We all experience aches and pains from time to time as we go through life. Most of the time, we deal with it for a little while, take it easy for a day or two, and then it goes away. However, discomfort that lingers—or even gradually gets worse—is another matter altogether. If you have a bad case of heel pain that you just can’t seem to shake, you may be justifiably concerned. What’s really going on here? Why isn’t this going away? Is there anything that can be done?
At Sunshein Podiatry in Centerville, we hear you loud and clear. The good news is that, in the end, heel pain is almost always treatable—and in the vast majority of cases, surgery isn't required. Let’s dig a little deeper into what might be happening and explore solutions that could work for you.
Do You Know Why Your Heels Hurt?
We don’t necessarily expect you to be able to tell plantar fasciitis or heel spurs from a stone bruise or a pinched nerve. However, there are a handful of common underlying factors—basic issues that don't require specialized medical knowledge—that are frequently involved in several different heel pain cases. If you see a little bit of yourself in any of the following scenarios, these might be clues about how to resolve your heel pain symptoms.
“I have an active occupation.”
Heel pain is a common problem for people who work on their feet all day. But that doesn’t mean you have to either put up with it or switch jobs! Consider trying these strategies, if you haven’t already:
- Make sure you’re wearing comfortable, supportive shoes and socks.
- Get a good pair of arch support or custom orthotics if necessary (more on that below).
- Place an anti-fatigue mat at your workstation.
- Take full advantage of your breaks to sit and rest your feet.
- Stretch your feet and calves regularly—a couple of minutes every hour, at least.
- Give yourself a quick foot massage when you get home.
“I run or play sports.”
Great! We want you to be active and enjoy your favorite activities. However, if they're causing you pain, you may need a different approach:
- Always make sure you’re wearing comfortable sport-specific shoes that fit properly.
- Change shoes once they have worn down—for runners, this typically occurs after 250-400 miles. Track your miles!
- Make smart training choices. Instead of constantly pounding the pavement with running and jumping activities every day, build some rest days into your routine and cross-train with low-impact activities like cycling, swimming, or even yoga.
“I’m overweight.”
Unfortunately, heel pain affects many people who are overweight or obese. Each pound of body weight can translate into 2-3 pounds of impact force—or more—with every step you take. If you’ve been meaning to lose a few pounds but just haven’t found the motivation, we hope that the thought of pain-free heels will inspire you.
What Have You Tried For Your Heel Pain So Far?
In general, persistent heel pain—the kind that lingers for weeks and is strong enough to get in the way of comfortable, happy living—isn't something that tends to go away on its own. You're probably going to have to do something in order to get your feet feeling better, even if that “something” is just getting off your feet for a while. And unfortunately, the longer you wait to address the problem, the worse your pain will get—and in the end, there may be some significant and lasting consequences.
If you’ve tried everything above but are concerned that there might be a bigger problem, we can help.
What Can Sunshein Podiatry Do to Relieve Your Heel Pain?
Unfortunately, some cases of heel pain can’t be totally handled on your own. Give us a call if:
- You’ve tried the basic home care suggestions, and your heel pain doesn’t seem to get better after a week or two, or even gets worse.
- Your pain is strong enough that it’s interfering with daily activities or keeping you from enjoying the things you love.
The good news is that, almost certainly, there’s a lot we can do for you. Even if you’ve been suffering for months or even years, there is an excellent chance that we can eliminate your foot pain through conservative treatments.
One of the absolute best long-term solutions is custom orthotics.
Why? Here’s the short answer: a significant percentage of heel pain causes and conditions can be traced at least partially to faulty biomechanics or foot structure. The way your feet are shaped, or the way they move, predisposes your heels to taking more abuse than normal, just by standing and walking regularly.
When our foot and ankle specialists at Sunshein Podiatry fit you for a pair of custom orthotics, we take precise measurements of your feet using a mold. That, combined with our diagnosis of the true causes of your pain, is used to fashion a personalized set of foot supports that cushion, support, and stabilize your feet in precisely the ways that are needed. Those orthotics then take the place of the regular insoles in your shoes.
That said, not everyone truly needs custom orthotics. If we feel the causes of your heel pain are less severe, we may recommend a pair of prefabricated arch supports instead.
Your condition may call for other treatments instead or in addition to them, including:
- Physical therapy
- MLS Laser therapy
- Injection therapy
- In rare circumstances, surgical intervention
The bottom line is, whatever is causing your heel pain, we’ll figure it out and then find a way to make it finally go away. You don’t have to live in pain anymore—your journey to pain-free living starts with a single step into our office.