Treating Heel Pain
Most cases of heel pain that we treat seem to be related to plantar fasciitis. You may be suffering from this condition if you have pain along the bottom of the feet when you first get up in the morning, including burning or numbness. Standing all day or non-supportive footwear can also make it worse. Other cases of heel pain that we see tend to be attributed to Achilles tendinitis.
When some parts of our feet and ankles begin to deteriorate or become overly strained, other parts of the feet and ankles sometimes compensate. In the case of heel pain, plantar fasciitis can cause the heel bone to create a spur on the lower end of the heel, while Achilles tendinitis can cause a spur to develop at the upper end.
How do we treat these issues?
- After an assessment with our foot care specialists, they may first recommend supportive footwear to help relieve pain and strain. If the feet are properly supported, they do not need to strain as much to function properly.
- If necessary, we can prescribe custom orthotics, especially in the cases where feet may have become deformed or a bony spur causes pain in other footwear. The orthotics can correct alignment and help your feet and ankles work in the proper position.
- Physical therapy might help, depending on the cause of the heel pain and the severity.
- If these treatments do not work, the next step is to try our latest treatments, which are non/less-invasive: PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections for healing, Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation (to reduce pain signals), and Extracorporeal Shock Wave therapy (to stimulate healing).
- Finally, in extreme and rare cases, surgery may be necessary, but only after the aforementioned treatments have been thoroughly explored.
If you’ve got heel pain, or if an existing condition has gotten worse, make an appointment today at Alamitos-Seal Beach Podiatry Group. One of our board-certified podiatrists, Dr. Douglas H. Richie, Dr. Jeremy L. Cook, or Dr. Faye E. Izadi will be happy to assess your feet at either of our Seal Beach and Los Alamitos, CA offices in Orange County to find you relief.
