Heel Pain

Pain on the bottom of the heel is a common problem that’s most often caused by plantar fasciitis. If you have heel pain, visit the Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands for expert diagnosis and treatment. At offices in The Woodlands, Memorial City, and Huntsville, Texas, the practice’s highly skilled foot doctors offer cutting-edge treatments for heel pain, including innovative surgeries. Call the Foot and Ankle Specialists today or book an appointment online for fast relief from heel pain.

What causes heel pain?

One of the more common foot problems causing heel pain is plantar fasciitis. This condition results from excessive pulling on the ligament (plantar fascia) under the foot’s arch.

The plantar fascia tissue connects to the Achilles tendon, the large tendon attaching the calf muscles to your heel bone. The foot’s arch can collapse, pulling on the plantar fascia and triggering inflammation and pain.

Heel spurs often develop in response to the plantar fascia pulling on the heel bone. These small bony growths are often blamed for heel pain but are rarely the cause.

How is heel pain diagnosed?

The Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands team diagnoses your heel pain after reviewing your medical history and symptoms and doing a physical exam.

They might also send you for X-rays to rule out fractures and other bone problems and see if you have heel spurs. Ultrasound imaging can assess changes in the plantar fascia’s thickness.

How is heel pain treated?

Conservative treatments for heel pain include:

• Stretching exercises
• Supportive, well-fitting shoes
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Arch supports
• Orthotics (medical shoe inserts)

If these treatments aren’t sufficient to relieve your heel pain, an injection of a potent anti-inflammatory like cortisone can help. Within 4-6 weeks of starting treatment, most heel pain patients at the Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands feel up to 95% better.

Would I need surgery for heel pain?

A small number of patients require foot surgery for plantar fasciitis. Traditional plantar fasciitis surgery involves making a small incision in the heel and cutting the plantar fascia to release it from your heel bone. If you also have a heel spur, your surgeon files it down.

This surgery for heel pain lengthens the plantar fascia, releasing the tension and reducing the pain. Plantar fascia release is an outpatient procedure that takes less than 45 minutes. You use a walking boot for 2-4 weeks while you heal.

The Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodland’s Marcin Vaclaw, DPM, is a pioneer of “no-incision” plantar fasciitis surgery. This minimally invasive procedure takes 10-15 minutes and uses alternative therapies for improved blood circulation and faster wound healing. You walk on the foot the same day without a boot or another protective device.

Another procedure for heel pain is endoscopic plantar fasciotomy. Your surgeon inserts an endoscope (tiny camera) into a small incision in your foot to view the plantar fascia before releasing it. Again, patients can bear weight immediately and usually have little pain after surgery.

Call the Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands today or book an appointment online for expert heel pain treatment.