The Many Ways of How to Treat Heel Pain

If there is a condition we can be sure we’ll always see a lot of, it’s heel pain. Even though so many people already come to us with this problem, there are always many more out there who could (and probably should).

Heel pain is a very common source of foot trouble, and one we have a great deal of experience treating. But many people out there may wonder why it can be so difficult to treat at home. It doesn’t sound like that complicated a symptom, does it?

The answer is that, for as simple as heel pain might seem at first, it can stem from a large variety of different sources. That can make it particularly tricky to treat on your own. The methods you may have already tried might not be the right ones for addressing your specific circumstances.

Unfortunately, that leads some people to believe that their heel pain is an invincible force that’s here to stay, and they just have to live with it.

But the truth is that’s almost never the actual case. The vast majority of heel pain causes can be effectively treated – it’s just a matter of getting to the root of the problem and approaching it with the right type of solution.

At Midwest Podiatry Centers, we’re equipped with a wide range of treatments, ranging from traditional care to state-of-the-art methods. You have to be if you want to provide the correct treatments for the most people!

Diagnosis Before Treatment

There are multiple different conditions affecting different parts of the foot that can be responsible for pain in the heel, ranging from plantar fasciitis to Achilles tendinitis to bursitis and more.

However, just knowing the diagnosis is often not enough. We must also know what contributing factors are causing the condition before we can begin to treat it effectively.

Two patients with plantar fasciitis, for example, may have two different reasons why they have it. One might be an avid jogger who doesn’t give their feet enough time to rest and recover. The other might have an abnormality in their foot structure that places too much stress on specific areas. If we don’t address these underlying sources in each patient, treatment is likely to fail (or the pain will just keep returning again and again).

Each case requires a personalized approach. That’s why we take the time to perform a thorough examination and understand all the factors surrounding your heel pain. Only then can we recommend a treatment plan.

Conservative Heel Pain Treatments

Whenever possible, conservative (i.e. non-surgical) forms of heel pain treatment will always be our first consideration. If we can take care of the problem without an invasive procedure, that’s all the better!

A few of the conservative treatments we may recommend include:

• Standard RICE therapy – Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Sometimes the oldest methods are still best!
• Custom Orthotics – Prescribed inserts to provide exact amounts of cushioning and corrective support in vulnerable areas of the foot. Our Richfield office uses digital imaging and 3D printing technology to make some of the most precise orthotics available.
• Conditioning Exercises – Simple stretches and exercises can help ease pain and build needed strength and endurance in specific tissues.
• Changes in Footwear – Your current shoes might not be providing enough support.
• Injection Therapy – For providing faster relief of pain and inflammation.

Our ultimate recommendations will depend on the specifics of your condition, as well as your goals and individual needs as a patient. In some cases, more than one treatment might be suggested.

Surgical Heel Pain Treatments

If conservative forms of treatment don’t provide the relief we are looking for – or it’s clear from the start that they would not be very effective – then surgery becomes a clearer consideration.

There are multiple different procedures that may be considered depending on each case.

Find the Right Solution for Your Heel Pain

If you haven’t found an effective way to treat your heel pain at home, don’t keep firing shots in the dark. The sooner you understand what your heel pain is coming from, the faster you can take the right steps to relieve it – and potentially reduce your odds of future trouble as well!

We have eight offices throughout the greater Minneapolis area, ready to help you take the first steps toward relief! Schedule an appointment with us by calling (612) 788-8778. If you would rather reach out to us electronically instead, please fill out our online contact form and a member of our staff will respond to you during our standard office hours.