While heel pain sounds very generic and not terribly dramatic, the effect it can have on your life is nothing short of debilitating. Dr. E. Charisse Dunn, a podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon at PGA Foot & Ankle P.A. in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, understands the effects that heel pain can have on your daily routine and works quickly with you to find a solution. Call or go online to book an appointment at PGA Foot & Ankle P.A. and get relief from your heel pain.
Heel pain can develop for several different reasons, including:
One of the most common causes of heel pain is a condition known as plantar fasciitis. This condition develops when the connective tissue called the plantar fascia becomes inflamed.
Achilles tendinitis occurs when your Achilles tendon — the tendon that connects your calf muscle to your heel — becomes inflamed, causing pain in your heel.
When you walk, the heel is the first part of your foot that touches the ground, and the rest of your foot flexes to adapt to the surface. If this happens too often or too dramatically, you may experience pain in the heel.
Bone spurs on your heel bones can cause moderate heel pain.
In addition to the above conditions, heel pain can also be caused by several lifestyle and behavioral issues, such as:
Dr. Dunn at PGA Foot & Ankle P.A. works with you to get to the root of the problem to treat your pain quickly and effectively.
Treatment for heel pain depends on the cause of your pain, but Dr. Dunn and the team at PGA Foot & Ankle P.A. typically turn to one or more of the following:
Some types of heel pain — such as the pain caused by Achilles tendinitis or plantar fasciitis — may improve with anti-inflammatory medications.
Dr. E. Charisse Dunn may recommend exercises for your heel pain that are designed to stretch your tendons, muscles, and ligaments.
Custom orthotics are individualized devices that fit your feet and hold them in the proper alignment, so this may help if you have pain related to plantar fasciitis or excessive pronation.
If a bone spur causes your heel pain, you may need surgery to resolve it.
The best treatment for heel pain depends on the cause of your pain, your current health, and your lifestyle. Make an appointment with Dr. Charisse Dunn at PGA Foot & Ankle P.A. to better understand the heel pain options that are available to you.
