What To Do About Heel Pain
If you’ve got nagging heel pain, don’t wait to see our podiatrists. It could be plantar fasciitis, one of the most common causes of heel pain and a condition that will probably get worse unless you take some steps to rein it in.
What is plantar fasciitis?
It’s inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick ligament that runs from your heel bone to your toes. When it becomes inflamed, you can feel sharp pains in your heel and sometimes in your arch, especially when you first wake up in the morning and take your first steps.
Many activities and circumstances can cause inflammation of the plantar fascia:
- Overuse – for example, too much walking or running
- Jobs that require lots of standing and walking, like teaching, nursing, and waiting tables
- Shoes that don’t offer any arch support
- Pressure from obesity
- Flat feet or other poor foot mechanics
Paradoxically, your heel doesn’t always hurt while you’re in the midst of an activity. That’s because as you walk around or perform other exercises, the ligament has a chance to stretch out. When you’re at rest, the ligament tightens up again and causes pain.
Treat it early and in several ways
Plantar fasciitis can be tricky to get rid of. The most effective treatment often involves several methods. Try these treatments at home:
- as much time off your feet as possible
- icing
- stretching exercises
- anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
Our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann can help when home treatments aren’t doing the trick. We have stronger anti-inflammatories, splints to wear at night to keep the plantar fascia from tightening, and orthotic shoe inserts that relieve pressure and fix faulty mechanics. Call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.