Like every single bone in your body, your ankle is subjected to external influences that could negatively impact its ability to keep you upright and moving as well as its structural integrity. Heel pain, oftentimes bothersome but in some cases disabling, could develop in the bottom, back, or front of your heel.

Here at the Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, your podiatrist, Dr. Mukesh Bhakta, can take a look at your affected heel in our Gainesville VA office and give you proper treatment recommendations to ease your pain.

Common Heel Pain Causes

Various things could cause heel pain. It is, however, generally caused by walking gait irregularities or malfunctioning biomechanics that put excess pressure on the heel bone as well as its attached soft tissues. This pressure might be due to a bruise or injury, excess weight, or wearing ill-fitting or poorly made footwear. Other common heel pain causes include heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, excessive pronation, bursitis, and a bone contusion or bruise. Talking to your Gainesville podiatrist is the best way to figure out what is going on.

Professional Treatment for Heel Pain

If your symptoms—pain, inflammation, heat, swelling, and redness—persist or worsen even with home treatments and ample rest, it’s best to consult with your Gainesville podiatrist.

Early treatment typically involves injectable or oral anti-inflammatory medicines, proper footwear recommendations, exercises, physical therapy, orthotics, as well as strapping or taping. Strapping or taping helps support the affected help, putting stressed tendons and muscles in a restful state.

Your podiatrist may likewise recommend the use of a functional orthotic appliance to control excessive pronation, fix biomechanical imbalances, and support the tendons and ligaments attached to your affected heel bone. In some individuals, wearing the proper orthotic device can resolve heel pain without resorting to surgery. Radial Pulse Shockwave Therapy may also be recommended by your Gainesville podiatrist to improve blood flow and hasten the healing of the affected heel.

It’s also crucial to point out that surgery and other advanced procedures are reserved for heel pain cases that can’t be corrected with more conservative pain treatments. In case, surgery is needed, it might entail removal of a soft tissue growth like a neuroma, bursa removal, spur removal, or plantar fascia release.

For Concerns or Questions About Heel Pain, Contact Us

Arrange a visit with your podiatrist, Dr. Mukesh Bhakta of Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, by calling our Gainesville VA office at (703) 753-3338.