What’s Causing My Heel Pain?
“What’s causing my heel pain?” is probably the top question we hear in our Spring and Tomball podiatry practice. We’ve got lots of very active patients, and heel pain stops them in their tracks. Fortunately, our doctors have lots of tools to fight heel pain. These include custom orthotics, physical rehabilitation, and our state-of-the-art laser therapy treatment. But, before we can stop your heel pain, we need to figure out what’s causing the problem. And that’s why, today, we’ll look at some of the potential causes for heel pain, and how our experienced podiatrists address each condition.
Is Plantar Fasciitis Causing My Heel Pain? 
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common reasons why your heel hurts. This condition is caused by inflammation in the tissue bands, or “fascia,” that run along the bottom of your foot. You may also hear this condition referred to as heel spurs. But what causes the inflammation in your fascia? A number of issues could be responsible.
First, we see lots of runners with plantar fasciitis. That’s because pushing yourself too hard when training or wearing the wrong shoes can pit pressure on your fascia. This is especially true if you have flat feet, since a collapsed arch can tug at these bands. Over time, the pressure builds up, and your tissue bands get inflamed. Small tears may even develop. And right around this time, you’ll start to notice heel pain.
Initially, the pain of plantar fasciitis is worst right when you get out of bed in the morning. In the early stages, the pain may improve throughout the day. But, without treating your heel pain, it will become a more frequent, all-day companion.
Recently, we’ve also seen lots of people coming in with heel pain related to their stay at home plans. Going barefoot all day is the likely cause for this increase in heel pain. That’s because walking without shoes puts additional strain on your arch. In turn, this strain pulls at your fascia, causing irritation.
If plantar fasciitis is the cause of your heel pain, we’ll likely fit you for custom orthotics, since they can provide support and take the pressure off your fascia if structural issues like flat feet are part of the problem. Additionally, we can provide laser therapy to speed up your healing time, so that heel pain disappears quickly!
Thankfully, these treatments are very effective. Just ask Pauline L, who just told us about her heel pain visit: “I came in due to having extreme heel pain. Comfortable atmosphere and staff was very sweet and friendly. Dr. Fiala took his time to understand my problem and explained everything I need to know. He took his time and made sure I had all the answers I needed. Highly recommend!”
What Else Causes Heel Problems
Going barefoot all day can also trigger plantar fasciitis
Of course, not every case of heel pain is caused by plantar fasciitis. That’s why our podiatrists always go through your complete medical history when you come in to the office. This helps us get to the bottom of your foot or heel pain.
When plantar fasciitis, isn’t the problem, some other causes of heel pain include:
Bursitis. Once again, this heel pain condition is really common in runners, and athletes. Truly, it’s a potential problem for teachers, nurses, and anyone else who spends lots of time on his or her feet. But what is bursitis? It’s a condition where the fluid filled sac (bursae) around your Achilles tendon and heel bone becomes inflamed, causing heel pain. It’s common to have bursitis and Achilles tendonitis at the same time, but they are two separate conditions. And you’ll need a thorough examination to diagnose bursitis as the cause of your heel pain.
Nerve problems – If your heel pain causes a burning sensation instead of sharp discomfort, nerve entrapment could be to blame. When nerve issues are the cause of your heel pain, it could get worse as you try to get through your day. But the pain could stick around even when you get to rest and put up your feet. If we suspect that nerve entrapment is the cause of your heel pain, we may need to conduct further tests. But we will still be able to offer pain relief using non-surgical treatments like orthotics and laser therapy.
Treating Your Heel Pain at Louetta Foot & Ankle
Our team of podiatrists knows that your feet are unique. That’s why we take the time to conduct a thorough heel pain exam, so we can come up with a treatment plan that works for you: considering your lifestyle, pain level and, of course, the underlying cause of your condition.
Ready to say good-bye to your heel pain? Just give us a call and we’ll get you scheduled for a fast appointment. But don’t take our word for it. Just ask David G., of Tomball, TX, who said on Yelp, “Dr Bachmann and his team are very friendly and were able to schedule me as a new patient within two days…He met with me and treated my issue, same day. The experience was very personal and his staff is very friendly.”
Want that same fast relief from heel pain? All you have to do is call!
Schedule your appointment today!
Sources: RunnersWorld, Podiatry Today