I’m so tired of being in pain with every step!! Whether you’re used to going on walks, chasing after the grandkids, playing football, or just using your feet to get from point A to point B, heel pain can put a huge damper on your day. Many of the patients we see (from professional athletes to average walkers) have tried treating their pain without much improvement. Having foot pain is not normal, and nobody should have to suffer from it. Unfortunately, there are many potential causes of heel pain, which is why home treatment doesn’t work all of the time.
Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that can cause heel pain. The plantar fascia is a ligament that runs from your calcaneus (heel bone) to the metatarsal heads (the ball of your foot). Most patients state that the pain is worse during the first few steps of the day or after rest. Often, a heel spur (as visible on x-ray taken in the office) forms on the bottom of the heel where the fascia originates. The fascia becomes inflamed and swollen (fasciitis) when micro-tears occur. This usually happens towards the bottom of the heel, but can occur at any point along the fascial band.
This condition can be caused by having a flat arch (pes planus), having a high arch (pes cavus), being overweight, abnormal biomechanics, certain exercises/sports, having uneven limb lengths, or being on your feet for long periods of time.
Depending on the cause, there are many different conservative treatment options. We have seen a vast majority of our patients have complete relief of their pain with conservative treatment. In rare circumstances, surgical intervention is necessary to relieve pain. Our surgeons are trained in multiple surgical techniques, which may not involve an incision or only a very small incision with the use of a tiny camera (endoscopic) to visualize the plantar fascia. It is also possible that a nerve near the fascia is the actual culprit causing the pain, in which case a different intervention is required.
Custom orthotics (regardless of foot type) are very beneficial for pain relief and prevention. Our doctors are professionally trained to create custom orthotics that are tailored specifically for each patient to treat their plantar fasciitis and the pathology that caused it in the first place.
Please don’t continue to go through your day in pain! We should be enjoying all of the great things in our lives and not let our foot pain get in the way!
