Does your heel hurt? If the nagging discomfort gets in the way of your normal daily activities or makes it difficult to work, go to school, care for your child, or anything else, take a look at what you need to know about heel pain relief.
Do Find the Cause of Your Pain
Not all heel pain is the same. You could have a dull ache, stabbing pain, tight feeling, or another type of discomfort. Before you can treat any of these achy issues, you need to know the cause of the pain. This starts with tying your symptoms to a specific podiatric problem. The most common causes of heel pain include:
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Plantar fasciitis. This common cause of heel pain affects one in ten people (over the course of their lifetime), according to a literature review published in the American Family Physician.
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Achilles tendinitis. This overuse injury impacts the band of tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel (known as the Achilles tendon).
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Fractures. An injury or a stress fracture can also cause heel pain. Swelling and bruising are other symptoms of a broken bone.
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Bone spurs. Heel spurs are bony growths that may happen as a reaction to plantar fasciitis. But this does not mean everyone with plantar fasciitis will have a heel spur.
The type or quality of pain, duration of the pain, and triggers may help you to better understand the cause of your health discomfort. List your symptoms, activities that aggravate your heel pain, new injuries, and repetitive uses (such as sports you may play or if you stand for long hours at work) before you take the next step towards treatment.
Don't Ignore the Pain
It's easy to dismiss heel pain as a minor discomfort or believe that it's just something you have to live with, especially if you don't have an obvious injury. But heel pain isn't likely to go away on its own. If you ignore the discomfort, the pain could progress and start to interfere with your daily life or ability to walk.
Do Contact a Podiatrist
How can you treat heel pain? Whether you're not sure of the cause or you don't know what to do next, contact a podiatrist. Podiatrists specialize in the feet. This type of specialist medical doctor can examine your feet, order tests (such as X-rays), diagnose the problem, and create a treatment plan.
Don't Assume One Treatment Will Work for Every Pain
There is no one standard heel pain treatment. Instead, the podiatrist will recommend strategies that best meet your individual needs. Treatment may include a combination of at-home remedies (such as ice, elevation, or over-the-counter pain relievers) and physical therapy. They may also recommend orthotics or other assistive devices. Serious heel pain that doesn't resolve with at-home or other therapeutic care may require surgery.
To learn more, contact a company like Atlantic Foot & Ankle Specialists.
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