Suffering from heel pain? The team at Affiliates In Podiatry in Meredith & Concord, NH is dedicated to helping you experience the relief you need.
Treating Heel Pain
You use your feet every single day, making heel pain tough to ignore. Unfortunately, the constant use of your feet can worsen your pain and the issue causing it. The good news is that you don’t have to just suffer through it. Our team at Affiliates In Podiatry in Meredith & Concord, NH shares how a podiatrist can help relieve your pain so that you can stand, walk, and run comfortably once again.
Identifying the Cause
Treating pain in the heel successfully requires first determining what is causing it. Though the initial cause can vary, some of the most common reasons people experience pain in their heel include:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel spurs
- Achilles tendonitis
- Excessive pronation
Most of these causes are due to overuse, which leads to inflammation. However, faulty foot mechanics can also be to blame.
Treating the Pain
Once the cause has been determined, a treatment plan can be developed. In many cases, lifestyle adjustments are enough to address the issues. These adjustments include strategies such as those listed below.
- Modifying your activities: Certain types of exercise can be harder on your feet than others. You might need to change the type of exercise you do or reduce how often you do it.
- Learning to rest: Whether you stay on your feet to exercise or for work, giving your feet regular rest is important.
- Changing your shoes: Shoes without proper support or with heels that are too high put undue strain on the feet.
- Stretches and exercises: Targeted movements can help relieve tension and strengthen weakened areas that may play a role in your pain.
If such adjustments don’t provide relief, your podiatrist will likely add a few additional steps.
- Orthotics: Custom orthotics are designed for your feet and provide support that your shoes and retail inserts do not.
- Splints or casts: Various devices can be utilized to immobilize the feet to give them a chance to heal. These are typically removable and designed to be worn at night. However, some are for daytime use, as well.
When conservative methods do not provide the desired results, surgery might be recommended.
You don’t have to deal with heel pain. Let our team at Affiliates In Podiatry in Meredith & Concord, NH help by calling to schedule an appointment at our Concord office at (603) 225-5281 or our Meredith office at (603) 279-0330.