Around 2 million Americans seek treatment for heel pain annually. At Redlands Podiatry Group PC in Redlands, California, the team led by podiatrist Mathew Morris, DPM, FACFAS, provides effective heel pain treatment based on the underlying cause. To get long-lasting heel pain relief, call the office to schedule an appointment today.

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What causes heel pain?

If you have sharp, burning, or shooting pain that starts on the bottom of your heel, it’s usually a problem within the plantar fascia ligament that connects your heel and toes. The plantar fascia is thick fibrous connective tissue that expands and contracts as your foot moves.

Excessive stress can cause plantar fasciitis, in which many tiny plantar fascia tears cause inflammation and heel pain. Plantar fasciitis is most common in people who participate in repetitive impact sports like distance running, people who struggle with their weight, individuals with high foot arches, or those with unusually tight calf muscles.

Many people with plantar fasciitis have heel spurs: small bony protrusions on the underside of the heel. Sometimes they may cause pain, but it often just appears painful. Heel spurs usually develop in response to plantar fasciitis.

While plantar fasciitis is the most common reason for heel pain, other problems like Achilles tendonitis, Haglund’s deformity, and heel fractures can also lead to heel pain.

When should I get help with heel pain?

If you have severe heel pain that includes swelling and difficulty walking or moving your foot, reach out to Redlands Podiatry Group PC immediately. Milder heel pain may resolve with a few days of home treatments, but if your pain persists longer, it’s time to get help.

How is heel pain treated?

The Redlands Podiatry Group PC team carefully reviews your symptoms and performs a foot exam to determine what caused your heel pain. You’ll typically also have an X-ray to check for other problems like fractures.

In many cases, heel spurs appear on the X-rays, but they often don’t require treatment since they’re more of a side-effect of plantar fasciitis.

Treatment of plantar fasciitis generally involves conservative approaches such as:

  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Ice packs, applied for 20-minute periods
  • Night splints
  • Orthotics
  • Exercises that lengthen the plantar fascia and calf muscles

If severe heel pain doesn’t improve with non-invasive treatments, the team may suggest corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and pain for as long as a few months, which may allow the plantar fascia time to heal.

For chronic heel pain, you could need surgery to relieve plantar fascia pressure or lengthen the calf muscles.

If you need heel pain relief, call Redlands Podiatry Group PC to schedule an appointment today to learn more.