Heel Pain

What Is Heel Pain?

Heel pain is a common foot problem. It usually occurs under the heel, which is Plantar Fasciitis, or toward the back of the heel, which is Achilles tendinitis. The cause of heel pain is not usually serious, but can cause a great degree of discomfort and pain.

What Causes My Heel Pain?

There are many causes of heel pain. This is why it is so important to see the doctor!

How Can the Doctor Help Me?

The doctor will do a physical exam to determine the most likely cause of the problem. The doctor may feel an X-ray is needed. Some treatments for heel pain are: rest, stretching and strengthening exercises, and the use of foot supports.

Plantar Fasciitis

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. It is when there is inflammation and pain of the thick band of tissue called plantar fascia. This band runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your toes and heel bone.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

The fascia acts like a shock-absorber supporting your arch, when the tension become too great it can cause small tears in the fascia. Repeated stretching and tearing causes the fascia to become inflamed and irritated. It is more common in runners, people who are overweight, wearing shoes with poor support, certain jobs that require you be on your feet a lot and pregnant women.

How Can the Doctor Help Me?

The doctor will do a physical examination. He will check for tenderness in your feet. Depending on where the pain or discomfort is, he can determine the cause. He may decide an X-ray is necessary to determine if your pain is caused by another problem such as a pinched nerve or stress fracturee HH.

The doctor may prescribe various medications to help, physical therapy or possibly surgery. The important thing to remember is to make an appointment with the doctor to see how best the doctor can treat you to make YOU more comfortable!"