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Heel Pain Conditions and Treatments For Effective Pain Relief
Foot Pain - Heel Pain Conditions and Treatments
Heel pain is a common issue that affects people of any age. The patients we see for treatment come in with various causes and symptoms. If heel pain is left untreated, it can develop into a chronic problem requiring longer recovery.
Heel Pain Causes
There are many causes of heel pain. One of the most common issues is bottom of the heel pain, called plantar fasciitis (you may have also seen it misspelled as plantarfasciitis).
Some of the other causes include:
- Achilles tendinitis may also be called Achilles heel, which is back of the heel pain.
- Unsupportive footwear.
- Weight gain.
- Fasciitis, where the plantar fascia becomes inflamed or swollen.
- Walking or standing for long hours.
- Overpronation, when your foot rolls too far inwards and flattens when walking.
- Oversupination, which occurs when your foot rolls too far onto the outside of your foot as you walk
- A heel spur, which is a boney growth from your heel bone due to too much pulling from the plantar fascia.
Symptoms of Heel Pain
The symptoms of heel pain vary, depending on the type and location of your pain.
Some common heel pain symptoms include:
- A painful foot or a sore heel
- Bottom of heel pain
- A painful foot arch
- Pain in heel of foot
- Achilles tendon pain (back of your heel, and lower leg)
- Pain in the back of heel
Heel Pain Treatment
If you’re experiencing heel pain, the one thing you don’t want to do is ignore it. Ignoring pain can lead to more damage to your foot, and can cause ankle, knee, or hip pain from walking differently.
We recommend getting immediate plantar fasciitis treatment or treatment for the type of heel pain you have.
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Heel Pain Treatments Options
Heel pain usually goes away without surgery, but you need time to recover. The sooner you seek treatment, the faster your recovery will be. There are a wide variety of treatment options depending upon the cause of your pain.
Our LMC Chiropodists may recommend orthotics, proper footwear, stretching or taping the area.
Custom Orthotics (Custom Orthoses)
Orthotics are a longer-term solution to help prevent the underlying issue of heel pain from happening again. Custom orthotics made specifically for your foot structure correct the parts of your foot that can cause the problem. Orthoses help keep your bones, muscles, and fascia in a more optimal position.
During your assessment, your Chiropodist may discover a secondary issue causing your heel pain. If this secondary issue is stemming from your foot or ankle, your orthotics will be suited to support this concern.
Continued wear of your custom orthotics will help to reduce your symptoms and pain. We strongly recommend using custom orthotics with proper footwear, stretching, and taping when managing plantar fasciitis pain.
Proper Footwear
Wearing proper footwear is essential to ensure your heel pain doesn’t return.
Some things to look for in shoes to prevent heel pain from recurring include:
- Ensuring your shoes fit correctly and aren’t too loose or too tight.
- Ensuring the features of a shoe meet your specific needs is essential as no two feet are the same. Shoes that work for a friend or family member may not support you well. Choose the brand of shoe that you like and look for shoes within the brand that have the features you need.
- Replacing your shoes regularly. If you notice they are wearing down in areas, change them to shoes that can provide better support when you do activities.
- Choosing shoes appropriate for your activity level. For example, if you run, ensure you wear running shoes with ample cushion and heel support. Avoid gimmicky features such as shocks, air bladders and gels that often lead to heel pain and are simply used to draw attention to a shoe.
Stretching
We usually suggest simple plantar fasciitis stretching techniques to help relieve heel pain. Stretching techniques are recommended based on the type of pain you’re experiencing and the exact location.
Taping
Taping your heel and foot can be an effective treatment option to help manage your pain and provide your heel with some necessary support, especially if you’re experiencing pain. It helps to stabilize your heel and foot so you can rest them in place. There are a wide variety of tapes that can be used. Your Chiropodist will be able to advise on the correct type for you and show you how to easily apply it at home.
Cortisone Injections
Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory medication used to treat musculoskeletal conditions. When cortisone is injected into your affected area, it can lower inflammation and pain. If cortisone is right for you, it will still need to be used in addition to proper footwear, stretching, taping and custom orthotics.
Why Choose LMC
We are part of one of Canada’s largest teams of Medical Specialists and treat the most complex foot conditions, such as diabetic wounds, daily. It makes simple cases such as heel pain (plantar fasciitis) and plantar warts easily handled by our experts.
Trail Blazers
LMC Healthcare has one of the largest research divisions in North America, Centricity Research. Our Chiropodists (Footcare Specialists) have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge foot health research and new treatment approaches.
Members of the Approved Provider Network (APN)
LMC Healthcare is one of a handful of the most skilled and trusted footcare providers included in the APN. It allows us to be exclusive providers for various hospitals and insurance companies in Ontario.
Collaborative and Convenient Approach
While a referral is not required to see our Chiropodists, we keep your family physician informed every step of the way with assessment and treatment summaries.
You also never have to wait long for an appointment! We have eight easily accessible locations in Ontario. Brampton, Vaughan, Oakville, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Midtown Toronto, Barrie, Ottawa, with more coming soon.
Contact Us About Your Foot or Heel Pain
Book an Appointment | LMC Healthcare
Helping you understand and ease your foot or heel pain
Helping you understand and ease your foot or heel pain
Do you have questions about your foot health? Call us today to find out how our specialists can help!
Phone: 1-844-562-3668
Easily book an appointment online with one of our specialists today to help with your foot health needs
Email us to set up an appointment and find out how our specialists can help improve your foot health!
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