Plantar Fasciitis or Achilles Tendonitis are two risky foot disorders that cause severe pain in your heel when you first get out of bed in the morning. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament, that connects the bottom of the heel bone to the plantar fascia. Achilles tendonitis occurs when the Achilles tendon at its connection to the back of the heel bone becomes inflamed.
Proper footwear is critical in heel pain treatment
Heel discomfort is a common complaint, especially among athletes and runners. Fortunately, in my Houston podiatry office, I provide a variety of heel pain management options. However, some people are hesitant to seek assistance. They are often afraid that consulting a podiatrist for heel discomfort may result in big life adjustments. That is simply not the case. Of course, there are a variety of reasons why people are hesitant to see me if they are experiencing heel pain. This is a common issue I hear: the main concern is that I will prevent you from wearing your favorite shoes. You can even be afraid of being told that you need to wear orthopedic shoes.
Custom orthotics can help prevent heel pain recurrence
Plantar fasciitis causes heel pain, which is caused by two things. The inflammation of the plantar fascia where it joins to the heel bone is the first. Anti-inflammatory medication, whether ingested, injected, or applied topically, is the best treatment for this. Another component is mechanics, which refers to how the foot functions.
Your discomfort can be severe if one of your feet is hurting with heel pain. Your body will attempt to offload the aching heel by shifting more weight to the healthy foot. Because your other foot is being abused, inflammation may develop as the pressure increases. You might even notice a decrease in discomfort in the previously sore heel!
Surgery is considered a last resort in any condition and surgery for heel pain is not an exception. Less than 5% require surgery to treat heel pain. Surgery may provide a permanent solution for your heel pain, but it is not without risks.
Heel pain is a complex injury that necessitates a thorough grasp of the inflammatory process and the biomechanics that prevent it from healing on its own. A podiatrist in Houston is specially qualified to provide this type of care. A podiatrist completes a four-year podiatric medical curriculum and graduates from college with a DPM degree. After that, the foot doctor completes a hospital-based residency program, which lasts at least three years and includes advanced medical and surgical training.
