Are You Dealing With Heel Pain?

Heel pain is one of those things that sound minor but can completely disrupt your life. Walking across the parking lot to the office or grocery store can be such a painful experience that you soon find inventive ways to decrease the amount of time you spend on your feet. Eventually, you may stop exercising or enjoying activities with friends or family because of the pain. Heel pain treatment offered by your podiatrists at Podiatry Associates of Houston in Houston (Chimney Rock), Memorial City, Katy, Willowbrook and Woodlands, TX, can relieve your symptoms.

When to visit the podiatrist

Heel pain may get better on its own if you stay off your feet as much as possible and treat pain swelling with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. If your pain is severe, increases or lasts more than a week or two, it's a good idea to schedule an appointment with one of our foot doctors. Ignoring your symptoms may lead to chronic pain or other issues.

What causes heel pain?

Even minor injuries can trigger heel pain. Stepping on a small toy or rock can cause a bruise on the bottom of your heel, as can exercising in shoes that are worn out or don't offer enough support. Fortunately, these "stone" bruises usually improve after a week or two. If your pain lingers, your podiatrist may recommend a heel cup, pain medication or physical therapy.

Plantar fasciitis is a particularly common cause of heel pain. If your pain worsens after sitting or standing and is particularly noticeable first thing in the morning, you may have the condition. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the fascia under the bottom of your foot becomes irritated or inflamed. Your podiatrist can offer several treatments, including custom-made orthotics, splints worn at night that stretch the fascia, physical therapy, steroid injections or shockwave therapy.

Retrocalcaneal bursitis or Achilles tendonitis may also be responsible for heel pain. Achilles tendonitis occurs when the thin tendon at the back of your heel becomes inflamed. Inflammation in the retrocalcaneal bursa, a small, fluid-filled sac that helps the tendon glide over the bone easily, can also cause pain.

Your foot doctor may recommend several treatments that may ease your pain if you have one of these conditions, including heel cups, pain medication, physical therapy, ultrasound treatment or shockwave therapy.

End your heel pain with a visit to the podiatrists at Podiatry Associates of Houston! Schedule an appointment by calling (713) 666-0287 for the Houston, TX, office in Chimney Rock, (713) 467-1299 for the Memorial City office, (281) 579-0186 for the Katy office, (832) 912-7792 for the Willowbrook office, or (281) 849-9891 for the Woodlands office.

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