Facts about Heel Pain

Heel pain is one of the most common foot conditions I treat every day. Surprisingly, it is also one of the conditions patients have the most misconceptions about – both its cause and its treatment. Many patients believe heel pain is associated with a bone spur when, in fact, heel pain has a variety of causes including: poor foot mechanics, a change in activity levels, improper footwear, weight gain, aging and trauma.

Plantar Fasciitis is typically diagnosed by a few key findings:

1. Pain that is worse with the first steps in the morning or after prolonged periods of being off the feet. The pain typically improves after taking a few steps.
2. Pain which worsens with activation of the extensor mechanism (through flexing big toe or the ankle upwards, for example).
3. Pain with pressure over the plantar fascia, especially where it attaches to the heel bone.

During a patient’s first appointment, I conduct a thorough assessment the patient’s foot and review patient’s medical history to fully understand the cause of the discomfort. Depending on the cause and severity of the heel pain treatment recommendations range from stretches and wearing more supportive footwear, over the counter or custom shoe orthotics, steroid injections or night splints.

Don’t let misconceptions of heel pain stop you from being your most active self. Give us a call at 402-315-4406 to set up your appointment to get you one step closer to pain relief.