Ouch! My Heel Hurts!

19 Aug Ouch! My Heel Hurts!

Heel pain can have several possible causes including stress fractures, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation, or even a cyst. The most common cause, however, is plantar fasciitis, sometimes referred to as heel spur syndrome. Only a podiatrist can diagnose the source of your heel pain accurately. At Great Neck Family Foot Care, we urge you to make an appointment with one of our podiatrists, Alec Hochstein, DPM and Diana Gagliano, DPM if you have ongoing heel pain.

If you notice that your heel pain is worse when you first get up in the morning or after you’ve been sitting for a long period of time, it may be an indicator that you have plantar fasciitis. The pain, which can be quite sharp, is in the bottom of the heel. It may be better when you’re not bearing weight on your heel but the condition steadily worsens over time. When you rest your feet, the pain may lessen or even go away for awhile but as soon as you spend more time on your feet, the pain returns.

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia—the band of tissue that extends from the heel to the toes. The inflammation causes the heel pain which can be severe enough to interfere with daily activities.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is often linked to structural problems of the foot. People with either overly flat feet or high-arched feet, for example, are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis.  Also, repeatedly wearing non-supportive footwear while walking or running on hard, flat surfaces puts a large strain on the plantar fascia. Obesity can worsen the condition.

Diagnosis

The first step to getting your foot diagnosed and treated is a thorough exam by the foot and ankle surgeon.  Your foot doctor will take a detailed medical history and most likely request some x-rays, or other images. Our foot and ankle surgeons have had many years treating Nassau County’s foot problems and they will work with you to get a prompt and accurate diagnosis of your heel pain and then develop a treatment plant that works for you.

If you’re suffering from heel pain, take the first step towards relief today and call our Great Neck office to schedule an appointment at (516) 482-5999.