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In an ideal gait cycle (i.e., walking in the way that’s best for your body), your heel strikes the ground first. But if you have heel pain, that means added discomfort with each step you take.
It’s no surprise, then, that heel pain can be a serious issue. You might scale back on activities you loved before, like a pickup soccer game or your Saturday morning jog. Worse yet, even simple things like getting up to go to the bathroom or refill your water become painful undertakings.
If all of this sounds familiar, it’s time to talk to William T. DeCarbo, DPM, FACFAS, and our team at Greater Pittsburgh Foot & Ankle Center in Wexford, Pennsylvania. As experts in heel pain, we can help you figure out what’s causing your discomfort. More importantly, we tailor a treatment plan to ease that pain and help you get back onto your feet.
When you visit our office, we start you on the path to relief by first figuring out what’s causing your heel issue. Many people with heel pain have one of the following conditions:
#1: Plantar fasciitis
A leading cause of heel pain, this condition develops when the thick band of tissue along the bottom of your foot (your plantar fascia) gets inflamed. Often, the pain is worse when you first get up in the morning.
Fortunately, rest, anti-inflammatory medication, and ice are often enough to soothe the plantar fascia and alleviate this pain.
#2: Achilles tendon problems
Your Achilles tendons connect the back of your heels to your calves. Problems with this large tendon can lead to pain above your heel, calf pain, and swelling.
In many cases, the Achilles tendon gets inflamed, resulting in Achilles tendinitis. But in extreme cases, the tendon can rupture.
Dr. DeCarbo evaluates your tendon and tailors a treatment plan to it, ranging from rest and medication to extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) or tendon repair surgery.
#3: Bone spurs
Stress on your heels can cause the bones there to develop bony growths, or heel spurs.
In some cases, heel spurs don’t cause pain. When they do, they usually trigger plantar fasciitis. As a result, treating the bone spur means treating the plantar fascia inflammation, usually with rest and anti-inflammatory treatment.
#4: Bursitis
With bursitis, the fluid-filled sacs that cushion your heel bone and Achilles tendon get inflamed. In addition to heel pain, you might notice some swelling, warmth, or color changes around your heel.
Bursitis can often be treated with conservative options like rest, custom orthotics, and physical therapy.
#5: Foot or ankle fractures
In some cases, the problem doesn’t lie with your soft tissue but instead with a bone in your foot or ankle. Dr. DeCarbo can X-ray the area to see if a fracture is behind your pain.
If so, he generally immobilizes the area while it heals. Physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication may help you heal, too.
Clearly, a lot could be behind your persistent heel pain. To figure out what’s causing your discomfort and to get a treatment plan tailored to resolve it, call our office or book your appointment online today.