While conservative treatment for heel pain is effective in the majority of cases, if the condition persists, there are other more advanced options. Even though they are aggressive, they are less invasive than surgery. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is the most common and widely available.
Treating the inflammation that causes heel pain is part of the solution. Treatment of the mechanical reasons of heel pain is also critical. The inflammation due to the unstable mechanics does not resolve on its own. The best technique to stabilize foot function and address biomechanical instability is with a custom orthotic.
The development of a heel spur is a result of the plantar fascia’s strain on the heel bone. In most situations, a heel spur is not the source of heel pain, despite its dramatic appearance on an x-ray. The inflammation where the plantar fascia joins to the heel is frequently the source of pain. Heel pain can also be caused by the heel spur itself.
I usually warn my patients that surgery is a last resort, and heel spur surgery is no exception. Surgery is required in less than 5% of heel pain patients, according to the expertise of the foot doctor in Houston. Outside of surgery, there are several options for treating heel pain.
Patients in my Houston podiatry practice frequently use heel cups, pads, or cushions before seeing me for the first time. Take a peek at the options on any pharmacy’s foot care aisle to see how popular they are! However, they frequently fail to alleviate the discomfort.
There are a variety of shoes that look…. rare…and claim to be able to alleviate lower extremity pain, including heel pain. MBT, Masei Barefoot Technology, is one such shoe that has been available for several years. These shoes have a soft heel and a rocker sole, which forces the foot to work more on the midfoot. Some patients have found relief with these shoes, and I would recommend them on occasion, but many find that the drastic change in gait causes new problems. These are not to be confused with “toning shoes” like Sketchers Shape-Ups, which have no therapeutic value.
