. This can expose our feet to conditions ideal for creating heel pain. Medical conditions such as tendonitis or plantar fasciitis can also lead to heel pain. Dr. Jeffrey Agricola of Prestige Podiatry, in Indianapolis & Carmel, IN, can help you understand what to expect when recovering from heel pain.

What Causes Heel Pain?

A few different things can lead to pain. It is important for a doctor to perform an examination in order to determine the cause of our heel pain in order to correctly treat it. Some of the most common causes of heel pain include:

Overuse/Posture

One of the most common reasons for our feet to hurt is being on them for several hours on a regular basis. This can be aggravated by standing improperly, using poor-fitting footwear, and concrete surfaces.

Tendonitis

Achilles Tendonitis is inflammation caused by overexerting the tendon, which is most common among runners and athletes.

Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia stretches across the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes. Overuse or exertion can cause this to become inflamed, leading to stabbing pain in the foot. Athletic activities usually increase the risk of plantar fasciitis.

Preventing Heel Pain

The best way to treat heel pain is to prevent it. This can be done by using proper posture, using appropriate footwear and inserts, and honoring your body's limits.

Recovering From Heel Pain

While recovering from heel pain, it is important to give your foot rest. Keep the weight off of your foot as much as possible. Use heat or cold to help with pain, swelling, or inflammation as appropriate. Anti-inflammatory and numbing creams can help soothe symptoms during the healing process. If you can, keep your foot elevated. Depending on the situation, physical therapy may speed up the recovery process.

When standing or walking, be sure to use padding and avoid concrete as much as possible.

If you are experiencing heel pain, call (317) 881-0070 for our Indianapolis office and (317) 846-4111 for our Carmel location to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jeffrey Agricola of Prestige Podiatry, and begin your path to recovery.