What To Do About Heel Pain

When you are experiencing heel pain, simple things like standing, walking, and climbing stairs can be uncomfortable or even debilitating. And with many of us on our feet for long hours during the day, treating your heel pain is crucial for allowing you to go about your day comfortably.

There can be many causes of heel pain, and with the help of the podiatrists at Southern Maryland Foot & Ankle in Waldorf, Clinton, and California, MD, we can help you determine the source of your heel pain and find a treatment that works for you.

What causes heel pain?

Heel pain results when the plantar fascia, a thick tissue connecting your heel bone to your toes, becomes irritated and inflamed. There are many potential causes for the inflammation, including wearing shoes that are too small, pointy-toed, high heeled, or without adequate cushioning and support. Heel pain can also result from standing for long amounts of time if you have high body weight, tight calf muscles, flat feet, or high arches. You may also experience foot pain from intensive exercises that put excess pressure on the foot, including running and jumping.

Signs of heel pain include swelling or stiffness in your heel, pain that increases when standing or carrying items of significant weight, or pain that is especially intense in the morning.

How can I treat my heel pain?

Your podiatrist will first examine your heel, feeling for tenderness. Depending on the severity of your heel pain, your podiatrist may recommend one or more of the following:

• Icing your heel
• Physical therapy
• Wearing a splint or brace during the night
• Stretching your arches
• Taking an over the counter pain reliever
• Switching to supportive shoes or using inserts
• Avoiding high impact exercises that put pressure on the heel

For more severe cases of heel pain, your podiatrist may advise getting cortisone injections at our Waldorf, Clinton, and California, MD, offices, or, in the most intensive cases, undergoing foot surgery to detach the plantar fascia from your heel bone.

Find relief from your heel pain with the help of your podiatrists. Call us today in Waldorf at (301)-843-9581, in Clinton at (301)-868-3899, or in California at (301)-690-6044.