Heel pain is never fun. And some common heel injuries that cause pain can actually lead to even more severe issues if not treated properly. If you are experiencing any of the following injuries, you should seek medical attention from a heel paindoctor in Scottsdale.
Common Heel Injuries That Cause Heel Pain
Unfortunately, heel pain is common and there are a few different injuries that can cause severe pain in the heel.
One of the most common heel injuries is plantar fasciitis. The first sign of plantar fasciitis is inflammation and heel pain, especially after running or long periods of rest. This is usually caused by overstretching (or not stretching improperly), flat feet, wearing high heels, and muscle weakness.
But, what exactly is plantar fasciitis? This is when the ligament that stretches from your heel bone to the top of the foot (known as the plantar fascia) becomes irritated, usually caused when the tissue is being stretched too far.
Heel spur is another common heel injury. Yes, it has a funny name, but this injury can cause severe heel pain. This is when a bony growth appears where the plantar fascia inserts into the heel bone. This is usually caused by chronic plantar fasciitis and is pretty much when the bone grows into the ligament.
Most of the time, you can see the bone stick out. But other symptoms of heel spur include a sharp stabbing sensation first thing in the morning, an achy heel throughout the day, swelling and inflammation.
Another heel injury that can range from minor to severe is Achilles tendinitis. This happens when the Achilles tendon is ruptured, which causes it to inflame and sometimes even degenerate. This is caused by stress, lack of stretching, and overuse.
Symptoms of Achilles tendonitis include inflammation, a painful sensation, burning sensation, and tenderness.
Treatment Options
Luckily, there are treatment options that can help you find relief from heel pain. At home, rest your heel, apply ice, elevate, and always do your stretches. In addition, special orthotics and physical therapy are helpful.
For more severe heel injuries, there are non-surgical treatment options available at the Foot and Ankle Center of Arizona.
Stem cell therapy is one of the most popular options. It is a simple procedure that requires less recovery time than traditional surgery. The treatment produces cartilage, relieves pain as well as discomfort so you can get back on your feet easily.
Shockwave therapy is another non-surgical treatment. You will see a quicker recovery time than with traditional surgery. With shockwave therapy, there are virtually no risks or side effects. Most patients have reported being pain-free after just 4 weeks of therapy. Each of these treatment sessions take only 5 to 10 minutes and require minimal maintenance afterward.
PRP injection is a regenerative medicine treatment that is popular for heel injuries. This treatment promotes the natural healing of the tissue. It delivers remarkable results, without having to go through the long recovery of surgery, which will require you to stay off of your feet for months.
If these treatment options are not the right answer for you, speak with the team at the Foot and Ankle Center of Arizona for other options such as surgery.
