How to Get Relief From Your Chronic Heel Pain

If you’re walking on your tiptoes because you can’t take another second of heel pain, know that there are several nonsurgical treatments available at Foot and Ankle Specialists in Houston, The Woodlands, and Huntsville, Texas.

Our skilled podiatrists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of heel pain. We offer on-site physical exams and diagnostic testing services to better understand the root cause of your pain and customize a care plan so you can find long-lasting heel pain relief.

Common causes of heel pain

You can develop heel pain from sports injuries, falls, or other minor accidents that cause bruising around your heel. However, many people experience chronic heel pain from a condition known as plantar fasciitis.

The plantar fascia is a band of tissues that connects your heel bone to your toes. When these tissues stretch too far and become inflamed, it can lead to plantar fasciitis-related heel pain.

Irritation of your plantar fascia can also lead to heel spurs, fragments of calcium that build up on the underside of your heel. While spurs aren’t generally the root cause of heel pain, they can aggravate existing pain.

To identify what’s causing your heel pain, our providers review your medical history and complete a physical exam of your heel and foot. They may also request X-rays to ensure you don’t have a fracture in your heel bone or an ultrasound to check for inflammation in your plantar fascia.

Find long-lasting relief from heel pain without surgery

There are several ways we can help you find relief from your persistent heel pain. Our team of specialists can teach you stretching exercises you can do to alleviate stress on your plantar fascia.

Your footwear may also be a factor in your heel pain. We can recommend types of footwear that offer the most support. We also provide custom orthotic shoe inserts or arch supports that provide extra foot support and take the pressure off the structures in the bottom of your foot.

You may also need to take over-the-counter or prescription medications to reduce inflammation. If oral medications aren’t providing effective pain relief, your podiatrist can inject cortisone into your heel to quickly relieve tissue inflammation and heel pain.

Surgery for plantar fasciitis pain relief

While many people feel much better after engaging in daily stretching exercises and using orthotics, some may still experience moderate to severe plantar fasciitis pain that interferes with their mobility.

If nonsurgical therapies aren’t working well for you, your provider may recommend surgery. The goal of surgery is to release tension in your plantar fascia, so it no longer pulls on your heel.

Marcin Vaclaw, DPM, is a specialist at our practice who created a no-incision plantar fasciitis surgery. Dr. Vaclaw can complete this procedure in 15 minutes or less, and you won’t need to wear a boot or other device as you heal. This procedure also boosts your blood circulation to improve the health of the tissues around your heel.

We also offer endoscopic plantar fasciotomy, a minimally invasive surgery that only requires a small incision in your foot to access and release your plantar fascia.

You don’t have to suffer with heel pain any longer. Call the Foot and Ankle Specialists office near you to schedule a diagnostic evaluation or book an appointment online today.