Is walking or standing painful or uncomfortable due to heel pain? Your Olney, Camp Springs/Clinton, Silver Spring, Kensington, Laurel, and Maple Lawn, MD, podiatrists at Family Foot & Ankle Associates of Maryland can determine the cause of your pain and offer helpful treatments.
Easing heel pain at home
Applying ice, taking over-the-counter pain medication, and staying off your feet as much as possible for a few days may be all you need to do to treat heel pain in some cases. If pain is severe, affects your ability to walk, or lasts more than a week or two, it's a good idea to call your foot doctors in Olney, Camp Springs/Clinton, Silver Spring, Kensington, Laurel, and Maple Lawn.
Heel pain causes and treatments
These conditions often cause heel pain:
- Plantar Fasciitis: Inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that connects your heel to your toes, may be to blame for your heel pain. Your pain may be worse in the morning or after you've been inactive. Treatment options include night splints, stretching exercises and orthotics, and prescription inserts designed by your podiatrist. Corticosteroid injections and extracorporeal shockwave therapy may also be used to treat plantar fasciitis.
- Heel Spur: A small calcium deposit on the bottom of your heel bone can cause pain with every step. Although anyone can develop heel spurs, they're more likely to form if you've had plantar fasciitis. Treatment options include stretching exercises, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, and orthotics.
- Achilles Tendonitis: Achilles tendonitis occurs when the long, skinny tendon at the back of your heel becomes inflamed. If you don't stay off your feet and treat your injury, the tendon could tear. Depending on the severity of your injury, your doctor may recommend a boot, cushioned heel cup, corticosteroid injections, shockwave therapy, physical therapy, or ultrasound therapy.
- Stone Bruise: Stepping on a toy or hard object or wearing shoes that don't offer enough padding can cause a bruise in the fat pad under your heel. Although stone bruises usually heal on their own in a week or two, orthotics can be helpful if your pain lasts longer.
Have you been struggling with heel pain for far too long? It's time to call your podiatrists at Family Foot & Ankle Associations of Maryland in Olney, Camp Springs/Clinton, Silver Spring, Kensington, Laurel, and Maple Lawn, MD.
You can reach the doctors by calling (301) 924-5044 (Olney office), (301) 439-0300 (Silver Spring office), (301) 868-7670 (Camp Springs/Clinton office), (301) 942-8110 (Kensington office), or (301) 317-6800 (Laurel and Maple Lawn offices).