Heel Pain

Up to 10% of Americans suffer from heel pain. Usually, it improves with rest and at-home treatments, but for some, the pain becomes chronic, affecting their mobility and daily life. At Prestige Podiatry Care in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, board-certified podiatrist Shivani Panchal, DPM, offers conservative and minimally invasive treatments for heel pain, including the class IV Remy laser. Call Prestige Podiatry Care to schedule heel pain treatment, or book your appointment online today. 

Is heel pain common or a serious problem?

Most people have heel pain at least once in their life, and you should get checked out by a podiatrist. Certain conditions, like plantar fasciitis, get progressively worse over time. Identifying the cause early provides peace of mind and can even preserve your mobility. 

What causes heel pain?

Heel pain occurs for a variety of reasons, including:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendinitis
• Bone spurs
• Sever’s Disease (a condition that commonly affects children and teens)
• Bursitis
• Stress fractures
• Tendon inflammation
• Bone bruise

Heel pain makes it hard to walk, exercise, and do other daily activities. Even if you aren’t worried, it’s best to get evaluated to stop the condition from worsening. 

Does running contribute to heel pain?

Running and playing sports that involve jumping or pivoting are common causes of heel pain. Several other factors might also increase your risk, including:

• Being overweight
• Spending lots of time on your feet
• Wearing shoes that don’t provide adequate heel support
• Having a structural abnormality, like flat feet or high arches

Dr. Panchal has extensive training in diagnosing heel pain and can quickly identiy the source of your discomfort. 

How does a podiatrist diagnose heel pain?

Dr. Panchal reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and examines your heel and ankle. She looks for redness, swelling, or bruising and gently presses on your heel and the surrounding skin to identify sensitive places. 

If Dr. Panchal suspects a structural problem, she orders X-rays, checking for fractures, arthritis, and joint damage. 

How does a podiatrist treat heel pain?

At Prestige Podiatry Care, Dr. Panchal treats heel pain using a conservative and minimally invasive approach. She might suggest:

• Corticosteroid injections
• Custom orthotics
• Pain-relieving medications
• Physical therapy
• Stretching exercises
• Taping

If your symptoms continue or worsen, Dr. Panchal prescribes treatment with the Remy laser. The Remy laser uses targeted light energy to reduce pain caused by soft tissue inflammation. It encourages blood flow to the treatment site and promotes healing at the cellular level. 

What is the outlook for heel pain?

Most heel pain improves without surgery, but it often takes time. Be patient, follow Dr. Panchal’s instructions, and give your body time to heal. If you return to activities, like running, too quickly, you might make the injury worse and set your recovery back by weeks or months. 

Call Prestige Podiatry Care to receive treatment for heel pain, or book your appointment online today.