JIPSI

The foot and ankle are composed of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 tendons. The heel bone is the largest in your foot.

You may experience heel pain if you overuse or injure your heel. This can range from mild to severe. If simple home remedies do not relieve your pain, you may need to consult an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist - Dr. Prableen for your heel pain treatment.

Causes & Heel Pain Treatment?

Plantar fasciitis develops when excessive pressure on the feet damages the plantar fascia ligament, resulting in pain and stiffness. Find out what causes this condition and what treatment options are available.
Strains and sprains are injuries to the body that are frequently caused by physical activity. These injuries are common and range in severity depending on the incident such as engaging in sports and requiring sports injury management.
A fracture is defined as a broken bone and classified as a medical emergency.
Achilles tendonitis is the overuse injury that causes the tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel to become painful or inflamed, resulting in Achilles tendonitis that may require musculoskeletal intervention.
Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that surround joints resulting in heel pain. They protect the junctions of tendons, skin, and muscle tissues with bones. These can become inflamed and result in heel pain.
Spondylitis ankylosing is the type of arthritis that affects your spine the most. It causes severe vertebral inflammation, which can lead to chronic pain and disability.

When should you contact your Doctor at JIPSI?

If you develop heel pain, you should first try some home remedies like rest to alleviate your symptoms of heel pain. If your heel pain does not improve within two to three weeks, you should consult your experts- Dr. Prableen and Dr. Gaurav Kant Sharma via booking an appointment at JIPSI.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your doctors right away:

Your discomfort is excruciating.
The pain comes on suddenly.
You have a rash on your heel.
Your heel has developed swelling.
You can't walk because your heel hurts.

How is Heel Pain Diagnosed?

Your JIPSI medical expert will evaluate your symptoms of heel pain and conduct a physical examination. In addition, X-rays may be used to detect arthritis, bone fractures, bone misalignment, and joint damage.

Rarely, you might require an MRI or an ultrasound. These can reveal soft tissue issues that X-rays cannot.

What are the Complications of Heel Pain?

Heel pain can be incapacitating and impede daily activities. It may also alter your walking style. If this occurs, you are more likely to lose your balance and fall while doing an activity or playing a sport, increasing your risk of sustaining additional sports injuries.

Heel Pain Treatment

The majority of causes of heel pain respond favourably to nonsurgical treatments and can help you to get rid of heel pain. Therapies concentrate on alleviating pain and inflammation, enhancing foot flexibility, and minimising heel stress and strain. These treatments of heel pain consist of:

Steroid injections can reduce pain and inflammation. Rarely, if ever, should steroid injections be administered for a tendon disorder, but they may be an advantage for plantar fasciitis and bursitis.
Prefabricated or over-the-counter shoe inserts (orthotics) can alleviate pressure on the heel. Some individuals find relief by wearing a night splint, especially if they experience morning pain. For more severe symptoms of heel pain, a walking boot may be required. You may also require more supportive footwear for daily wear and exercise.
In conjunction with ice packs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alleviate pain and swelling.
Massage, physical therapy, and ultrasound therapy can break up adhesions in soft tissue. These treatments for heel pain may reduce inflammation and pain.
Your JIPSI healthcare provider can instruct you on how to perform heel stretching exercises for tight tendons and muscles.
Taping is a technique where athletic or medical tape can be used to support the foot arch or heel.

Rarely is surgery required to treat the majority of causes of heel pain.

How can you prevent heel pain?

Although it may not be possible to prevent all cases of heel pain, there are some simple steps you can take to avoid heel injury and pain:

Wear shoes that are well-fitting and supportive of the foot.
Wear appropriate footwear for physical activity.
Stretch your muscles before working out.
Pace yourself when engaging in physical activity.
Maintain a nutritious diet.
When you're tired or your muscles ache, take a break.
Keep a healthy weight.

A Note from JIPSI

Heel pain often improves over time with nonsurgical treatments. Your healthcare provider at JIPSI can determine what’s causing the heel pain. We can also assist you with stretching exercises and recommend other methods if needed.

Many people try to ignore heel pain and continue with activities that make the problem worse. But it’s essential to give your body time to recover. Otherwise, you may develop chronic heel pain requiring chronic pain management for an extended time. The longer you have heel pain the harder it is to effectively treat, so it’s important to get evaluated.

Book your appointment here!