Your heels allow your feet to move around comfortably and provide crucial support when you’re participating in athletic activities. When your heels are painful, it limits your ability to walk, jump and perform other common actions. Learn how a foot doctor at Precision Foot and Ankle Centers in Torrance, San Pedro and Los Angeles, CA, can treat your heel pain and related foot problems.

Common Reasons for Heel Pain
A problem in the heel doesn’t always start there. Sometimes heel pain sources from problems in other parts of the foot. For instance, heel pain often occurs in patients who have a foot ailment called plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia ligament runs under the arch of the foot—when it is irritated, it puts a strain on the heel. Painful heel (bone) spurs start to develop as the body tries to compensate for the damaged ligament.

Don’t Ignore It
No matter the cause, it’s not wise to ignore heel pain. Persisting pain is a sign that something’s not quite right and needs to be treated before it gets worse. In more serious cases, surgery becomes the only way to correct your foot problem, and that can take you off your feet for an extended period of time. So, it’s best to have your Torrance, San Pedro or Los Angeles foot doctor diagnose and treat your heel pain as soon as it starts to become a chronic problem.

Possible Heel Treatments in Torrance, San Pedro and Los Angeles, CA
There are a few helpful heel treatments that you should discuss with your podiatrist. They may resolve the problem without the need for invasive surgery:

- Physical therapy and special exercises to help heal foot ligaments.
- Ice pack therapy to ease inflammation and pain in targeted areas.
- Custom orthotic inserts designed to give you a proper arch and foot support.
- Shoes that are designed to cushion the heel and the sole of the foot.
- Foot taping to allow the muscles, tendons and ligaments to heal properly.
- Cortisteriod injections to reduce inflammation and pain.

Take Steps Toward Relief
If you’re feeling heel pain on a daily basis, pain that’s interfering with your daily routine, calling Precision Foot and Ankle Centers in Torrance, San Pedro and Los Angeles, CA, is a step in the right direction.

If each step seems more painful than the next due to heel pain, it could be time to come to our Torrance foot doctor office. Each day we see many patients living with heel pain that is highly treatable that can be relieved through at-home care and sometimes medical interventions.

The most common heel pain cause is plantar fasciitis. This condition occurs when the plantar fascia, or thick band at the bottom of your foot, becomes inflamed. Long hours on your feet, flat feet, highly arched feet and obesity are all contributing factors to plantar fasciitis. Other heel pain causes include a pinched nerve, stress fracture, tendinitis and Achilles tendinitis.

Some signs you should seek medical treatment at our Torrance podiatrist’s office include if your heel pain is accompanied by foot tingling or numbness, pain that continues even at rest, severe swelling and an inability to rise on your foot.

If you experience heel pain that isn't foot-numbing or unbearable, there are some at-home treatments you can try. These include resting your foot and possibly applying an ice pack to relieve swelling or inflammation. You can also take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen or aspirin.

You should also consider the shoes you are wearing. If you have not replaced your athletic or walking shoes in some time or they are ill-fitting, it may be time for a new pair. You can also get extra support from heel pads purchased at a drugstore. Always wear your shoes as going barefoot puts extra stress and pressure on your plantar fascia.

While these steps are typically enough to relieve heel pain, exceptions always exist. When you schedule an appointment at Precision Foot and Ankle Centers, we can evaluate your foot to determine potential causes for your heel pain. While interventions vary, they can include special assistive devices, such as a night splint, removable cast for walking, orthotic devices or padding and strapping the foot to promote proper positioning.

Surgery is a rare occurrence for those with heel pain. Through medical interventions, we can typically help you find relief.

For more information on steps you can take to relieve heel pain, call our Torrance podiatrist’s office at (310) 791-1092.

Heel pain is one of the leading problems that cause patients to visit their podiatrist, and it’s no wonder. The relentless ache in the bottom of your foot or the sharp pain as you step out of bed in the morning is often enough to persuade even the most stubborn patient to make an appointment with his or her podiatrist.

Because there are many potential causes of heel pain, such as a stress fracture, tendonitis, nerve damage or arthritis, it’s important to have your foot examined by a podiatrist with expert training in heel pain. Precision Foot and Ankle Centers will examine your foot, determine the underlying source of your heel pain, assess your symptoms, make a proper diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan based on your individual case. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent more serious problems.

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain, occurring when the thick band of tissue (plantar fascia) that connects the heel to the toes becomes irritated and inflamed. When the plantar fascia is strained over time beyond its normal extension, tissues of the fascia may tear or stretch, which leads to pain.

Faulty foot structures, such as flat feet or high arches are common causes of plantar fasciitis. Non-supportive shoes and increased weight or strain may aggravate the condition as well.

Common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:

• Bottom of the heel pain
• Pain that intensifies after sitting for extended periods of time and subsides after a few minutes of walking
• Pain that worsens over a period of months

Most types of heel pain, once properly diagnosed, can be successfully treated with conservative measures, such as use of anti-inflammatory medications and ice, rest, stretching exercises, orthotic devices, footwear modifications, and physical therapy. The longer heel pain is allowed to progress, the longer treatment can take. When plantar fasciitis doesn’t respond to conservative care, your podiatrist may recommend surgery as a last resort.  Always seek care from our San Pedro office for heel pain in its earliest stages for proper treatment.

Heel pain is most often caused by plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the long, dense band of connective tissue (the plantar fascia) that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot.

Repeated strain on the plantar fascia can cause tiny tears in the ligament. As tension and tearing increases, so does inflammation and irritation of the affected area. Risk factors of plantar fasciitis include foot arch problems (flat foot and high arches); excess weight; running; and a tight Achilles tendon.
The most common complaint of plantar fasciitis is pain in the bottom of the heel that develops gradually. The pain is usually worse in the morning and after sitting or standing for a long period of time. For some, the pain subsides after walking or stretching.
To reduce pain associated with plantar fasciitis:

• Rest. Limit and/or avoid activities that make your heel hurt.
• Ice. Reduce pain and swelling by icing the affected area each day.
• Stretch. Stretch your heel throughout the day, especially when you first wake up in the morning.
• Footwear modifications. Wear shoes that provide good arch support and a cushioned sole. Ask your podiatrist about pads and shoe inserts to relieve your heel pain.

When conservative treatments aren't effective or your pain persists for more than a few weeks, schedule an appointment with Precision Foot and Ankle Centers to discuss your symptoms and treatment options. A podiatrist can recommend an appropriate treatment plan for your individual needs. This may include, stretching exercises, shoe padding, orthotic devices, night splints or therapy. Most patients respond to non-surgical treatments, but for pain that won't go away, surgery may be considered.

With proper rest and treatment, recovering from plantar fasciitis can take just a few months. Visit us at Precision Foot and Ankle Centers when you first experience pain for a proper diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan for your individual needs.