How Your Podiatrist Can Help With Your Heel Pain

Find out how we can help you get your heel pain under control. 

Heel pain can make even the simplest tasks a major problem. If heel pain has affected your daily routine, then it’s time to see our Crestview, and Fort Walton Beach, FL, podiatrists Dr. Cosimo Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel for treatment.

One of the most common causes of heel pain is plantar fasciitis, which simply means that the connective tissue on the bottom of your foot is inflamed. So how does one go about treating heel pain? First, it’s important that you see our podiatrists for a thorough exam to properly diagnose plantar fasciitis, after all, you could be dealing with another foot condition entirely. Dr. Ricciardi and Dr. Patel will then map out a custom treatment plan.

Conservative Treatments 

We always like to remain conservative when it comes to the first line of treatment against heel pain. There’s no reason to subject you to more intensive treatments if you don’t need them. That’s why we’ll often exhaust these efforts first before considering other options:

Anti-inflammatory medications: Better known as NSAIDs, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories like Aleve or Motrin can help with swelling and pain.

Rest or activity modification: If you experience heel pain while walking, then working out is only going to aggravate your condition. We may recommend non-impact sports like swimming or cycling until your heel pain goes away.

Stretching exercises/physical therapy: Special stretching and strengthening foot and ankle exercises can be done in the comfort of your own home under our supervision. Stretching helps increase ligament flexibility and decrease stress on the ligaments, as well as strengthen muscles around your foot’s arch.

Orthotics: Our Crestview, and Fort Walton Beach, FL, podiatrists may recommend custom-made orthotics, which are inserted into your shoes to provide support for your feet and ankles while walking and exercising. Orthotics can be helpful if you overpronate, you’re prone to recurring heel pain or you are dealing with other foot problems that increase your risk for plantar fasciitis.

Intensive Treatments 

While we always hope that our patients experience relief and healing from more conservative treatments, there are some situations in which they are just not enough to provide substantial relief. In cases of chronic heel pain, it’s time to consider a stronger course of action against heel pain such as:

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatments: This non-invasive treatment uses high-intensity shockwaves to relieve pain and tension from the plantar fascia in about 30-45 minutes. Some patients have even experienced immediate pain relief after treatment.

Corticosteroid injections: If you are dealing with severe pain or inflammation that isn’t alleviated with pain relievers and ice, then it may be time to consider steroid injections. Injections can greatly reduce swelling and pain for several months at a time.

We also use advanced nonsteroidal injection therapies and laser treatments.

If heel pain is keeping you from daily activities or simply enjoying your walk in the gorgeous Florida sun, then let’s nip this problem in the bud. Call our Crestview, and Fort Walton Beach, FL, podiatrists, Dr. Ricciardi and Dr. Patel, at Emerald Coast Podiatry at (850) 862-4119, or (850) 682-6522 to schedule an evaluation.

Contact Us

Send Us an Email

Crestview Office

Fort Walton Beach Office

Hours of Operation

Monday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-4:00 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-4:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed