Heel Pain Specialist

What causes heel pain?

Two of the most common reasons for heel pain are:

Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of heel pain, occurs when your plantar fascia ligament is inflamed or damaged. The plantar fascia connects your heel to your forefoot, so it bears all your body weight. 

As a result of continued stress from intense physical activity, extra weight, flat feet, or other factors, the plantar fascia may suffer small tears. These tears cause serious irritation and pain in your heel, and you feel it especially when you first get up in the morning. 

Achilles tendinitis

Achilles tendinitis affects the tendon in your lower leg and heel. At the point where the tendon tucks into the back of your heel, intense inflammation can lead to serious pain. 

Achilles tendinitis is usually caused by overexertion, such as exercising for too long or boosting your intensity too much. 

Other common causes of heel pain include stress fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, and peripheral neuropathy, among many others. 

Godoy Foot & Ankle Center has diagnostic equipment on-site, and the team can skillfully identify and treat your heel pain regardless of cause. 

How do you treat heel pain?

The board-certified podiatrists at Godoy Foot & Ankle Center treat heel pain according to your specific condition and needs. In most cases, the best approach includes a combination of therapies. Your treatment may include:

• Oral medication (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) 
• Support bandaging, splinting, or bracing 
• Prescribed exercises to stretch and strengthen 
• Injections of anesthetics and corticosteroids
• Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT)
• Custom orthotics 
• Physical therapy

Heel pain usually resolves with conservative treatments. But if your heel pain persists or even gets worse after exhausting nonsurgical options, your podiatrist at Godoy Foot & Ankle Center may recommend a procedure like plantar fascia release or surgical tendon repair. 

How can I prevent heel pain?

Your podiatrist can recommend effective ways to prevent heel pain after you’re fully healed. Suggestions may include implementing new forms and techniques you learned during physical therapy, wearing custom orthotics to guide optimal movement, and avoiding overexertion. 

The Godoy Foot & Ankle Center team handles your heel pain with gentle care to get you moving comfortably fast. Call the office or book an appointment using the online scheduling tool.