Does your heel hurt?

Heel pain is one of the most common reasons people visit a podiatrist. Heel pain can result due to many reasons. That’s why it’s important to see a podiatrist if your heel has been hurting for a few days and the pain doesn’t seem to away with rest. A qualified foot doctor or podiatrist can determine the root cause of your heel pain and prescribe the right treatment.

Faulty Foot Mechanics

The heel bone is the largest foot bone. Heel pain usually occurs when your foot is out of alignment and your gait is altered. These can cause stress on the heel, leading to inflammation and pain. Here is a list of heel conditions that are related to biomechanical defects in the foot.

Heel Spurs — Heel spurs are bony growths on the bottom of the heel. Heel spurs may develop as a result of strain on the muscles and ligaments of the foot, due to overstretching of the plantar fascia (the band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot). The spurs may extend into the foot by as much as half an inch.

Plantar Fasciitis — Irritation of the plantar fascia can also cause inflammation of the ligament and a disorder referred to as plantar fasciitis. Signs of plantar fasciitis include heel pain, especially heel pain that is worse, first thing in the morning or after rest. The pain reduces as you start moving but may again worsen after you’ve been on your feet for some time.

Excessive pronation — Excessive inward motion of the foot or pronation can flatten the arch. Flat feet make the heel hit the ground with too much force. This causes extreme pain, with time.

Heel Pain can also be a symptom of a degenerative disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or other issues like bursitis, a neuroma or Haglund’s deformity (pump bump). An experienced podiatrist would examine your entire foot and ankle and also take a medical history to determine the cause of your heel pain. Different causes will require different treatments and the foot doctor will design a treatment plan that is customized to your condition and your lifestyle.

If you are experiencing heel pain, it is best to consult a foot doctor or podiatrist right away. If you ignore or try to battle your heel pain, it can worsen and become chronic and even more difficult to treat. Why suffer when you can have it treated?

If you are looking for the best foot and ankle specialist in Phoenix, Arizona, call Oasis Foot and Ankle Clinic at 602-993-2700 Now. Oasis Foot and Ankle Centers offer cutting edge surgical and nonsurgical treatments for foot and ankle conditions and injuries.

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oasisfootankle Joined: June 25th, 2018